Kamloops social services CEO urges BC Conservatives to link harm reduction with housing and recovery
ASK Wellness CEO Bob Hughes has written an open letter to premier-designate Lorne Doerkson, saying BC has 15,000 supportive housing units and 3,700 treatment beds that are not adequately connected to each other.
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The CEO of a Kamloops social services organization has written an open letter to premier-designate Lorne Doerkson, urging the incoming BC Conservative government to build a more coordinated approach that connects harm reduction, supportive housing and recovery programs.
ASK Wellness CEO Bob Hughes says BC has more than 15,000 supportive housing units, with an estimated 80 per cent of residents experiencing severe substance use issues or co-occurring disorders, and 3,700 treatment beds. Castanet reported on November 4 that Hughes argues the province has invested in both sides but done too little to link them.
"I have not seen on the ground how the treatment and recovery beds are linked to this huge inventory and investment in supportive housing," Hughes told Castanet.
What Hughes is asking for
In his open letter, Hughes urged the incoming government to "address service gaps and support more effective outcomes." He called for harm reduction services to be connected to pathways into housing, treatment and recovery, and for meaningful employment opportunities to support long-term stability.
Hughes also proposed that the government establish a task force bringing together provincial and municipal officials, housing providers and other organizations to develop a more effective strategy.
The platform promises
The Conservative Party of BC 2026 platform, on page 36, promises to put in place a recovery-oriented system of addiction care and to expand detox, clinical treatment, recovery housing and aftercare across BC, with treatment linked to housing, work, primary care and family support. Page 37 promises to work toward treatment on demand, with immediate access to detox. Those promises are tracked at /bc/provincial-2026/tracker#gov-promise-recovery-oriented-addiction-care and /bc/provincial-2026/tracker#gov-promise-expand-detox-treatment-recovery-housing.
ASK Wellness's own experience
ASK Wellness launched a recovery engagement program in March 2026 aimed at helping people in shelters and supportive housing connect with detox, treatment and other recovery services, Castanet reported.
Hughes pointed to the organization's experience bidding on a proposed 54-bed supportive housing development on Fortune Drive and Leigh Road on Kamloops's North Shore. ASK Wellness proposed a recovery-focused model, but BC Housing withdrew its request for proposals and insisted on a low-barrier, harm reduction approach. Progress on the project was halted as the province reduced spending amid a record deficit.
The concern about the new government
Hughes acknowledged some in the social services sector are worried the Conservatives could remove existing harm reduction programs in favour of a treatment-first approach. He said abandoning harm reduction would not be effective. During the election campaign, Kamloops Centre MLA Peter Milobar said the Conservatives wanted more recovery-oriented supportive housing, including drug-free accommodation for people who have completed treatment.
Premier-designate Doerkson's cabinet is set to be named on November 20, 2026, when ministries will be assigned and the government's approach to addiction policy will start to take shape.
Questions this story answers
What is Bob Hughes asking the BC Conservative government to do?
ASK Wellness CEO Bob Hughes has written an open letter to premier-designate Lorne Doerkson calling for a more coordinated approach to homelessness and addiction, Castanet reported on November 4, 2026. Hughes is asking the incoming government to connect harm reduction services with pathways into housing, treatment and recovery, and to establish a task force bringing together provincial and municipal officials, housing providers and other organizations to develop a more effective strategy.
What numbers did Hughes use to make his case?
Hughes said BC has more than 15,000 supportive housing units, with an estimated 80 per cent of residents experiencing severe substance use issues or co-occurring disorders. He contrasted that with the province's 3,700 treatment beds. Hughes told Castanet he has not seen on the ground how treatment and recovery beds are linked to the large inventory of supportive housing.
What does the BC Conservative platform say about addiction care?
The Conservative Party of BC 2026 platform, on page 36, promises to put in place a recovery-oriented system of addiction care and to expand detox, clinical treatment, recovery housing and aftercare across BC, with treatment linked to housing, work, primary care and family support. Page 37 promises to work toward treatment on demand, with immediate access to detox. Those promises are tracked at /bc/provincial-2026/tracker#gov-promise-recovery-oriented-addiction-care and /bc/provincial-2026/tracker#gov-promise-expand-detox-treatment-recovery-housing.
What is ASK Wellness doing to address the gap Hughes describes?
ASK Wellness launched its own recovery engagement program in March 2026, aimed at helping people using shelters and supportive housing connect with detox, treatment and other recovery services, Castanet reported. Hughes pointed to the organization's experience bidding on a proposed 54-bed supportive housing project on Fortune Drive and Leigh Road on Kamloops's North Shore, where it proposed a recovery-focused model but BC Housing withdrew its request for proposals and insisted on a low-barrier, harm reduction approach.
What did Kamloops Centre MLA Peter Milobar say about recovery housing during the election?
During the provincial election campaign, Kamloops Centre MLA Peter Milobar said the Conservatives wanted more recovery-oriented supportive housing, including drug-free accommodation for people who have completed treatment, Castanet reported. Hughes said Milobar has a long history of working in the community and understands the complexities of addiction and housing issues.
What are the concerns in the social services sector about the new government?
Hughes acknowledged some in the social services sector are concerned the Conservatives could remove existing harm reduction programs in favour of treatment and recovery, Castanet reported on November 4, 2026. Hughes said he hopes the new government will recognize the importance of harm reduction while strengthening its connections to treatment and recovery, and that abandoning one approach in favour of another would not be effective.
What is the BC Conservative government's timeline for acting on addiction policy?
Premier-designate Lorne Doerkson's cabinet is set to be named on November 20, 2026. MLAs will be sworn in on November 19. Hughes told Castanet he wants an audience with the new government and to work with Victoria and others to look at supportive housing as part of a way out of the crisis. No specific addiction-policy announcement has been made by the incoming government.
What can BC residents do if they want to weigh in on addiction and housing policy?
Hughes proposed a task force that would bring together provincial and municipal officials, housing providers and other organizations to develop a more coordinated strategy. The incoming cabinet will be named November 20, 2026. Residents can contact their MLA or the premier-designate's office once the government is sworn in and ministries are assigned. The Conservative platform promises are tracked at /bc/provincial-2026/tracker.
Sources
The pages this story draws on. Open one to check a claim yourself.
- Castanet, November 4, 2026castanet.net
- Conservative Party of BC 2026 platform, page 36conservativebc.ca
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