A now-deleted tweet shared by the official account of Alberta’s minister of mental health and addictions said he promoted “false information.”
On Sunday morning, Minister Nicholas Milliken’s account tweeted an article written by the British tabloid DailyMail about a woman left homeless in Portland who reportedly “brags about the benefits of life on the streets.”
The tweet said in quotes, “Portland homeless woman brags about how she gets three meals a day from the woke city and can stay in her tent all day and do drugs.”
A now-deleted tweet shared by Alberta Mental Health and Addictions Minister Nicholas Milliken on Sunday, January 8, 2023.
Laurian Hardcastle, an associate professor of law at the University of Calgary who specializes in health policy, characterized the tweet from the minister’s account as “highly problematic,” suggesting a potential misunderstanding of addiction and homelessness.
“I don’t think that tweet was constructive at all,” Hardcastle said, adding that he should have provided context as to whether it was his opinion or why he was sharing it.
“He should be tweeting about political solutions to these problems and showing empathy for people struggling with addictions, not judgmental comments about how easy their lives are,” she said.
Colin Aitchison, the minister’s press secretary, confirmed to CTV News Edmonton in a statement that the tweet was shared by Milliken’s account and quoted a “headline from an article.”
“When it became clear to us that this was misrepresented as his opinion rather than sharing the headline from the article, the tweet was taken down,” Aitchison said.
CTV News Edmonton asked who wrote the tweet and the intent behind sharing it, but has not yet heard back.
Along with the statement, Aitchison highlighted how the province has created the Digital Overdose Response System (DORS) app and in October invested $124 million in new funding to expand Alberta’s response to the addiction crisis.
PUBLIC SERVANTS HAVE A DUTY TO EDUCATE: HARCASTLE
As a cabinet minister, Hardcastle says Milliken is responsible for providing balanced and informed viewpoints to help educate or shape discussions on issues.
“I don’t think the education we want for the public on these issues is that it’s comfortable or easy to fight addiction or homelessness,” Hardcastle explained. “When in fact these are some of our most vulnerable citizens and those who need government protection.
Edmonton County. Andrew Knack agreed with Hardcastle, adding that he often shares articles online that he agrees with or disagrees with. The key to it is to provide context.
“If the minister was sharing this information article to suggest, well, we don’t want this to happen here or we don’t want this to continue here, then I would follow that tweet up by saying, here’s what I’m doing as a minister to try to allow this because I have the power to actually make a difference,” Knack said.
Knack, who represents Ward Nakota Isga, questioned the point of sharing an article about the US where mental health and addiction funding authorities diverge.
In Canada, these issues fall under the jurisdiction of the provincial government, while in the U.S., mental health and addictions are managed by municipalities, Knack says.
“This continues to perpetuate the false information that this is actually up to the city to resolve,” he added. “Of course we will work on it… but we have to work together. We just have to make sure everyone is on board.”
QUESTIONS ABOUT ADDICTIONS
While Knack is still “hopeful” the social affairs task forces chaired by Milliken in both Calgary and Edmonton will reach evidence-based conclusions, Hardcastle says the minister’s tweets exacerbate an existing optics problem.
Hardcastle says many have been concerned for years that the Alberta government’s UCP-led approach to mental health and addictions has been largely “politically motivated.”
“Previously, this government’s approach has been politically troubling,” she said, citing the reaction to the province’s criticized stance on the controlled consumption site.
According to her, many felt that the UCP approach tended to “skew” more towards recovery-based approaches rather than a wider range of harm reduction options.
“But now it kind of adds to it and makes you wonder if these political choices are driven by a misunderstanding of addictions and the people who have struggled with them,” Hardcastle said.
“It suggests a deeper problem of actual addiction to these people and a complete misunderstanding around the nature of addiction and homelessness.”
On social media, the province’s health critic questioned whether the tabloid articles were evidence the UCP was using to justify its policy.
“Is that the level of thought and consideration that he plans to bring to the social affairs task force,” asked David Shepherd, opposition MLA for Edmonton – City Centre.
Shannon Phillips, the opposition’s finance critic and Lethbridge West MLA, said the tweet represented “behavior unbecoming of a minister”.
On Twitter, Brent Coleman, who identifies as a recovering drug addict, asked if the minister would issue a formal retraction and apology for his “horrible and sinister position”.
Because Milliken’s account is used for professional communication, Hardcastle says he should “treat it as such.”
“He has to say things that he would only say in a professional setting,” she added. “Knowing that he really has that role.”
“If those are his true views, then I guess it’s important for Albertans to know that and be able to hold the premier’s feet to the fire, that maybe he’s not the right person for this portfolio.”
With files from Kira Markov of CTV News Edmonton
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