Keeping people safe and communities strong

Organized criminals are using extortion threats to scare families and businesses, especially in the South Asian community.

B.C. is taking action to stop extortion to help keep people safe and make sure those who use violence, fear and intimidation are held accountable.

Actions we’re taking

• Launched BC Extortion Task Force to target extortion threats. We’ve launched a new task force focused on extortion threats. The team includes 40 dedicated officers from federal, provincial and municipal police agencies as well as the the Canadian Border Services Agency. They work together to investigate extortion threats and violence, share information on cases, and stop extortion by arresting, and potentially deporting, those responsible.
• Assisting local police investigate extortion. We’re giving extra funding to municipal police to help investigate extortion cases. The funding comes from the federal Gun and Gang Violence Action Fund. This is in addition to B.C.’s ongoing funding for programs that fight gangs, illegal guns, and organized crime.
• Increasing public education efforts. We’re working with B.C. Crime Stoppers to help people learn the signs of extortion and encourage victims to report threats. This will help police identify and stop those responsible.
• Launched a Community Advisory Group on extortion to strengthen trust and communication between the community and law enforcement. CAG members are listening to community concerns to identify emerging issues and share information so people are heard, supported and safe.
• Supporting victims of crime. Victims, their immediate family members, and some witnesses may be eligible for benefits to support their recovery through B.C. Crime Victim Assistance Program.

Learn more

• B.C.’s actions to stop extortion
• Share your feedback with the Community Advisory Group

B.C. is training more police recruits and hiring more officers to ensure local police departments have the resources they need to keep families and business safe.

Actions we’re taking

• Increasing police training spaces. The Justice Institute of B.C. (JIBC) has increased training spaces by over 500% over the past decade. They are training up to 432 officers a year and are opening two satellite training academy locations in Vancouver and Victoria in 2026.
• Hiring 256 provincial police officers to support rural, remote and Indigenous communities, and to strengthen specialized teams that investigate and prevent complex, violent and organized crime.

Learn more

• Justice Institute of British Columbia
• BC RCMP Careers

Downtowns are the heart of our cities. They are places where people live, work, shop and gather.

We’re working with businesses and boosting police efforts to tackle street crimes such as shoplifting, robbery and property damage to keep downtowns safe.

Actions we’re taking

• Launched the Community Safety and Targeted Enforcement Program (C-STEP) to address street disorder and non-violent offences to improve public safety by:
  • Increasing proactive patrols and police presence to address disruptive or unlawful behaviour, such as open drug use, drug trafficking, blocking sidewalks, indecent acts, and public intoxication.
  • Focusing on high-incident areas like major shopping areas and other public places with safety concerns.
  • Strengthening partnerships with social services so police can work closely with front-line workers to connect people in crisis with the right supports.
  • Supporting coordinated safety plans that bring together law enforcement, businesses, outreach teams, and social services to help prevent street disorder before it starts.
• Launched the Chronic Property and Public Disorder Intervention Initiative (C-POII) to target, monitor and address repeat offenders of property crime and street disorder. This program is currently operating in Nelson, Kelowna and Nanaimo, and is being expanded to more communities across BC in 2026.

The C-STEP and C-POII programs work together to address street disorder and crime.

Learn more

Province strengthens response to combat downtown street crime, disorder (May 30, 2025)

We're working to stop violent reoffending by helping police, prosecutors and probation officers work together to target, investigate and monitor high-risk repeat offenders and get them on a better path.

Actions we’re taking

• Established 12 Repeat Violent Offender Intervention Intiative (ReVOII) hubs throughout B.C. to monitor repeat violent offenders and connect them to supports to help break the cycle of crime.
  • Teams of police, dedicated prosecutors, and probation officers work together to monitor 400+ offenders.
  • ReVOII hubs are now operating in Nanaimo, Victoria, Vancouver, Surrey, New Westminster, Abbotsford, Kamloops, Kelowna, Cranbrook, Prince George, Williams Lake and Terrace.
• Launched the Special Investigation and Targeted Enforcement (SITE) program. It helps police agencies expand their proactive enforcement and investigation techniques to target high-risk individuals, disrupt repeat violent offending, and remove dangerous weapons and illicit drugs from communities.

