Close X
Friday, November 1, 2024
ADVT 
National

Federal addictions minister says B.C public decriminalization reversal under review

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 29 Apr, 2024 02:17 PM
  • Federal addictions minister says B.C public decriminalization reversal under review

Ya'ara Saks noted Monday that the province is only a year into its three-year pilot project, which began in early 2023. 

To make it happen, Health Canada issued an exemption to federal drug laws decriminalizing possession of small amounts of certain illegal drugs, including heroin, fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine.

"We're still evaluating the data," the minister said.

But on Friday, B.C. Premier David Eby asked Health Canada to amend that exemption order to recriminalize the use of those drugs in public spaces such as hospitals and restaurants. 

While adults would still be allowed to use such drugs in private, they could be arrested for using them in public. 

The request followed months of backlash from residents, health-care workers, police and conservative politicians about the project's effect on public safety. 

Saks said she met with her provincial counterpart on Friday and the province's amendment request is under review.

"The overdose crisis, as I've said before and I say again, is a health crisis issue. It is not a criminal one," Saks told reporters. 

B.C. was the first jurisdiction in Canada to seek the decriminalization of small amounts of hard drugs.

The province declared drug-related overdose deaths to be a public-health emergency in 2016, and the crisis worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Eby told reporters Monday that other jurisdictions can learn from its experience with decriminalization to date. 

He said there must be resources in place to address public drug use.

"There are important lessons to be learned on where we are to date, that don't need to be repeated," he said. 

"Addressing the public's concern around public use is critical to having their understanding about taking a health approach to addiction. Balancing those two things is core, and I hope other jurisdictions take that lesson and don't repeat our mistakes." 

Toronto has also requested an exemption from Health Canada. 

Toronto Public Health said in a statement that it is monitoring B.C's experience. It added that in its proposed model, public drug use would remain illegal. 

Ontario Premier Doug Ford repeated his call Monday for Toronto to drop that application.

Ford said he's spoken to Eby about how things have gone in B.C., and said "it's turned into a nightmare." 

Saks said Toronto's request is also under review, and each request for decriminalization will be treated individually.

"We work with jurisdictions on a case-by-case basis, making sure we have a full suite of tools available to help vulnerable populations. That includes prevention, that includes harm reduction, that includes treatment and it includes a full set of health considerations," she said.  

"It’s not an apples-to-apples situation and we continue to partner and work with jurisdictions."

More than 40,000 people have died from opioid-related deaths countrywide since 2016, when the Public Health Agency of Canada began collecting such data. 

The agency says 22 people die every day from toxic drug deaths, and fentanyl is the leading cause. Most of the deaths are in B.C., Ontario and Alberta.

Health officials and advocates for drug users warn the situation is only worsening, given an increasingly toxic supply of drugs. 

During question period on Monday, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre pressed the Liberal government on B.C.'s about-face.

And he is requesting an emergency debate on the issue in the House of Commons.

"Until Justin Trudeau's dangerous drug decriminalization policy is entirely dismantled, it will continue to cause death, chaos and carnage across Canada," he said in a letter to House of Commons Speaker Greg Fergus.

Poilievre has repeatedly called public drug use in cities like Vancouver a "dangerous experiment."

He charges that it fuels addiction, and pledges that a future Conservative government would pull out from harm reduction strategies and focus on recovery-oriented approaches instead.

Advocacy groups such as Moms Stop the Harm have asked to meet with Poilievre out of concern his proposal is ignoring evidence that harm-reduction strategies work to save lives.

Its co-founder spoke Monday at a parliamentary committee that has been studying the opioid epidemic. 

In a statement before her appearance, Petra Schulz said it has been "upsetting and infuriating" to see loved ones' deaths politicized with "misinformation and outright lies." 

"I urge members of Parliament to stop the angry, harmful and polarizing rhetoric and social-media posts, and to listen to people who use drugs when developing drug policy." 

MORE National ARTICLES

Trudeau says he doesn't understand why NDP is pulling back from carbon price support

Trudeau says he doesn't understand why NDP is pulling back from carbon price support
The New Democrats are facing political headwinds when it comes to carbon pricing, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau acknowledged Friday, but he said he doesn't understand why they're pulling back their support. The NDP have long been proponents of the climate policy, and even campaigned on it in the 2019 election. 

Trudeau says he doesn't understand why NDP is pulling back from carbon price support

Low-income renters got a benefit. Scammers took one day to target it, BC Housing says

Low-income renters got a benefit. Scammers took one day to target it, BC Housing says
BC Housing is warning of scammers targeting recipients of a support scheme for elderly low-income renters, just one day after it was announced. The housing agency says in a "fraud alert" on its website and social media that it will never use text messages to invite recipients to claim benefits.

Low-income renters got a benefit. Scammers took one day to target it, BC Housing says

Purse snatcher on the loose: VPD

Purse snatcher on the loose: VPD
Vancouver police are looking for a purse snatcher believed to be responsible for a number of robberies and attempted robberies of women throughout the city. Officers say in one case in March the man used a large knife to cut a woman's purse strap and fled with the purse after a brief struggle.

Purse snatcher on the loose: VPD

Scammers impersonating officers to steal from seniors: New Westminster police

Scammers impersonating officers to steal from seniors: New Westminster police
A recent scam where people impersonated officers to rob a senior has prompted a warning from police in New Westminster, B.C., east of Vancouver. A statement from the department says several people posing as police spoke to a senior at her home, convincing her to hand over her credit and debit cards.

Scammers impersonating officers to steal from seniors: New Westminster police

B.C. seeks to regulate electricity for cryptocurrency miners, citing huge demands

B.C. seeks to regulate electricity for cryptocurrency miners, citing huge demands
British Columbia is proposing legal changes that would allow the government to regulate the supply of electricity to cryptocurrency miners. A statement from the Ministry of Energy says cryptocurrency miners consume large amounts of electricity to constantly run high-powered computers, while creating very few jobs or economic opportunities.

B.C. seeks to regulate electricity for cryptocurrency miners, citing huge demands

12 B.C. municipal parties under investigation for finance or advertising violations

12 B.C. municipal parties under investigation for finance or advertising violations
Elections BC said in a news release that the potential violations relate to accepting prohibited contributions, failing to deal with such contributions, or sponsoring election advertisements without an authorization statement. It said the parties under investigation include Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim's ABC Vancouver and the Burnaby Citizen's Association, both of which won council majorities.

12 B.C. municipal parties under investigation for finance or advertising violations