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.

How useful was this post?

Click on a star to rate it!

Average rating 0 / 5. Vote count: 0

No votes so far! Be the first to rate this post.

You may also like

Aerobatic Pilot Rob Holland Dies In Crash At Langley Air Force Base

Rob Holland, one of the world’s top aerobatic pilots, died in a plane crash on Thursday. The crash happened at....

Elections Canada Prepares For Record-Breaking Vote In Poilievre's Riding

Elections Canada is ready to handle a large and unusual ballot in the Ontario riding where Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre....

Armed Man Shot Dead by Police During Chaos At Toronto Airport

A 30-year-old man with a gun was shot and killed by police at Toronto Pearson International Airport on Thursday morning.....

Gladiator’s Skeleton In York Shows Evidence Of Lion Combat

A fascinating discovery in York, England, has given researchers new insights into ancient Roman combat. Archaeologists have found a skeleton....

White House Reports Success At Canada-U.S. Border Amid Tariffs

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt highlighted the successes at the Canada-U.S. border during a briefing on Tuesday. She mentioned....

Record 7.3 Million Canadians Cast Votes In Advance Polls: Elections Canada

A new record was set in Canada as 7.3 million people cast their votes during the advance polls, according to....

Scientists discover rare signs of Earth's layers peeling beneath Sierra Nevada

Seismologist Deborah Kilb made an exciting discovery while analyzing earthquake data from California. While reviewing the past four decades of....

Harvard Sues Trump Administration Over $2.2 Billion Funding Freeze

Harvard University filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration on Monday, aiming to stop a freeze on over $2.2 billion....

Canada’s Election Focus Shifts From Climate To Energy Plans

As Canada gets ready to vote on April 28, concerns about climate change have taken a back seat. This time,....

Canada’s Election Heats Up As Liberals Hold Narrow Lead

Canada’s federal election is entering its final week, and the race is now neck and neck. A new poll shows....

Trump May Cut Another $1 billion From Harvard Over Policy Dispute

The Trump administration plans to remove another $1 billion in federal funding from Harvard University. This decision comes as tensions....

Oldest American Astronaut Don Pettit Returns To Earth On 70th Birthday

Don Pettit, America’s oldest active astronaut, landed safely back on Earth on his 70th birthday. He traveled in a space....