The calls include overdose and mental health emergencies for both police and medical responders, which police Chief Del Manak said is having an impact on first responders. "It's taking away from being able to respond to calls in other areas for all of us," said Manak. The concern around moving to a distributed model for issuing the cheques is the potential effect it would have on those who don't struggle with mental health or substance abuse. "We're talking about the minority of people receiving welfare, let's make that clear," said Al Tysick, who works closely with people on the streets of Victoria through the Dandelion Society. We've just got to think about the people that aren't using drugs, that are mentally well and on welfare," Tysick said.

Source: CBC News March 01, 2018 00:56 UTC