Drug-user activist and Crackdown podcast host Garth Mullins has asked BC Liberal leader Andrew Wilkinson to eject former 麻豆传媒映画mayor Sam Sullivan from the party鈥檚 caucus, claiming an ad from Sullivan鈥檚 campaign 鈥榳eaponizes鈥� his words against a proposed overdose prevention site in Vancouver.
鈥淪ullivan鈥檚 misrepresentation of my position is defamatory and damaging,鈥� Mullins wrote in a letter to Wilkinson.
The ad, still live on social media at the time of writing, quotes Mullins as saying he is 鈥渘ot going to stand at an open hole digging a grave with John Horgan.鈥�
According to Mullins, the quote was part of an interview with The Tyee where he said the BC NDP government needs to expand harm reduction and safe supply. He withdrew from a provincial overdose crisis response committee earlier this year.
Mullins says the quote was used without his permission and that the ad implies he is against a proposed overdose prevention site at 1101 Seymour St. in Vancouver. He is in favour of the site.
鈥淯sing my words in this way is the definition of bad faith but also shows bad judgement. This is an unbelievably crass approach to an issue that is killing thousands of British Columbians,鈥� wrote Mullins.
The activist has asked Wilkinson to remove the ad from social media.
BIV has reached out to the BC Liberals and the Sullivan campaign for comment.
In the ad, Sullivan calls the BC NDP 鈥渄angerous for the drug-user community鈥� and says that 4,000 people have died of overdose deaths 鈥渦nder their watch.鈥�
