VICTORIA, BC – (March 5, 2025): Amid economic pressures and a trade war between Canada and the U.S., the Province of BC (the Province) has tabled its 2025 budget, allocating $500M of net new funding for substance use treatment and recovery programs that are already underway.
Building off previous budgets ($1B in 2023 and $215M in 2024), the Province is maintaining its emphasis on substance use treatment and recovery, referencing Road to Recovery, Foundry, secure care, supports for children and youth and Indigenous-led treatment, recovery and aftercare services. Currently, it is unclear how the Province plans to allocate the $500M across these various initiatives. Notably, the budget does not mention additional funding for harm reduction initiatives.
As conversations across Canada about involuntary treatment for people with substance use disorder intensify, the need for access to voluntary, evidence-based and trauma-informed treatment and recovery services has never been greater. CMHA BC is proud to partner with the Province to deliver 248 (soon to be more) publicly-funded substance use treatment beds that have served over 2300 people to-date and looks forward to expanding access to more people in BC.
While CMHA BC is grateful to see sustained funding for substance use treatment, it is crucial to continue expanding broader mental health services that historically have seen increased demand at times of economic uncertainty.
“During economic downturns, mental health and substance use services are typically first on the chopping block,” says Jonny Morris, Chief Executive Officer, CMHA BC. “We’re relieved that Budget 2025 preserves these essential supports for British Columbians. The Government has made the right call in sustaining these services. However, the budget’s lack of new mental health investments is concerning as we face increasing geopolitical and economic uncertainty. We know that financial security and mental health are deeply interconnected.”
While Budget 2025 takes these steps towards improving access to voluntary substance use services, it also references secure care for people with concurrent mental illness, substance use disorder and brain injury. In addition to involuntary care being the most expensive form of care, CMHA BC remains concerned about the lack of clear oversight, transparency and accountability of involuntary treatment in BC. We would like to see greater emphasis on raising the bar in the quality of care, fixing system gaps and improving access to voluntary services.
CMHA BC’s role is to advocate for a comprehensive system of care ranging from prevention, early intervention, crisis, treatment and recovery services. Budget 2025 omits critical new investments in prevention and early intervention—essential components of a robust and cost-effective mental health care system. We will continue to advocate for universal access to mental health services, including publicly funded counselling and psychotherapy, to close the gap in access to care.
We are grateful for ongoing support from the Province of BC to build out a more compassionate crisis response system, including funding for six Peer Assisted Care Teams (PACT) across BC, which together have fielded nearly 10,000 calls since 2023. However, there is no further funding to expand PACT in Budget 2025, despite growing demand for community-based crisis responses, including more recently from the Urban Mayors Caucus. Of note, the budget allocates $235 million to public safety initiatives, including community safety programs and policing. CMHA BC will continue to advocate for funding to support ten PACT teams and two Indigenous-led teams across BC, as committed to in the Safer Communities Action Plan.
Related to the social determinants of health, Budget 2025 includes an additional $1.6B over three years to income and disability assistance; however, it remains to be seen whether this will result in an increase to assistance rates. The budget will increase monthly supports and nearly double the number of lower income working families eligible for help through the Rental Assistance Program, as well as increase the income threshold for the Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters program, benefiting up to 1,600 more seniors. These are welcome and important changes.
Budget 2025 also provides an additional $90M over three years to expand the Homeless Encampment Action Response Team (HEART) and Homeless Encampment Action Response Temporary Housing (HEARTH) programs into new communities.
While Budget 2025 includes important investments, critical gaps remain. CMHA BC will continue to advocate for robust investment in a comprehensive continuum of mental health and substance use care to ensure every person in BC has access to the support they need. We look forward to continuing to collaborate with government and our community partners to realize this vision.
Contact:
CMHA BC Media Contact
604.353.8159
media@cmha.bc.ca