Addiction a ‘health-care crisis’ as B.C. eyes public drug use ban: minister

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David Eby,Drug Decriminalization,Ya'ara Saks

Mental Health and Addictions Minister Ya'ara Saks says B.C.'s application to recriminalize public drug use is still under review and maintains addictions is a health crisis.

B.C.'s drug policy remains under the microscope just days after Premier David Eby announced a major overhaul of the government's decriminalization pilot project. As Angela Jung reports, the leader of the opposition in Ottawa is now calling for an emergency debate on the issue in the House of Commons.

“That compassion, that concern for people who are struggling does not mean that anything goes. We still have expectations around safety, public spaces, in the coffee shop, on the bus, in the park, on the beach,” Eby said Friday.Saks said B.C.’s application to modify the exemption is still under review by Health Canada, as it was only received on Friday.

“Some of the voices out there that are polarizing right now would like to look at this in singular frames. I say resolutely that we have to look at this as a health-care crisis. I’m looking at all the tools that we need,” Saks said. In 2023, B.C. saw 2,546 drug deaths, a figure that’s been increasing annually since 2019, when there were 990 drug toxicity deaths.The City of Toronto has its own application for decriminalization before Health Canada. This includes decriminalizing simple possession for personal use and covers the entire city with some exceptions and all people regardless of age.Excluded areas from the proposed exemption include K-12 schools, child-care centres and airports.

 

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