Get tough on the drug dealers

Dear Editor:

The 350,000 homeless crisis has created a war that our federal government has allowed to continue to drag on for years in Canada, resulting in almost 80,000 casualties just in 2023.

The drug dealers versus the homeless are using one weapon; tainted drugs. Additionally, let’s not forget those addicted from the pharmaceutical opioid crisis which collectively, have created an epidemic crisis in hundreds of municipalities in every province of this country.

Is it possible the federal government is not aware of the intense magnitude of this war?

Is it possible that the provinces and municipalities are left alone to deal with this war?

Indeed, it is the municipalities that are left with the tragic casualties!

Consider, the federal government invoked the Emergency Act for the Freedom Convoy claiming the blasting air horns and diesel fumes were disrespectful to the citizens of Ottawa, and may I point out that the freedom convoy created no casualties.

It is time for the Federal Government to hear the sirens and accept that the homeless crisis as a national emergency... no more shuffling the responsibility onto the ill-equipped provinces and municipalities to resolve this war on their own. The responsibility lies with the Federal Government to take action to focus and work to solve this war.

The provinces and municipalities are being financially-crippled and emergency services are unable to deal with the needs of their citizens. There is tremendous strain and all our services are stretched to breaking points. The police departments, hospital emergency departments, bylaw services, paramedics, fire departments, social services, food banks, businesses, and all the citizens of this great country are suffering from this war.

Crime is rampant and safety is almost non-existent as our police deal with the homeless and drug addicted. Health care has plummeted and our citizens cannot find doctors and much-needed health care.

In Canada, we treat our prisoners with much greater respect and care. They are receiving free meals, a roof over their head with private toilets, movie nights, workout gyms, education and even greenhouses.

If China can build a 10,000-bed hospitals in 10 days and Poland has dealt with millions of refugees, surely Canada being the fourth-richest country, we can build temporary wellness facilities providing safe accommodations, (everyone needs to start with a clean safe home in order to move forward) with a central kitchen, specialized services and supply safe drugs to all those citizens highly dependent on drugs.

We have a vast resource of professionals that sincerely care about this dire situation and if all focused collectively around these wellness facilities, I strongly believe this will provide a positive starting ground to end this war.

Meanwhile, the Government can work in building more affordable subsidized housing and mental health facilities that is essential in helping these citizens merge back into society with respect and dignity.

Large funding can definitely come from pharmaceutical companies who have played a large roll in participating in this war with drugs.

Our justice system needs to increase the penalties of those trafficking street drugs, those who have in their possession illegal guns used for crime, and make it against the law to inject or use drugs on the streets of our towns and cities.

These action steps will contribute greatly to bringing back law, order, safety, health care and save billions of dollars along with saving many lives.

Raymond Stassi

Penticton

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