Decriminalize possession

Months before British Columbia sought to scale back its drug decriminalization pilot, the federal government’s own polling suggested to officials that a majority of Canadians believed the policy would lead to an increase in overdoses. Photographs of overdose victims are displayed as members of Moms Stop the Harm mark International Overdose Awareness Day, in Vancouver, B.C., Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Ottawa’s own research showed national drug decriminalization concern

‘People have really overestimated the impacts of decriminalization, both positive and negative’

 

Addictions Minister Ya’ara Saks has rejected Toronto’s request to decriminalize the possession of controlled drugs, citing concerns about public safety. Saks speaks in the Foyer of the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, on Tuesday, May 7, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby

Ottawa rejects Toronto’s request to decriminalize drug possession

It comes after B.C. recently received federal approval to recriminalize public drug possession

 

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre speaks during a news conference on safety in hospitals in Vancouver, on Tuesday, May 14, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns

No illicit drug use in B.C. hospitals ‘ever’, Poilievre pledges

Conservatives to introduce bill to end the federal health minister’s power to grant exemptions

 

Ya’ara Saks, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health speaks in the Foyer of the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, on Tuesday, May 7, 2024. Toronto’s decriminalization bid has been tainted by political debates fuelled by British Columbia’s recent backtrack, drug policy experts say, plunging the city’s application into uncertainty. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby

B.C. walk-back puts Toronto decriminalization talk in limbo

Policy experts say B.C.’s backtracking on the issue has hurt the city’s application

Ya’ara Saks, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health speaks in the Foyer of the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, on Tuesday, May 7, 2024. Toronto’s decriminalization bid has been tainted by political debates fuelled by British Columbia’s recent backtrack, drug policy experts say, plunging the city’s application into uncertainty. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby
An empty coffin is carried during a march organized by the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users (VANDU) to mark International Overdose Awareness Day, in Vancouver, on Thursday, August 31, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. decriminalization change could mean more drug deaths: advocates

‘This is a bad move for both the provincial government and the federal government’

An empty coffin is carried during a march organized by the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users (VANDU) to mark International Overdose Awareness Day, in Vancouver, on Thursday, August 31, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth and Mental Health and Addictions Minister Jennifer Whiteside address the media outside the provincial legislature after Ottawa had announced that it would grant B.C.’s request to amend the terms of decriminalization. They will make illicit drug use illegal in all public spaces including parks, hospitals and on transit. Original terms of the pilot project had prohibited police from arresting, charging or seizing adults in possession of up to 2.5 grams of heroin, cocaine, crack, crystal meth, MDMA or fentanyl. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

B.C.’s request to ban public drug use approved by Ottawa

Federal Mental Health and Addictions Minister Ya’ara Saks says the change is effective immediately

Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth and Mental Health and Addictions Minister Jennifer Whiteside address the media outside the provincial legislature after Ottawa had announced that it would grant B.C.’s request to amend the terms of decriminalization. They will make illicit drug use illegal in all public spaces including parks, hospitals and on transit. Original terms of the pilot project had prohibited police from arresting, charging or seizing adults in possession of up to 2.5 grams of heroin, cocaine, crack, crystal meth, MDMA or fentanyl. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
BC United Kelowna-Mission MLA Renee Merrifield in the B.C. Legislature during Question Period on April 11, 2023. (Legislature video)

‘Decriminalization changes cause more chaos’: Kelowna MLA Merrifield

Illicit drug use to be illegal in all public spaces, including inside hospitals, transit, parks

BC United Kelowna-Mission MLA Renee Merrifield in the B.C. Legislature during Question Period on April 11, 2023. (Legislature video)
Mental Health and Addictions Minister Ya’ara Saks says the decision about whether to recriminalize drug use in British Columbia needs to be made urgently, but she’s still waiting for more information from the province before making a call. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick)

B.C. says feds have answers they need, wants urgent decriminalization response

Premier David Eby has asked the federal government to recriminalize drug use in B.C. public spaces

