BC court denies challenge against involuntary patient certification under Mental Health Act - Canadian Lawyer

Vancouver Liberals mayoral candidate Kareem Allam is asking Vancouverites to vote no on Oct. 17 when asked if they want to convert the old St. Paul’s Hospital into an involuntary care facility. The plebiscite, which will appear on the municipal election ballot, will centre on whether the city should ask the province to “convert portions of the old St. Paul’s Hospital, or another similar site, into a secure medical facility that provides acute voluntary and 100-plus involuntary care beds for individuals posing a serious risk to themselves or others due to severe substance use and mental health disorders.”

Windsor city council has joined a growing list of voices asking the province to investigate involuntary mental health and addiction treatment. Last week, council unanimously endorsed a campaign by Ontario’s Big City Mayors that, among other things, urges the Government of Ontario to review the Mental Health Act and the Health Care Consent Act.