New B.C. Conservative critic calls for transparency, police-training reform after death of autistic teen

A newly appointed opposition critic is speaking out about the police-involved death of 15-year-old Chase de Balinhard.

A newly appointed Opposition critic spoke in the B.C. legislature Tuesday about the police-involved shooting of 15-year-old Chase De Balinhard, marking the first time a Conservative MLA has addressed the Surrey teen’s death in the house.

‘An immense tragedy’

During question period, Macklin McCall, Conservative critic for the solicitor general and public safety ministry, offered condolences to the family and urged openness as the Independent Investigations Office (IIO) continues its review into the fatal shooting.

“Chase De Balinhard lost his life following a standoff with law enforcement. This is an immense tragedy,” McCall said.“Chase’s parents deserve maximum transparency and a clear understanding of exactly what happened to their son. We must learn from this tragedy—not to point fingers, but to make sure we do everything possible to prevent such a loss from ever happening again.”

McCall also read from a letter written by Chase’s parents describing their son as “kind, thoughtful and funny.” The teenager, who was on the Autism spectrum, had the “heart of a philanthropist and the budget of a student,” they said.

‘We need to have the answers’

In a follow-up interview with CTV News, McCall said he supports any process that brings clarity and accountability for the family and the public.

“We need to determine what happened here,” he said. “We need to have the answers so we can move forward.”

While he stopped short of explicitly calling for a coroner’s inquest, McCall said he is “supportive of the truth” and of “all action that needs to be done to ensure we know what happened.”

Emphasis on police training

A former police officer himself, McCall said the tragedy highlights the need to improve how officers are trained to respond to calls involving people on the autism spectrum.

“Training shouldn’t stay stagnant—you shouldn’t be getting the same training you got 10 years ago,” he said. “Scenario-based training, where officers actively engage in realistic simulations, would go a long way in helping police understand how to respond when dealing with autistic individuals.”

He said he never received autism-specific, scenario-based training during his policing career but believes it would be “very effective” going forward.

“It shouldn’t require a tragedy for government to act,” McCall said. “Public safety should be proactive, not reactionary.”The Conservative critic’s remarks come after weeks of scrutiny over how the province developed its updated autism-specific police training. As first reported by CTV News, none of B.C.’s major autism advocacy organizations—including AutismBC and Autism Community Training—were initially consulted, even though the curriculum focuses on how officers interact with autistic and neurodivergent people.

Following questions from CTV News, those groups were invited to contribute their expertise. Public Safety Minister Nina Krieger has since confirmed their input is now being incorporated, and the updated curriculum remains set to launch this fall.

‘Families shouldn’t be left in the dark’

McCall also echoed concerns from Chase’s parents about the lengthy investigative process.

“It’s important the family isn’t left in the dark for months,” he said. “They should be updated, aware, and involved. Compassion is very important—especially in a case like this.”

The IIO investigation remains ongoing more than eight months after Chase’s death. Earlier this month, Krieger confirmed publicly for the first time that a coroner’s inquest will be held—but only after the watchdog completes its work.

Chase’s parents, Crystal and Rick De Balinhard, have said they welcome that commitment but wish it had come sooner.

“It’s been eight long months of torture,” Crystal told CTV News earlier this month. “We just want change.”

Understanding the tragedy

Chase De Balinhard, whose parents say he functioned developmentally closer to a 10-year-old, left his Surrey home on Feb. 9 carrying an unloaded pellet gun without his family’s knowledge. Police responded to a report of a person in distress minutes later, and Chase was fatally shot during the encounter.

His death has prompted widespread calls for improved police training and greater transparency in investigations involving neurodivergent individuals.

This story is part of CTV News’ ongoing investigation into the death of Chase De Balinhard and calls for accountability and reform in police oversight and training across B.C. Follow the full coverage here.