The ReVOII and SITE programs work together to address repeat violent offending.​

Learn more

• Repeat Violent Offending Intervention Initiative (ReVOII)
• Province reports success tackling repeat violent offending (Dec. 17, 2025)

Between October 2024 and January 2025, the SITE initiative helped Vancouver Police Department reduce weapon-related assaults in Gastown by 45% and violent crime in Hastings Crossing by 27% – recording Hastings lowest violent- and property-crime rates in over 2 years.

We’re making sure police have the resources they need to go after the gangs, guns, and drugs that are hurting our loved ones.

B.C. invests $100 million each year to strengthen gang enforcement, improve firearm investigations, and support community programs that help prevent crime before it starts.

This work is overseen by the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of BC (CFSEU-BC) – the largest integrated anti-gang police agency in Canada. It has over 400 police officers, with members from every police department in B.C., including the RCMP.

Actions we’re taking

• Supporting the Organized Crime Agency of British Columbia, a team of highly trained and specialized professions that work with local police to prevent, disrupt and intervene in organized crime and gang activity.
• Supporting the Provincial Integrated Anti-Gang Agency which works closely with police across B.C., Canada and around the world to investigate high-risk gangs and organized crime groups.
• Established the North District Uniform Gang Enforcement Team to combat organized crime activity that is bringing violence and toxic drugs to communities in northern B.C.
• Launching the Integrated Gang Homicide Team to focus on complex gang-related murder cases, hold offenders accountable, and improve information sharing between agencies about gang activity.
• Preventing youth from joining gangs and helping them exit safely through programs like:
  • End Gang Life, which educates the public, shares real-life stories, and provides a helpline and in-person support for people age 13 and older who want to leave gang life.
  • Shift BC, an intervention program that helps people who are vulnerable to radicalization to violence turn things around.

Learn more

• Government takes action to tackle gang violence in BC (May 9, 2024)
• Government takes action to combat gang violence in Vancouver (Sept. 11, 2024)
• Government takes action to combat gang violence in New Westminster (Sept 11, 2024)

Since 2020, police have seized over 1,800 firearms, $20M in illegal cash and assets, as well as over 15,000kg of illicit drugs and precursor chemicals.

B.C. successfully led the country in calling for Ottawa to strengthen the federal Criminal Code to put public safety first.

This included stricter bail laws to consider risk to the public and tougher sentencing laws for repeat and violent offenders.

Actions we’re taking

B.C. will continue pressing the federal government to strengthen public safety laws in Canada. Because of our advocacy, the federal government introduced more changes to bail rules in October 2025.

• Bill C-14: Bail and Sentencing Reform Act reflects many of the priorities B.C. championed, including:
  • reverse-onus bail in high-risk cases
  • bail decisions that consider both the seriousness and the number of past offences, such as making it harder to get bail if charged with assault or sexual assault involving choking, suffocation or strangulation
  • stricter sentencing for serious and violent crimes
  • better tools to address extortion

Learn more

Minister statement on federal government’s new crime bill (October 23, 2025)

One of the ways B.C. is cracking down on organized criminals is by seizing the proceeds of crime – like fast cars, fancy homes and luxury goods – to make gang life unprofitable.

The Civil Forfeiture Office disburses the funds collected to support victims and crime prevention programs.

Actions we’re taking

• Introduced Unexplained Wealth Orders under the Civil Forfeiture Act to make it faster and easier to seize assets linked to organized crime, drug trafficking and money laundering. These orders require people to explain how they paid for property when there is concern it came from illegal activity.
• Supporting victims of crime by using money from the sale of forfeited assets to compensate victims, support victim service programs, and fund crime prevention programs. About half of all forfeiture funds go back into B.C. communities.

Learn more

• Unexplained wealth orders crack down on organized crime (Mar. 30, 2023)
• Changes to Civil Forfeiture Act will improve ability to seize forfeited proceeds of crime (Feb. 23, 2026)
• Minister statements on unexplained wealth order filings:
  • Order #1 (Nov. 30, 2023)
  • Order #2 (Dec. 12, 2023)
  • Order #3 (Mar. 24, 2024)
  • Order #4 (Sept. 9, 2024)

B.C. filed the first Unexplained Wealth Order in Canadian legal history.

Money laundering is a serious crime that hurts people and communities in B.C. It supports gangs and criminals, contributed to the toxic drug crisis, and reduces trust in banks and financial organizations.

That’s why we’re working hard to fight money laundering with new laws, better tools and tougher enforcement.

