Beyond the headlines on the toxic drug crisis with Jonny Morris and Lisa Lapointe
To mark Human Rights Day on Dec. 10, Commissioner Kasari Govender will host a conversation with Jonny Morris, CEO of the Canadian Mental Health Association, BC Division, and Lisa Lapointe, B.C.’s former Chief Coroner, about one of the most pressing issues in B.C.: the ongoing toxic drug crisis. Watch it live on Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025, from 1:30 to 3 p.m. PST.
Both guests are leading experts in mental health and substance use in the context of the toxic drug crisis. Together with the Commissioner, they will address misinformation about the crisis, the stigmatization and marginalization of drug users, the effectiveness of community-led responses and what it means to take a human rights-based approach.
The toxic drug crisis is not only a public health emergency, but also a human rights crisis impacting many of B.C.’s most vulnerable people. This is described in the Commissioner’s recently released position statement on the toxic drug crisis, in which she calls for an evidence-based response that centres public health and compassion for those impacted.
This event will also feature a screening of the newest video in BCOHRC’s I Love My Human Rights storytelling series, which is being released on Nov. 25. In the video, Guy Felicella, a former drug user, shares his personal journey through addiction and recovery and shows us what is possible when we take a human rights-based approach to substance use.
Watch the livestream directly on this page or watch on Zoom via the registration link:
The livestream will be embedded here on Dec. 10 at 1:30 p.m. PST. You can also register to watch on Zoom:
About Jonny Morris
Jonathan (Jonny) Morris, CEO of the Canadian Mental Health Association, BC Division (CMHA BC), is a visionary leader with over two decades of experience in community mental health care. He has held key roles in advocating for mental health and system transformation in suicide prevention, early intervention, and addictions programs. Jonny’s profound commitment to mental health advocacy extends beyond his role at CMHA BC. He is a sought-after speaker, thought leader, and an advocate for policy changes at the local, provincial and national level, tirelessly pushing for a more inclusive and empathetic approach to mental health in Canada. Jonny’s comes to this work with his own lived and living experience, with a background in research and practice in suicide prevention, combined with his experience as a counselor, professor, and facilitator. He played a crucial part in shaping the new Provincial portfolio of Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions and currently leads CMHA BC, focusing on advocacy, community-led programs, stigma reduction, and leadership education across the Province.
About Lisa Lapointe
Lisa Lapointe was British Columbia’s Chief Coroner from February 2011 until her retirement in February 2024, ensuring the independent and objective investigation of all unnatural and unexpected deaths in the province during her thirteen-year tenure. In 2018, under Lisa’s leadership, the Coroners Service was awarded the inaugural Premier’s Award for Evidence-Based Design for its analysis and timely reporting of data on illicit drug overdose deaths in the midst of a public health emergency.
Following her retirement, Lisa has continued to advocate for an evidence-informed response to British Columbia’s toxic drug public health emergency, in which 18,000 lives have been lost to the unregulated drug supply since 2016. She is regularly invited to speak with community and professional groups both provincially and nationally about the facts and impacts of current drug policy and legislation, and the measures necessary to reduce harms and save lives.
About “Beyond the headlines”
How can we address the most important issues facing British Columbians while keeping human rights in focus? What do B.C. residents need to know for themselves, their families, their neighbours and their communities? To help answer these questions, B.C.’s Human Rights Commissioner is hosting a series of conversations with leading experts from across the country.
Each Beyond the Headlines conversation will focus on a key human rights issue facing the province right now. The topics are drawn from the Commissioner’s 2024 Rights in focus: Lived realities in B.C. report, which provides a snapshot of inequities in 10 systems, including housing, health care and child welfare.
Over the course of the Beyond the Headlines conversations, the Commissioner and her guests will discuss questions about these systems that are top of mind for British Columbians.
Past conversations
Gender identity and expression with Jessica Love and Georgia Franklin
On Monday, Jul. 14, 2025, Commissioner Govender spoke with Jessica Love, author and illustrator of the acclaimed children’s book Julián is a Mermaid, and Georgia Franklin, provincial coordinator of the BC Summer Reading Club, about how we discuss gender identity and expression with young people in age-appropriate ways—and how we can help them take pride in their identities and celebrate those of others.
Youth who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, asexual, intersex, Two-Spirit or otherwise have a right to thrive and to have their human dignity recognized, represented and respected, as we all do. As many communities enjoyed Pride season across B.C., we reflected on how celebrating gender identity and expression—highlighting the joy of being one’s full self—is a powerful antidote to the hate and erasure too often faced by LGBTQ2SAI+ people, including youth.
Jessica Love gave a reading of Julián is a Mermaid, a story that provides readers of all ages insight into the transformative power of being seen for who we are, accepted and loved. Julián is a Mermaid was the March 2025 Commissioner’s Book Club pick for preschool-aged children.
Migrant workers’ rights with Ketty Nivyabandi
On May 15, 2025, Commissioner Govender sat down with Ketty Nivyabandi, Secretary General for Amnesty International Canada’s English-Speaking section, for a conversation about how structural factors can create vulnerabilities for the exploitation of migrant workers.
As described in the Commissioner’s Rights in Focus report, migrant workers, and specifically temporary foreign workers, are at risk of exploitation due to their immigration status being tied to their employment. Migrant workers are also at a greater risk during large-scale climate emergencies and have reported being excluded from responses during these emergencies. Following closely on International Workers’ Day (May Day), this Beyond the Headlines discussion provided insight into the rights of migrant workers and how we track progress on this issue in British Columbia.
Housing with Marie-Josée Houle, Federal Housing Advocate
On Nov. 28, 2024, Commissioner Govender sat down with Federal Housing Advocate Marie-Josée Houle for a candid conversation about navigating the housing crisis while keeping human rights in focus.
As described in the Commissioner’s Rights in Focus report, the housing crisis has exposed vulnerable people to increased risk of violence and exploitation—and has pushed thousands of people in B.C. into homelessness. Coming on the heels of National Housing Day, this Beyond the Headlines discussion provided a space to better understand how to navigate the housing crisis through a rights-based lens.