VICTORIA, B.C.: Conservative Mental Health & Addictions Critic Claire Rattée says repealing “deemed consent” without a replacement framework leaves patients, clinicians, and families in a dangerous grey zone. Bill 32 scraps Section 31(1) and expands liability protection for staff, but provides no clear way to treat people too ill to recognize they need help.
“We support modernizing mental health law and protecting healthcare workers,” Rattée said. “But this bill is tinkering around the edges, not a system fix. Repealing deemed consent without creating a new framework risks detaining people without being able to treat them.”
Rattée said the change contradicts the Premier’s repeated promises on involuntary care, and even contradicts the advice he relied on earlier this year. “The Premier has said involuntary care is needed for people at extreme risk, including repeat overdoses. Yet this bill makes that harder,” Rattée said, noting it is also a sharp reversal from special advisor Dr. Daniel Vigo’s advice, who said eight months ago that no amendment was needed.
She added that Bill 32 appears driven by legal pressure, not public-health urgency, and that the timing raises deeper concerns. “Why now, after eight months of insisting nothing needed to change, and before the Mental Health Act review is complete?” Rattée said. “This is political posturing to shield the Government from potential legal implications as a result of the Charter challenge, just like announcing the review of the Mental Health Act back in April was lip service. There is no evidence of consultation or that the review has even begun.”
The Conservatives say the government must now answer how involuntary treatment will work when very ill patients refuse care, what capacity standards will apply, and why no youth-specific or overdose-related framework was included.
“British Columbians deserve a real, compassionate involuntary-care framework with clear standards, proper capacity rules, youth protections, rights advice, and meaningful family involvement,” Rattée said. “Instead, they’re getting a last-minute bill that creates more questions than answers.”
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Media Contact:
Francesca Guetchev, Communications Officer
Francesca.Guetchev@leg.bc.ca
+1 (672) 922-0948