Actions we’re taking

• Created the new Mortgage Services Act to set stricter rules and oversight for mortgage brokers to make real estate deals more fair and transparent for homebuyers.
• Created the Land Owner Transparency Registry to end hidden land ownership. People who own or control land indirectly through a corporation, partnership or trust are required to file with the registry and provide transparency reports regarding interest in the land. The public can now search the registry for free.
• Created the business Transparency Register to end hidden ownership. All private B.C. companies are required to keep a list of all individuals who have direct and indirect control of the company or its shares for law enforcement and inspecting officials to access.
• Strengthened gambling and casino controls to stop criminal activity. Required ID checks, increased verified play to reduce anonymous gambling, and set buy-in limits. We also created a new anti-money laundering transaction monitoring system to track, investigate and report suspicious transactions.
• Created stronger rules for money service business to prevent illicit funds from flowing through currency exchanges, e-transfers or money orders. Businesses must meet requirements for registration, broad background checks and reporting to ensure only legitimate people participate in the money services industry.
• Strengthened vehicle export rules. Eliminated the opportunity for money launderers to get provincial sales tax refunds on vehicles bought in B.C. and then exported.
• Giving law enforcement more tools to stop money laundering:
  • Created a new Superintendence and Evaluation Unit to help police track and review money laundering investigations to improve results.
  • Improved collaboration and information sharing between law enforcement agencies
  • Ensure lawyers identified during a police investigation are appropriately reported to the Law Society of B.C.

Learn more

•  Anti-money laundering in B.C.

The Cullen Commission Final Report (PDF, 16MB) outlined recommendations for the government to address money laundering in B.C. Since its release in 2022, government has taken action to address many of them as seen in the actions above.

Bringing people indoors and closing unsafe encampments helps keep everyone safe.

That’s why we’re helping communities respond faster. We’re adding more indoor spaces and connecting people to the supports they need to stay housed and build stable, healthy lives.

Actions we’re taking

The Province, through BC Housing, works with communities and service providers to deliver the homes, programs and supports people need to move out of encampments.

• Homeless Encampment Action Response Teams (HEART) work with communities and local service providers to coordinate on-the-ground support so they can respond faster and reduce duplication.
• Homeless Encampment Action Response Temporary Housing (HEARTH) works with communities to deliver more temporary shelter and housing spaces to bring people indoors.
• Homeless Outreach Program connects people who experience or are at risk of homelessness with outreach workers who can help them find housing and supports that meets their needs. People can call or visit their nearest Emergency Shelter to get help.
• Homeless Prevention Program supports people at risk of losing their housing by providing portable rent supplements. It helps cover rent in the private (non-subsidized) market, damage deposit, utilities, moving expenses, and basic household items.

To access support

• Find a homeless outreach worker
• Find a homeless prevention outreach worker

Learn more

• Belonging in BC: A collaborative plan to prevent and reduce homelessnes (PDF, 6MB)
• More Homes for People

Shelters help create a path out of homelessness. They give people a warm place to sleep, eat and connect to supports to help find permanent housing.

We’ve doubled the number of shelter spaces since 2017 to bring more people inside. B.C. now has nearly 6,500 shelter spaces during cold, wet weather months in 58 communities. 

Actions we’re taking

BC Housing works with municipalities and service providers to deliver temporary community-based shelter services.

• Emergency Shelters operate year-round to provide a temporary place to stay – one night or longer depending on needs. A typical stay offers a bed with linens, hot meals, showers, laundry and support services. During their stay, a case worker helps people find permanent housing.
• Temporary Winter Shelters provide a safe place to eat, sleep and stay warm during the colder months from October 1 to April 30.
• Extreme Weather Response Shelters open when communities issue extreme weather alerts. They provide extra space for people who want a safe place to stay. They open each night the alert is in effect.
• Drop-in Centres are usually open during the day. They offer a place to gather, get a meal, do laundry, wash up, and connect with supports and services.

To access support

• Call the Shelter and Street Helpline at 2-1-1
• View the list and map of shelters near you

Learn more

• Opening a record number of shelter spaces before winter (November 6, 2025)

Temporary homes are a bridge between shelters and permanent homes. They give people a safe place to live and get support to stabilize their lives before moving into permanent homes.

We’re working with BC Housing and communities to quickly deliver temporary housing solutions, such as modular tiny homes, through the Housing Encampment Action Response Temporary Housing (HEARTH) program. Emergency shelters may also be funded through HEARTH.

