Skeena MLA and Health Minister clash over mental health supports

Skeena MLA Claire Rattée pressed Health Minister Josie Osborne in the B.C. Legislature to demand a provincial psychiatric hospital after the death of Vernon resident Ezra Cool; Osborne said Interior Health and RCMP reviews are underway and pointed to recent budgeted mental health funding.

Claire Rattée, the Skeena MLA, challenged Health Minister Josie Osborne in the B.C. Legislature following the recent death of Vernon resident Ezra Cool. Family members reported Cool had active psychosis and sought help at a hospital prior to his death. Rattée used question period to press the minister for a dedicated provincial psychiatric hospital. Osborne declined to comment on the specifics because Interior Health and the RCMP are conducting reviews and investigations. Key points: - Family members say Cool had active psychosis, sought hospital care, was certified under the B.C. Mental Health Act, later left the hospital unsupervised, and then died. - MLA Claire Rattée asked whether the government will commit to building a dedicated provincial psychiatric hospital. - Minister Josie Osborne would not discuss case details and said a critical-incident review by Interior Health and an RCMP investigation are underway; she noted recent budgeted funding for mental health and addictions. - The province currently has one forensic psychiatric hospital (Colony Farms); the B.C. Review Board's 2024 report described a service gap compared with other provinces such as Ontario. Summary: The legislative exchange followed family accounts that raise questions about supervision and system capacity in mental-health care. The minister said formal reviews and an RCMP investigation are proceeding and pointed to recent funding increases, while the MLA pressed for a new provincial psychiatric hospital. Next procedural steps identified are the Interior Health critical-incident review and the RCMP investigation.