Mental Health and Addictions Minister Ya’ara Saks says the decision about whether to recriminalize drug use in British Columbia needs to be made urgently, but she’s still waiting for more information from the province before making a call. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick)
Mental Health and Addictions Minister Ya’ara Saks says the decision about whether to recriminalize drug use in British Columbia needs to be made urgently, but she’s still waiting for more information from the province before making a call. Saks rises during during question period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Monday, April 29, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Urgent push for recriminalization answer awaits B.C. reply: Ottawa

Federal minister wants information from B.C. before deciding on drug law changes

Mental Health and Addictions Minister Ya’ara Saks says the decision about whether to recriminalize drug use in British Columbia needs to be made urgently, but she’s still waiting for more information from the province before making a call. Saks rises during during question period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Monday, April 29, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Premier David Eby says Friday’s announcement that B.C. is seeking changes to decriminalization tries to balance the interests of people using substances and public safety. The move has earned praise from UBCM, but also criticism from others. (Matthew Claxton/Langley Advance-Times)

B.C. municipalities praise NDP for proposed decriminalization changes

Poverty advocate more critical of Friday’s request for changes to drug pilot project

Premier David Eby says Friday’s announcement that B.C. is seeking changes to decriminalization tries to balance the interests of people using substances and public safety. The move has earned praise from UBCM, but also criticism from others. (Matthew Claxton/Langley Advance-Times)
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre rises during Question Period, Wednesday, April 17, 2024 in Ottawa. The federal Conservatives are pushing the Liberals to end allowing drug use in public places after British Columbia announced it wants to scale back its pilot on decriminalization. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Push mounts for Ottawa to support B.C. drug decriminalization reversal

Feds evaluating B.C. request for an ‘urgent’ change to a Health Canada exemption

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre rises during Question Period, Wednesday, April 17, 2024 in Ottawa. The federal Conservatives are pushing the Liberals to end allowing drug use in public places after British Columbia announced it wants to scale back its pilot on decriminalization. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
BC Green Leader Sonia Furstenau. Furstenau is accusing government of ignoring the courts and the real harms of drug use after Premier David Eby announced April 26 that the government would be moving to ban public drug use. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito)

B.C. opposition gives thumbs-down to proposed decriminalization changes

B.C. United’s Sturko renews calls to end pilot while B.C. Greens’ Furstenau warns against a roll-back

BC Green Leader Sonia Furstenau. Furstenau is accusing government of ignoring the courts and the real harms of drug use after Premier David Eby announced April 26 that the government would be moving to ban public drug use. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito)
Island Health, the health authority covering Vancouver Island, says a document said to be “actively” directing drug use in hospitals according to B.C. United is a “resource document” to support and promote both patient and staff safety. (CHRIS BUSH/ Black Press Media)

B.C. United says health authority actively supporting hospital drug use

Island Health says document coming under fire supports and promotes both patient and staff safety

Island Health, the health authority covering Vancouver Island, says a document said to be “actively” directing drug use in hospitals according to B.C. United is a “resource document” to support and promote both patient and staff safety. (CHRIS BUSH/ Black Press Media)
Health Minister Adrian Dix says the public will be able to review a report into the economics of safe supply commissioned by public health officer Bonnie Henry. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)

B.C. to release report into economics of safe supply as part of larger review

Public Health Officer commissioned U.S. expert to review economics of safe supply

Health Minister Adrian Dix says the public will be able to review a report into the economics of safe supply commissioned by public health officer Bonnie Henry. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)
BC United’s Elenore Sturko Thursday reiterated her party’s call to end decriminalization, but government has other options. She added that ending decriminalization would not automatically “flood” the courts with people using drugs, adding other countries have used forms of administrative rather criminal justice as part of a broader response. (Black Press Media file photo)