There are more than 1,540 temporary homes delivered or underway in 15 communities, with over 1,100 already open.

How it works

• HEARTH is a funding program that helps communities create new temporary housing spaces as quickly as possible.
• The Province selects communities based on need, available land, and readiness to move projects forward quickly.
• BC Housing delivers funding to those communities.
• Community partners provide land and speed up rezoning and permitting so homes can open faster.

Communities

• Phase 1: Abbotsford, Campbell River, Chilliwack and Cheam First Nation, Duncan, Kamloops, Kelowna, Nanaimo, Prince George, Vancouver and Victoria
• Phase 2: Cranbrook, New Westminster, Powell River, Smithers and Squamish

To access support

• Contact your local shelter or a homeless outreach worker

Learn more

• Homeless Encampment Action Response Temporary Housing (HEARTH)
• Opening new housing options for people experiencing homelessness (February 9, 2026)

Supportive Housing provides people experiencing homelessness with a permanent home with on-site supports. Research has shown it’s an important part of community safety. It also helps reduce emergency visits, hospital stays and corrections costs.

We’ve been working to deliver 9,900 more supportive homes since 2017 to move people out of homelessness, with 6,850 already complete. About 15,000 people live in supportive housing.

Actions we’re taking

BC Housing works with housing providers, health authorities and other community partners to deliver supportive housing across the province.

• Supportive housing is subsidized housing with supports. Most supportive housing has staff on-site 24/7 to provide support and connect residents to services. Rent includes housing and services.
• Residents are low-income adults at risk of homelessness who require supports to live independently and maintain a successful tenancy.
• Housing is apartment-style buildings with self-contained units or private rooms with a private or shared bathroom, kitchen and laundry.
• Supports include meal plans, life skills and employment training, and connections to health care, mental health or addictions services.

B.C. is also working to keep residents and staff safe with stronger tools to:

• Keep weapons out of supportive housing
• Temporarily restrict resident access to de-escalate health and safety risks
• Remove a resident whose behaviour poses a serious safety risk to fellow residents, staff or guests

Current safety and security measures at some supportive housing sites include:

• Well-lit, gated and fenced grounds
• Extensive camera monitoring
• Controlled entrances, cameras, fob entry
• Emergency call buttons/walkie talkies for staff

To access support

• Apply through the Supportive Housing Registry to be matched with accommodation that best meets your needs
• Call BC Housing Assistance toll-free at 1-800-257-7756

Learn more

• Supportive Housing
• Strengthening health and safety in supportive housing (March 4, 2026)

Some people with complex mental health and addiction challenges need extra support to keep their housing, or risk eviction or homelessness.

Complex Care Housing helps people with significant health needs by providing stable housing with health, social and cultural services right in their own home for as long as they need.

Since we began creating Complex Care Housing in 2022, services are in place for up to 613 people – exceeding our goal of 500 by 2025.

Actions we’re taking

• Working with municipalities and health authorities to bring more complex care housing services to communities.
• Building new, purpose-built complex care housing sites across B.C.
• Ensuring care teams work with a small case load to provide time to build trusted relationships to help residents achieve their goals.

To access support

• Contact your local health authority to access Complex Care Housing

Learn more

• Complex Care Housing

Community Integration Specialists work directly in communities, meeting people where they are, to connect them to housing supports, healthcare services, income and disability assistance, and local agencies.

Specialists bridge the gap between vulnerable people and the services designed to help them stabilize their lives and break the cycle of homelessness.

Actions we’re taking

• Deploying Community Integration Specialists in communities provincewide to provide outreach and connect people to supports and services where they are.
• Reducing barriers  like lack of ID or security deposits.
• Providing coordinated case management and outreach. CI Specialists spend 85% of their time in the community, including encampments and shelters.

When people are in crisis because of mental health or addiction challenges, a police-only response is not always the best option and can deter some people from seeking help.

Crisis Response, Community-Led (CRCL) are civilian-led teams. They pair a trained peer with lived experience with a mental health professional to respond to people in crisis.

We’ve launched CRCL teams in 7 communities. CRCL teams responded to more than 6,800 calls in 2025.

How it works

• CRCL Teams provide compassionate, trauma-informed care to:
  • De-escalate situations
  • Connect people to local resources
  • Connects people directly to mental health supports instead of people presenting to emergency rooms for support
• Police are freed up to focus on crime and law enforcement

Communities

• Comox Valley
• Kelowna
• Kamloops
• New Westminster
• North Shore
• Prince George
• Victoria

To access support

• Find a CRCL team in your community

Mobile Integrated Crisis Response (MICR) Teams pair a police officer with a healthcare professional to respond to emergency mental health calls where there may be a safety risk.

