Building relationships in collaboration grants
Last updated on January 20, 2026We are no longer accepting applications for this funding opportunity.
Submissions have been reviewed by the Ministries of Public Safety and Solicitor General and Health and a committee with Indigenous representation.
Successful applicants have been notified. Grants were provided in May 2025.
For more information, contact decrim@gov.bc.ca.
Indigenous-led connections with police
The Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General provided funding for Indigenous, First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities and organizations to share knowledge and support learning journeys with law enforcement regarding substance use, harm reduction, and decriminalization.
The grant funding was intended to support a variety of initiatives that may help build relationships in ways that are distinctive and responsive to the unique needs of each community or population. These initiatives are entirely Indigenous led.
Background
B.C. was granted a three-year exemption from the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act to decriminalize select drugs as one part of the Province's public health response to the overdose crisis. This meant that adults in B.C. were not subject to criminal charges for the personal possession of small amounts of certain illegal drugs in specific locations.
B.C. will not be requesting renewal of the exemption after it expires on January 31, 2026.
For more information, see:
To support law enforcement readiness, the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General (PSSG) and the Ministry of Health worked with police leaders and other partners to develop police training on decriminalization.
Training initiatives on the original exemption were implemented on a provincial scale, and related training materials were updated. These grants allowed Indigenous partners to lead initiatives that support culturally safe approaches to law enforcement and community engagement as the legal landscape changes.