Ending decriminalization won’t end ‘our fight’ to ‘save people’ says B.C. United

B.C. United’s Elenore Sturko says there are “other options” to decriminalization

BC United’s Elenore Sturko Thursday reiterated her party’s call to end decriminalization, but government has other options. She added that ending decriminalization would not automatically “flood” the courts with people using drugs, adding other countries have used forms of administrative rather criminal justice as part of a broader response. (Black Press Media file photo)
Premier David Eby, here seen with Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon, said Thursday that his government will continue to treat addiction as a mental health issue, but also promised additional resources for police to deal with public safety. (Matthew Claxton/Langley Advance Times)

Premier says B.C. will continue to treat addiction as a mental health issue

But David Eby also said police will have the necessary resources to address public safety

Premier David Eby, here seen with Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon, said Thursday that his government will continue to treat addiction as a mental health issue, but also promised additional resources for police to deal with public safety. (Matthew Claxton/Langley Advance Times)
Fiona Wilson, deputy chief constable of the Vancouver Police Department and president of the BC Association of Chiefs of Police, told federal MPs Monday (April 16) that decriminalization has not been without its issues, but also pushed back concerns about the diversion of safe supply while speaking to federal MPs. Dwayne McDonald, deputy commissioner and commanding officer of E Division Royal Canadian Mounted Police, also spoke.(Screencap)

Fix public consumption issue while decriminalization continues: B.C. cops

VPD’s deputy chief constable, head of RCMP in B.C. spoke before federal MPs Monday

Fiona Wilson, deputy chief constable of the Vancouver Police Department and president of the BC Association of Chiefs of Police, told federal MPs Monday (April 16) that decriminalization has not been without its issues, but also pushed back concerns about the diversion of safe supply while speaking to federal MPs. Dwayne McDonald, deputy commissioner and commanding officer of E Division Royal Canadian Mounted Police, also spoke.(Screencap)
A 2023 WorkSafeBC investigation of Vancouver Island hospitals including Victoria General Hospital found “several symptomatic worker exposures to illicit substances.” Health Minister Adrian Dix Monday announced a task force to help help create province-wide standards in response to rising reports of illicit substances being used in hospitals. (Black Press Media file photo)

Health minister announces task force to deal with drug use in B.C. hospitals

BC United’s Elenore Sturko questions need for task force, calls for tougher enforcement

A 2023 WorkSafeBC investigation of Vancouver Island hospitals including Victoria General Hospital found “several symptomatic worker exposures to illicit substances.” Health Minister Adrian Dix Monday announced a task force to help help create province-wide standards in response to rising reports of illicit substances being used in hospitals. (Black Press Media file photo)
Health Minister Adrian Dix Wednesday faced questions about a July 2023 Northern Health memo that says patients can use drugs while in their rooms and keep knives under four-inches. BC United cited the memo as evidence of the NDP having “created a free-for-all with open drug use” but Dix’s ministry says Northern Health “should have reconsidered how it phrased this memo” in noting the illegality of drug use in hospitals settings.

Leaked memo sparks heated debate about drug use in northern B.C. hospitals

Northern Health memo says ‘patients can use substances while in hospital in their rooms’

Health Minister Adrian Dix Wednesday faced questions about a July 2023 Northern Health memo that says patients can use drugs while in their rooms and keep knives under four-inches. BC United cited the memo as evidence of the NDP having “created a free-for-all with open drug use” but Dix’s ministry says Northern Health “should have reconsidered how it phrased this memo” in noting the illegality of drug use in hospitals settings.
FILE - Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek listens during a walking tour, Feb. 13, 2024, in Vancouver, Wash. Kotek has signed into law a bill that recriminalizes the possession of small amounts of drugs, Monday, April 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane, File)

Oregon governor signs a bill recriminalizing drug possession into law

New law rolls back a 2020 measure and makes personal use possession punishable again

FILE - Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek listens during a walking tour, Feb. 13, 2024, in Vancouver, Wash. Kotek has signed into law a bill that recriminalizes the possession of small amounts of drugs, Monday, April 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane, File)