MICR Teams de-escalate situations and provide immediate, specialized care so people can connect to recovery supports instead of facing legal consequences.

MICR Teams operate in 18 communities so more people in crisis can be safely connected to the care they need.

How it works

• Health care workers provide on-site mental health assessments, crisis intervention and referrals to appropriate community services
• Police officers manage safety concerns to keep everyone safe

Communities

• Abbotsford, Burnaby, Chilliwack, Coquitlam/Port Coquitlam, Fort St. John, Kamloops, Kelowna, Penticton, Prince George, North Shore, Nanaimo, Richmond, Squamish, Surrey, Vancouver, Vernon, Victoria, and Westshore

To access support

• Call 9-1-1 or the police non-emergency line in your area

HealthIM is risk-screening app police can use when responding to mental health calls. It helps officers better assess a person in crisis to safely de-escalate complex situations and prepares hospital teams for arrival.

It’s been proven to increase safety for first responders and patients, speed up hospital admissions, and cut down on police overtime costs.

We’re working with the BC Association of Chiefs of Police to support the rollout of HealthIM across the province. It’s currently available in 7 regions. It’s expected to be available in northern Vancouver Island, the Interior and northern B.C. in 2026.

How it works

• Guides officers through questions to better understand a person’s behaviour, identify risks, and support de-escalation
• Converts police observations into clear medical language and sends it to hospital staff before arrival
• Alerts hospital teams in advance so they can prepare, coordinate care, and maintain a safe environment
• Helps people in crisis get the care they need faster

Police departments

• Delta Police Department
• East Kootenay RCMP detachments
• Nelson Police Department
• Port Moody Police Department
• Prince George RCMP
• Southern Vancouver Island police agencies (municipal + RCMP)
• Surrey RCMP

Learn more

• HealthIM
• Mental health screening tool launches in East Kootenays (March 6, 2026)

Every moment counts when people want help with their addiction. That is why we’re making it faster and easier for people to get on a new path.

Road to Recovery is B.C.’s model of addictions care that seamlessly moves people through detox, treatment and after care services without delay.

Wait times are down since first launching in Vancouver in 2023. Clients triaged as urgent now get access to a bed within one day, and routine clients within 8 days, on average.

Road to Recovery is now available in Vancouver, Fraser, Interior and Island Health regions. It will also expand to Northern Health in the future.

How it works

• Call the Access Central phone line in your health region
• Speak with a health-care worker who specializes in addictions care
• Get a clinical assessment and treatment plan
• Get matched to the right level of care without delay
• Receive support throughout your recovery journey

To access care

• Vancouver Coastal Access Central: Call 1-866-658-1221 from 9:00 am to 7:45 pm
• Fraser Health Access Central: Call 1-833-866-6478 from 8:30 am to 8:30 pm
• Interior Health Access Central: Call 1-866-777-1103 from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm
• Island Health Access Central: Call 1-888-885-8824 from 9:00 am to 7:30 pm
• For other health regions:
  • Visit: HelpStartsHere.gov.bc.ca/Treatment
  • Call: HealthLink BC at 8-1-1 to find a service near you (24/7)

Learn more

• Road to Recovery: BC’s model for addictions care
• Improving access to addictions care in BC (January 14, 2026)

Nearly 4,500 people accessed detox through Vancouver Access Central in its first two years of operation – with urgent cases getting a bed within one day.

Opioid addiction is a chronic medical condition that can make it hard to stop using, but opioid agonist treatment can help.

The Opioid Treatment Access Line makes it faster and easier to access this life-saving medication and get connected to support that same day. It’s free and confidential.

How opioid agonist treatment works

• Uses medications (methadone, Suboxone®, Kadian® or Sublocade®) prescribed by a trained doctor or nurse
• Acts slowly in the body to prevent withdrawals, reduce cravings and lower the risk of overdose from using street drugs
• Helps people stabilize their health and has been shown to help people stay in treatment and away from illicit opioid use

To access care

• Opioid Treatment Access Line:
  • Call 1-833-804-8111, open daily 9am-4pm provincewide
  • Speak with a doctor or nurse who can prescribe treatment over the phone
  • Fill prescription at a pharmacy – it’s free
  • Get connected to follow up care
• Other ways to quickly access opioid treatment:
  • Rapid Access Addiction Clinics
  • First Nations Health Authority virtual services
  • HealthLink BC at 8-1-1 to find a nearby service (available 24/7)
  • Primary care providers

Learn more

• Opioid Treatment Access Line
• New opioid treatment access line provides same-day access to care (August 27, 2024)

The Opioid Treatment Access Line had over 2,500 calls in its first year.

