Political leaders are speaking out after British Columbia revealed it’s stepping back on its drug decriminalization just over a year into its program.
The pilot project was launched in Jan. 2023 and exempted those in possession of up to 2.5 grams or less of common street drugs such as cocaine, fentanyl, methamphetamine, and MDMA.
However, the project was met with tons of backlash from political leaders, health-care workers, police and the general public. As a result, B.C. Premier David Eby is asking the federal government to recriminalize the use of drugs in public places.
Last week, B.C. revealed that it’s going to be recruiting police when it comes to illicit drug use in public spaces.
“Keeping people safe is our highest priority. While we are caring and compassionate for those struggling with addiction, we do not accept street disorder that makes communities feel unsafe,” Eby said in a statement.
“We’re taking action to make sure police have the tools they need to ensure safe and comfortable communities for everyone as we expand treatment options so people can stay alive and get better,” he continued.
According to the release, the western province is working with Health Canada to urgently change the decriminalization policy.
“This will provide police with the power to enforce against drug use in all public places, including hospitals, restaurants, transit, parks and beaches. Guidance will be given to police to only arrest for simple possession of illicit drugs in exceptional circumstances,” the province said.
This change would not recriminalize drug possession in private residences, places where someone is legally sheltering, or at overdose prevention sites and drug checking locations, according to the province.
In response, Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre called for an emergency meeting at the House of Commons arguing that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau should end the program entirely, instead of adhering to Eby’s request to make changes.
Poilievre also went as far as describing the drug policy as “wacko.”
During that meeting, Poilievre emphasized that time is running out on the matter.
“Every day in British Columbia, six people die of drug overdoses. This is by far the highest overdose rate anywhere in Canada, something that even the (B.C.) NDP government is now attributing in part to the decriminalization,” Poilievre said.
“Every single day that goes by before the prime minister reverses himself, decriminalized drugs will be killing people on the streets of Vancouver, on Vancouver Island, in the Lower Mainland, and in other places across the province,” he added.
Trudeau has yet to respond to his comments.
Meanwhile, other politicians in B.C. agree with the move.
Some Canadians are also on board with ditching the program.
“When will David Eby admit this was a disaster and end decriminalization!” one X user said.
“Decrim was supposed to reduce the number of overdoses, but in reality there are way more overdoses now than there ever were before. It failed completely as a harm reduction strategy,” another user said.
“…The whole “safe supply” approach, which was defended ferociously by so many health professionals & others, has been a disaster, especially for vulnerable addicts,” another user commented.
