British Columbia's NDP government is asking Canada's Liberal government to recriminalize public drug use in the province, after its own attempt was suspended by a judge pending a constitutional challenge.
BC looks for Feds to overturn parts of controversial drug decriminalization | Western Standard | Shaun Polczer:
April 26, 2024 - "[T]he BC government is throwing up its hands at what it says are barriers to restricting where and how narcotics can be openly used in public — including hospitals and public health facilities. Jennifer Whiteside, BC’s minister for mental health and addictions, is meeting with her federal counterpart Ya’ara Saks in Vancouver on Friday, where she is reportedly asking the Liberal government to review exemptions that allow users to smoke meth in hospital rooms, among others. She’ll also reportedly be asking Ottawa to support more supervised drug consumption sites and request[ing] additional resources....
"BC’s NDP government faces increasing pushback from municipalities over open drug use in their communities. On Thursday, the City of Kamloops wrote a letter to Premier David Eby calling for the end of the three-year decriminalization pilot.... 'We want the same rules as smokers and drinkers have that we can enforce. This is just one more tool that we need,' wrote deputy mayor Bill Sarai.... He was joined by the mayor of Fort St. John, Lilia Hansen, who also called for an end to the program....'We don't want to stigmatize anyone, but we have to think about our entire community and their safety,' she said. 'I do not believe that the decriminalization is working.'
"But the provincial government says its hands are tied with respect to the decriminalization pilot that began on January 31 2023 because it falls under the Criminal Code. An attempt to pass laws to restrict open drug use in places such as beaches and public parks last November was suspended pending a Charter of Rights challenge to the Supreme Court.
"Senior police officials testified before a House parliamentary committee last week that decriminalization went ahead without necessary steps to maintain public order. In recent weeks hospital workers have complained they are powerless to stop the use of dangerous drugs in washrooms and halls — even in a maternity unit — which they say is putting lives at risk."
Read more: https://www.westernstandard.news/bc/bc-looks-for-feds-to-overturn-parts-of-controversial-drug-decriminalization/54126?utm_source=website&utm_medium=related-stories
B.C. seeks ban on drug use in 'all public spaces' | CTV News | April 26, 2024:
Half of illegal street narcotics in BC from safe supply; cops powerless to stop drug use in hospitals | Western Standard | Shaun Polczer:
April 18, 2024 - "Testifying before a House of Commons Health Committee in Ottawa, ... Fiona Wilson, president of the BC Association of Chiefs of Police and deputy chief of the Vancouver Police Department, told the committee on Tuesday [that] police were essentially powerless to stop drug use in hospitals because they aren’t exempted from public spaces like schools, airports and some types of playgrounds. 'When that happens, if it’s not in a place that’s an exception to the exemption, there is nothing police can do,” she said....
"The issue came to a head after nurses union members complained they are being exposed to fentanyl, crack and other illegal drugs from users who openly smoke them in their hospital rooms. Security staff complain that they’re not trained to deal with the problem, which is exacerbated by the fact many addicts also have weapons when they’re admitted.
"Wilson said police warned government officials before the policy was enacted in January, 2023. 'These are all things that we raised prior to decriminalization taking effect, that we don’t feel were adequately addressed, however we strongly support the notion of not trying to arrest ourselves out of this crisis. That is not going to save lives.'
"The BC government is trying to expand areas where open drug use is not permitted but is facing a court challenge from so-called ‘harm reduction’ advocates who argue it violates the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. It’s essentially a federal issue because Ottawa had to allow the decriminalization from the Criminal Code at the request of a BC government that now finds its hands tied in the face of growing public opposition — and alarm — toward the policy."
Read more: https://www.westernstandard.news/bc/half-of-illegal-street-narcotics-in-bc-from-safe-supply-cops-powerless-to-stop-drug-use-in-hospitals/53918
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