Today’s toxic drug supply is extremely poisonous. It’s leading to more people experiencing brain injuries from repeated overdoses, along with severe mental health and addiction challenges.

Some people may be a risk to themselves or others and aren't able to make decisions about their own care.

That’s why we’re helping people in severe crisis get the compassionate, secure care they need to stay safe – while keeping our communities safe too.

Under the Mental Health Act, people who are unable to properly interact with others or their environment due to complex mental health conditions can be involuntarily admitted for care and treatment to protect themselves and others.

Actions we’re taking

• Establishing dedicated mental health units in correctional facilities for incarcerated people as well as expanding specialized treatment services for people with concurrent brain injury, mental health and addiction disorders.
  • Surrey Pretrial Services Centre (April 2025)
  • Alouette Tertiary Homes in Maple Ridge (June 2025)
  • Two more facilities in Prince George and Surrey are underway and will add 100 beds
• Adding 400 new mental health beds at hospitals with the ability to provide involuntary care to people under the Mental Health Act
• Amended the Mental Health Act to better ensure people receive care when they are unable to seek it themselves, including clearer legal protections for front-line health workers.
• Helping people understand their legal rights while detained with access to a new Independent Rights Advice Service.
• Appointing a chief scientific advisor for psychiatry, toxic drugs and concurrent disorders to help improve care for people with complex needs. Dr. Vigo released general guidance for physicians on the application of the Mental Health Act related to the treatment of adults and youth with substance use disorders.

Learn more

• Mental Health Act
• Independent Rights Advice Service
• Resources: Rights under the Mental Health Act

More than 2,000 mental-health beds in B.C. can provide involuntary care when needed. 

To help break the cycle, we need to intervene early and address the root causes.

Community Safety Situation Tables are a proven model used across the country. It brings together front-line public safety, health and social services staff to identify, intervene and connect at-risk people with the support they need.

We’re funding 56 Situation Tables, including 3 Indigenous Intervention Circles, across the province, 42 are now operational.  

How it works

• Identifies people and families at risk before they’re further victimized, overdose, get evicted or incarcerated
• Connects people and families to services and supports they need to address mental health, addiction, trauma, poverty and housing challenges
• Reduces need for emergency and police responses

Learn more

• Community Safety Situation Tables

Nearly 1,000 Situation Table discussions were held in 2025. 72% of individuals were connected to services, resulting in a reduced risk to the community.

The internet is a big part of everyday life. It can help people connect and learn, but it also comes with risks like bullying, harassment and exploitation – especially for kids and youth.

We’re working to make digital spaces safer and strengthen protections for young people.

Actions we’re taking

• Restricted cellphones in classrooms to help students focus on learning.
• Offering digital literacy training for families so they know how to promote online safety, prevent cyberbullying and get help if something goes wrong.
• Providing more online safety resources to students, adults and school staff to prevent and respond to online harms through ERASE (Expect Respect & A Safe Education), government’s strategy for building safe, caring, and inclusive school communities.
• Advocating for the federal government to reform the Criminal Code to address online safety and exploring new methods to protect young people, hold platforms accountable and adapt our laws to meet the realities of a rapidly changing digital world.

Learn more

• Cellphone restrictions in school take effect as part of actions to keep kids safe, healthy (August 27, 2024)

Ensuring every child is supported to feel safe and welcome at their school is essential for creating opportunities for students to thrive in their learning environments.

That’s why we’re providing resources for students, adults and school staff to help tackle a wide range of complex issues, like inclusion and discrimination.  

Actions we’re taking

• erase = expect respect and a safe education provides students, adults and school staff with resources to help build safe and caring school communities
• Report It: Students can seek support by submitting an anonymous tip if they see or hear something concerning.
• Safe access zones: Prohibiting certain harmful behaviours, such as blocking access or disrupting and threatening activities, on school property and a 20-metre buffer zone around it.
• Integrated Child and Youth Teams: Provide children and youth within a school district area access to counsellors and other mental health professions.

