This is the second in the series, “Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside: Past and Present.” Libby Davies, former Vancouver city councillor and former NDP MP for the riding in which the Downtown Eastside is located, discusses the past and the present of the community. Davies recalls the impact of activist and poet Bud Osborn and reflects upon the struggle to establish Insite, Canada’s first safe injection site. She goes on to discuss the impact of the ’90s austerity budget — and the resulting challenges still to be addressed.

New Democrat MP and health-care critic Libby Davies said the poor report card reflects a broad failure on the part of the government to resolve the nationwide drug shortage, secure a long-term care solution and make progress on the $41-billion 2014 Health Accord signed eight years ago. “They’ve washed their hands of health care,” Davies said of the Conservatives. “They’ve basically walked away. That has dramatic and serious consequences, and it’s very clear from this survey Canadians have not only taken note of that, they feel very dissatisfied and concerned about it.”