Lisa Lapointe retired in February as chief coroner on a wave of frustrated disgruntlement over the NDP cabinet’s refusal to follow her controversial recommendations to advance safe supply of dangerous drugs.

It crystallized last November when her office recommended broadening safe supply by offering drugs to dependent users even without prescriptions. The government issued a news release rejecting the idea even before she finished her news conference. It was either a timing glitch or a remarkably insulting move.

The term of her appointment expired a few months later and she retired.

She popped back up Tuesday standing beside B.C. Green Party Leader Sonia Furstenau to blast B.C. NDP and B.C. Conservative stances and offer full support for the Green policy, which reflects most of the concepts she advanced.

With 13 years as chief coroner, half of them immersed in the toxic drug provincial state of emergency, she carries some clout.

The signals Tuesday were that she intends to use it. She’s going to back the Greens through the campaign in advancing their views on the drug crisis, and criticizing the NDP and Conservative........

© Times Colonist