B.C.’s Minister of Addictions has announced new dollars for people on the front lines of addiction issues in communities like Kamloops.

Judy Darcy says the government is providing $3.5 million to respond to the opioid crisis.

“From the moment that my ministry was created, we’ve been drawing on the experience and wisdom of local communities. Because I firmly believe that it’s not people sitting in an office in Victoria who know best what will work on the ground in local communities, it’s community leaders themselves.”

Darcy says $1 million will be for grant funding for harm reduction and $2.5-million to nearly double the number of community action teams in B.C. from 19 to 35.

The funding announcement by Darcy was one of the first of many expected to be made by government this week at the Union of B.C. Municipalities convention, happening in Vancouver until Friday.