VANCOUVER, B.C. — Vancouver City Council has approved a motion brought forward by Councillor Pete Fry calling on the Province of British Columbia to protect and properly fund BC’s community-based crisis centres and to avoid a procurement approach that could shift life-saving crisis response services to large, for-profit providers.

BC’s Crisis Line Network is made up of community-based non-profit crisis centres across the province that deliver 24/7 crisis de-escalation, suicide risk assessment, and collaborative safety planning. These services also play a major role in diverting calls away from 911 and reducing reliance on police-based mental health response.

The motion directs the Mayor, on behalf of Council, to write to the Minister of Health, the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, the Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, and the Minister of Advanced Education and Skills Training to advocate for a provincial funding and support model that recognizes the unique role of local crisis centres and does not prejudice the process toward an open-bid Request for Proposals (RFP).

Council directed the Mayor’s letter to:

• Acknowledge the role of crisis centres in the health and wellbeing of residents;
• Emphasize the importance of community-based local services;
• Highlight the role of crisis centres in diverting 911 calls and police intervention;
• Communicate concerns that privatized centralized crisis centres may increase burdens on 911 and police, and should be considered within the scope of police reform work;
• Recognize crisis centres’ local employment and volunteer opportunities, including training pathways for students entering health, mental health, social work, and protective services; and
• Encourage a provincial approach that strengthens local crisis centres without disadvantaging them through an open-bid RFP model

“Crisis lines are a vital part of our public safety and public health infrastructure,” said Councillor Pete Fry. “They save lives every day, they keep pressure off 911 and police responses, and they provide local jobs and training. We’re asking the Province to ensure crisis services remain community-based and properly funded, without opening the door to a privatized model that could weaken quality, privacy, and local integration.”

The motion raised concerns that planned changes to crisis line technology and funding could, through trade and procurement requirements, trigger a competitive bid process that disadvantages non-profit crisis centres and risks privatization of crisis response services.

The motion passed unanimously at Committee (with one Councillor absent for the vote).

Minutes: Standing Committee on Policy and Strategic Priorities — January 26 & 27, 2022: https://council.vancouver.ca/20220126/documents/pspc20220126min.pdf