The BC Conservatives are hammering David Eby’s NDP over their hard drugs decriminalization reversal, claiming the admission of failure is an election-defining moment.

The development comes after the NDP has backtracked on their hard drug decriminalization project—launched last year— and asked the federal Liberals to re-criminalize the use of hard drugs in all public locations over concerns about public safety. 

The feds approved their request on Tuesday, just two years after approving it.

BC Conservative MLA Bruce Banman posted a video on X (formerly Twitter), slamming the NDP’s failed policy, the same one Eby stood behind until his sudden admission of failure.

“David Eby made the biggest backtrack flip flop of his career. It should cost him an election,” Banman said, adding, “Because he’s responsible for the nightmare that he’s unleashed.” 

Banman also criticized the ongoing safe supply strategy, which is still a legal avenue for drug addicts to get free heroin and meth in supposedly controlled healthcare facilities.

“All safe supply does is prolong their misery and addiction,” Banman said, suggesting that funds would be better allocated toward rehabilitation and detox facilities.

Since the toxic drug crisis was declared a provincial health emergency in 2016, over 14,000 people have died in BC.

Liberals backtrack on allowing hard drugs in public parks 

Mental Health and Addictions Minister Ya’ara Saks announced their backtrack on Tuesday. The decriminalization project will still exist, but exemptions for possession will now only apply in private settings.

“The intention of decriminalization was never about providing space for unfettered public drug use. That was not the intention. The intention was to ensure that people felt that people should not be afraid to reach out for help wherever they were using,” Saks said.

BC Conservatives gain first polling lead in over 50 years

According to the latest poll, the BC Conservatives are leading all parties, just ahead of the governing New Democrat Party.   

A Mainstreet Research poll from April 26 has John Rustad’s Conservatives one point ahead of the NDP, and just five months away from the next provincial election.