BC United Leader Kevin Falcon on Friday lashed out at Premier David Eby and the NDP after the BC Supreme Court granted a temporary injunction which suspends the Restricting Public Consumption of Illegal Substances Act from coming into force until March 31, 2024.

Falcon said in a statement: “If David Eby and the NDP had not rushed through their reckless scheme to decriminalize drugs without guardrails or proper treatment and recovery options in place, we would not be in this chaotic mess that we’re in today.

“It took more than seven months of sustained criticism and pressure from BC United, municipalities, and the public to get David Eby and the NDP to walk back their ideological decision to sanction the open use of crystal meth, crack cocaine, and fentanyl in parks, playgrounds, beaches, and other public areas. Now their rush to do damage control with poorly drafted legislation after widespread public backlash has left them open to today’s court injunction.

“The NDP’s introduction of the Restricting Public Consumption of Illegal Substances Act was an admission by David Eby that his reckless decriminalization policy was flawed from the start. Their legislation fell woefully short and is now subject to a temporary injunction.

“As this legislation is now further scrutinized following today’s temporary injunction, it will still be illegal in most communities to enjoy a glass of wine at a picnic in the park while unchecked consumption of potentially lethal drugs such as crystal meth, crack cocaine, and fentanyl in that same park remains the reality under this NDP government.”