Sharing or threatening to share someone else’s intimate images without consent is illegal and can cause serious harm. This includes real, altered and AI-generated deepfake images.

That’s why we’ve introduced new laws and damages to give people stronger, simpler ways to protect themselves and seek justice.

Actions we’re taking

• Helping people whose images have been shared. The Intimate Images Protection Service can help you access supports and explore options to report and remove images.
• Making it easier to report and remove images. The Civil Resolution Tribunal can now order a person, a social media company or website to remove intimate images and stop further sharing.
• Boosting penalties. Victims of intimate-image abuse are now eligible for up to $75,000 in damages, 14 times higher than the previous $5,000 limit.
• Providing trauma-informed supports. Get connected to 24/7 crisis support, legal services and resources to help with ‘sextortion’ and blackmail.

Learn more

• Protecting your images
• Intimate Images Protection Act

The Civil Resolution Tribunal resolved almost 400 intimate image submissions since the new law came into force in January 2024.

Gender-based violence happens at home, at work, and in the community.

It affects many people, especially Indigenous women and girls, racialized people, newcomers, people with disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+, and those living in poverty or in rural and remote areas.

We’re working urgently to prevent violence and better support survivors.

Actions we’re taking

• Launched Safe and Supported: B.C.’s Gender-Based Violence Action Plan to improve supports, increase prevention and awareness, and strengthen governments response to missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.
• Expanding healthy relationship programs that prevent gender-based violence like Caring Dads to help stop abusive behaviour and foster safer families.
• Improving legal system’s treatment of sexual and intimate partner violence as outlined in the recommendations from Dr. Kim Stanton’s independent report.
• Strengthening prevention and response measures to sexual violence in post-secondary communities.
• Restored stable funding for 70 sexual assault programs, including 22 specifically for Indigenous survivors.
• Opened 5 new sexual assault centres in Vancouver, Victoria, Kamloops, Prince George and Surrey, and providing wraparound compassionate, community-based care for survivors.
• Created a 24/7 sexual violence crisis line to give immediate support and referrals for people experiencing gender-based violence through the Salal Sexual Violence Support Centre.
• Providing 5 days of paid leave for workers experiencing domestic or sexual violence under the Employment Standards Act.
• Providing transition housing and rent support to women and their children leaving violence and additional supports to help them stabilize and rebuild their lives.
• Updating the Family Law Act to better support people experiencing family violence, strengthen protection orders, and put children’s needs first.

To access support

• Salal sexual violence crisis line – Call: 1-877-392-7583 (24/7, 200 languages)
• VictimLinkBC – Call: 1-800-563-0808 (24/7, 240 languages)

Learn more

• Ending gender-based violence

Since 2017 we’ve doubled the number of Women’s Transition Housing Fund safe spaces to 3,000, with nearly 1,000 new spaces complete or underway.

B.C. is home to people from many backgrounds. But systemic racism has created barriers for Indigenous and racialized people in areas like education, jobs, housing, health care and justice.

We’re working hard to fight racism and hate and build a safer community for everyone who calls B.C. home.

Actions we’re taking

• Passed the Anti-Racism Data Act to collect data – like age, gender identity and ethnic background – to better understand where barriers exist in government programs.
• Brought in the Anti-Racism Act to address systemic racism in public services like health care, education and the justice system uncovered through the Anti-Racism Data Act.
• Launched the Racist Incident Helpline to offer free, confidential support to people who experience or witness racism.
• Expanded the B.C. Hate Crimes Unit, led by the RCMP, to strengthen the prevention and enforcement of hate-related crimes.
• Funded security and repair costs for community organizations experiencing or at risk of hate crimes, like places of worship and cultural centres through the Civil Forfeiture Grant Program.
• Provided multicultural and anti-racism grants to community organizations to support projects that reduce racism and promote inclusion, such as cultural events, workshops and education programs.
• Launched the K-12 Anti-Racism Action Plan (PDF, 1,35MB) to address racism and discrimination in schools and create a stronger sense of belonging for students, staff and families.

Learn more

• Addressing systemic racism in B.C.
• Anti-racism resources for schools
• Changes to the BC Prosecution Service Hate Crime Policy (PDF, 160KB)

More than 13,000 British Columbians provided input into the anti-racism data act, 90% of whom believe collecting this data can bring positive change to B.C.