BC Greens propose mental health as a fourth option in 911 calls
The BC Green Party published a mental health platform on 17 October 2026 that would add a mental health response option to 911, cover six annual visits to a psychologist under the provincial health plan, and update BC's Mental Health Act.
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The BC Green Party published a mental health platform on 17 October 2026 with three commitments for the 24 October BC provincial election. The announcement was made by party leader Emily Lowan, who is running in Saanich North and the Islands.
The first commitment is to add mental health as a fourth option when someone calls 911, separate from police, fire and ambulance. The party says some people in a mental health crisis are better served by a mental health-specific response than by a police or ambulance dispatch.
The second commitment is to cover six annual visits to mental health professionals, including psychologists, under the Medical Services Plan for all British Columbians. Those visits are not covered under the current plan, which means people pay out of pocket or go without.
The third commitment is to update BC's Mental Health Act. The party says the current law is the most outdated mental health legislation in Canada and that the BC Supreme Court has ruled parts of it unconstitutional. The party says it would strengthen protections around consent, capacity and independent oversight of involuntary treatment.
The party says, on its website, that nearly 47% of British Columbians who need mental health support are waiting for help. The party does not name the source of that statistic in the release.
Lowan said in the announcement: "The foundation of mental health rests on access to connection, belonging, and basic necessities like income, food, housing, and healthcare." She also said the BC NDP chose to rely on a law the court ruled unconstitutional rather than update it.
The party's claims about the NDP's approach are the party's own characterization. The NDP's response to these claims is not included in the BC Greens' release, and none was found reported at the time of writing.
The announcement was made in Saanich North and the Islands during advance voting week. Advance voting for the 24 October election runs 16 to 21 October 2026. You can find advance voting locations and registration information through Elections BC, and BC Green Party candidates are listed at /bc/provincial-2026/parties/bc-green-party.
Questions this story answers
What mental health commitments did the BC Greens announce on 17 October 2026?
The BC Green Party published a platform on 17 October 2026 with three commitments: adding mental health as a fourth option in 911 emergency calls so people in a mental health crisis can reach a response that is separate from police, fire and ambulance; covering six annual visits to mental health professionals such as psychologists under the Medical Services Plan for all British Columbians; and updating BC's Mental Health Act so it meets constitutional requirements around consent, capacity and independent oversight. The party's leader, Emily Lowan, announced the plan.
What is wrong with BC's current Mental Health Act, according to the BC Greens?
The BC Green Party says BC's Mental Health Act is the most outdated mental health law in Canada and that BC's Supreme Court has ruled parts of it unconstitutional. The party says the NDP chose to rely on those unconstitutional provisions rather than update the law. These are the party's own statements, and a court ruling on this matter is public record.
Would the BC Greens cover psychologist visits under the provincial health plan?
The BC Green Party says it would cover six annual visits to mental health professionals, including psychologists, under the Medical Services Plan for all British Columbians. This is the party's commitment as published on its website on 17 October 2026. The plan does not say what the cost of this coverage would be, and the party has not published a separate cost estimate for this item.
What is the fourth 911 option the BC Greens propose?
The BC Green Party proposes adding mental health as a distinct fourth option when someone calls 911, alongside the existing options of police, fire and ambulance. The party says this would allow a mental health-specific response to reach people in crisis instead of sending police or ambulance to situations that are primarily mental health emergencies.
What is Emily Lowan's role in the BC Greens' mental health announcement?
Emily Lowan is the leader of the BC Green Party and a candidate in Saanich North and the Islands in the 24 October 2026 BC provincial election. She announced the mental health plan on 17 October 2026 while campaigning in that district. Her candidate page is at /bc/provincial-2026/candidates/emily-lowan.
How many British Columbians need mental health support but are not getting it?
The BC Green Party says nearly 47% of British Columbians who need mental health support are on waitlists. That figure appears on the party's own website as part of the mental health announcement published 17 October 2026. The party does not name the source of that statistic in the release.
Who can I vote for if I want these mental health policies?
The BC Green Party published this mental health platform on 17 October 2026 as part of its campaign ahead of the 24 October 2026 BC provincial election. Each of the 93 districts elects one MLA. You can see the BC Green Party candidates and their districts at /bc/provincial-2026/parties/bc-green-party. Advance voting is open 16 to 21 October 2026.
When is the BC provincial election?
The BC provincial election is on 24 October 2026. Advance voting runs 16 to 21 October 2026. You can find information about voting places and registration at Elections BC. The BC Green Party's mental health platform was published on 17 October 2026, seven days before voting day.
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