Close X
Monday, November 11, 2024
ADVT 
National

B.C. wants small drug amounts decriminalized

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 01 Nov, 2021 04:29 PM
  • B.C. wants small drug amounts decriminalized

VICTORIA - British Columbia is applying to the federal government to remove criminal penalties for possession of small amounts of illicit drugs.

Mental Health and Addictions Minister Sheila Malcolmson says substance use and addiction is a public health issue and not a criminal one, which is why the province believes removing possession penalties will help more people get the care they need.

Figures released in September from the BC Coroners Service show there were 1,204 deaths from illicit drugs between January and the end of July, a 28 per cent jump over the same period in 2020.

The coroner says the first seven months of this year were the deadliest since a health emergency was declared in 2016, and July was the 17th straight month in which more than 100 B.C. residents died from a toxic drug supply.

Last month, Toronto said it was also preparing to ask Health Canada for an exemption under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act to decriminalize the possession of illicit drugs for personal use in the city, following a similar request made by Vancouver in May.

Toronto Public Health said a total of 521 confirmed opioid overdose deaths were recorded in the city last year, which represented a 78 per cent increase from deaths recorded in 2019.

 

MORE National ARTICLES

Dr. Gulzar Cheema has been honoured by having a street named after him in Canada

Dr. Gulzar Cheema has been honoured by having a street named after him in Canada
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau lauded the contribution of Cheema by saying that he was among few personalities who have the honor to become a member of two provincial assemblies and he was first elected MLA of the Indo-Canadian community.

Dr. Gulzar Cheema has been honoured by having a street named after him in Canada

Unionized B.C. LifeLabs workers to take job action

Unionized B.C. LifeLabs workers to take job action
The B.C. General Employees' Union says a rally is scheduled outside a LifeLabs in Burnaby on Saturday as workers plan to refuse voluntary overtime and work to rule, starting Friday night.

Unionized B.C. LifeLabs workers to take job action

B.C. Liberals reject Aaron Gunn's leadership bid

B.C. Liberals reject Aaron Gunn's leadership bid
Party officials say Aaron Gunn's application to enter the contest was rejected on grounds that approving his candidacy would be inconsistent with the Liberal party's commitment to reconciliation, diversity and acceptance of all people in B.C.    

B.C. Liberals reject Aaron Gunn's leadership bid

649 COVID19 cases for Friday

649 COVID19 cases for Friday
There are 5,106 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, and 193,325 people who tested positive have recovered. Of the active cases, 365 individuals are currently in hospital and 143 are in intensive care. 

649 COVID19 cases for Friday

Hot coffee allegedly thrown by woman on the face of a Tim Horton's employee: VPD

Hot coffee allegedly thrown by woman on the face of a Tim Horton's employee: VPD
A woman entered the Tim Hortons near Pender and Abbott streets on October 20 around 10 a.m. and ordered a coffee. Surveillance footage shows the female employee handing the woman a cup of hot coffee, which the suspect then threw back in her face.

Hot coffee allegedly thrown by woman on the face of a Tim Horton's employee: VPD

Defence vows review of extremism in foreign troops

Defence vows review of extremism in foreign troops
The study this month out of George Washington University in Washington, D.C., found that members of Centuria have worked with and accessed training from Canada, among other NATO countries.

Defence vows review of extremism in foreign troops