Poilievre blames Trudeau Liberals for B.C.’s decriminalization chaos

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OTTAWA — Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre lambasted the federal Liberals on Monday for not having yet approved British Columbia’s request to scale back its decriminalization policy for illicit drugs — a request made official on Friday.

The debate became heated in the House of Commons after Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Ya’ara Saks said that she had met with her B.C. counterpart and that she and Health Canada officials were reviewing the province’s exemption request.

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“She’s wasting time while people are dying,” said Poilievre. “What the hell are they thinking over there?” he added, while at least one of his MPs was yelling “worst decision ever!”

House Speaker Greg Fergus immediately chided Poilievre for using unparliamentary language and asked that he withdraw the “offensive word” that is “hell.” Poilievre went ahead and withdrew the word “because they are not thinking over there.”

Later in the day, Poilievre attempted to request an emergency debate on the subject, arguing it was a matter of life or death, but Fergus did not consent.

“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,” said Poilievre in a speech.

“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.

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Since January 2023, a federal government pilot project in B.C. has allowed possession for personal use of less than 2.5 grams of cocaine, methamphetamine, MDMA and opioids like fentanyl without facing criminal charges, in an attempt to treat drug use as a public health issue.

But soon facing re-election and following a massive backlash over decriminalization of drugs, B.C.’s NDP government suddenly announced it would ask the federal government to reintroduce a ban on drug use in all public places, such as hospitals, transit and parks.

Under the changes, police would be able to take action against anyone using these drugs in public places — such as asking them to leave the area, seize their drugs or arrest them if required. Drug consumption would still be permitted in private residences.

“While we are caring and compassionate for those struggling with addiction, we do not accept street disorder that makes communities feel unsafe,” said B.C. Premier David Eby.

Eby’s government attempted to ban drug use in many public places last year through provincial legislation, but the move was challenged and frozen in the provincial court, with the attorney general estimating that the legal challenge could be tied up for at least a year.

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That is why B.C. made a formal request for Health Canada to change its exemption under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, under which the pilot project operates.

Vancouver Police Deputy Chief Fiona Wilson recently testified at a parliamentary committee that police leaders in B.C. supported decriminalization but said it occurred before more “extensive restrictions” on public consumption could be adopted.

“Given the scope of the crisis, it is apparent that decriminalization is only one strategy and that it must be part of a broader, multi-faceted response,” she said.

Saks told reporters on Monday that it was B.C. that requested the exemption from the federal government to address the “illicit toxic drug supply and the overdose crisis” and that she is “wholeheartedly committed” to continue to work to resolve the issue.

“Our commitment is to keep this firmly in the frame that this is a health-care crisis, and it is not a criminalization issue,” she said.

Saks would not, however, draw any early conclusions of B.C.’s decision to partly scale back its decriminalization, saying that the province was only one year into a three-year pilot project and that the federal government would continue to work with B.C. to evaluate the data.

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The situation is also raising questions as the City of Toronto is considering expanding its decriminalization request to go further than B.C. — something that Ontario Premier Doug Ford has vowed to fight “tooth and nail.”

Poilievre has also pushed the federal government to refuse Toronto’s request to replicate B.C.’s “decriminalization nightmare.”

Saks said that Toronto’s request is still under review and that it is not an “apples-to-apples situation.”

National Post
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