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
OTTAWA - Addictions Minister Ya'ara Saks has turned down Toronto's request to decriminalize the possession of controlled drugs, citing concerns about public safety. The decision was announced on Friday evening, ahead of the long weekend, after facing substantial political pressure from the Opposition Conservatives and the Ontario government.
In response, Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow and Toronto's medical officer of health, Eileen de Villa, indicated they were prepared for the denial and are now seeking other forms of support.
Toronto submitted its proposal to Health Canada in January 2022, updating it in March 2023 after further consultations. The proposal sought decriminalization alongside comprehensive public health responses to the overdose crisis.
In her statement, Saks explained that Toronto's plan did not sufficiently protect public health or ensure public safety, partly due to the lack of support from the provincial government, which has strongly opposed the idea.
Mayor Chow responded with a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Ontario Premier Doug Ford, highlighting the severe impact of overdoses, which claim 2,500 lives annually in Ontario, 500 of them in Toronto. She emphasized the need for collaborative efforts among all government levels to expand access to treatment.
Chow called for a joint pilot program that would include connections to primary care, supportive housing, harm reduction, and partnerships with emergency services.
De Villa supported the approach outlined in Chow’s letter, emphasizing that decriminalization could help remove barriers to care. She also stressed the need for increased funding and access to various treatment options, which is the province's responsibility.
Following Saks' decision, de Villa highlighted the critical need to invest in other evidence-based interventions.
The decision comes shortly after Ontario Health Minister Sylvia Jones and Solicitor General Michael Kerzner sent a letter to de Villa, stating the province's firm opposition to the decriminalization proposal. They cited a "disastrous" pilot program in British Columbia as evidence that decriminalization does not work, claiming it encourages dangerous behavior in public spaces and undermines law enforcement.
Recently, the B.C. government received federal approval to recriminalize public drug possession, reversing their initial pilot program. On April 26, B.C. requested Health Canada to amend the exemption allowing the decriminalization of small amounts of drugs, including heroin, fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine. B.C. Premier David Eby cited concerns from the public, nurses, and police about drug use in spaces like hospitals and parks as the reason for seeking the change.
In summary, Toronto's request to decriminalize drug possession has been denied by the federal government due to safety concerns and lack of provincial support. The city now looks to explore other solutions to address the overdose crisis.
