Alberta and Ottawa react to B.C. decriminalizing drug possession

Malcolmson’s federal counterpart, Carolyn Bennett, says the “shocking number” of lives lost due to the opioid crisis requires bold actions and significant policy changes.

“I have thoroughly reviewed and carefully considered both the public health and public safety impacts of this request,” says Bennett. “Eliminating criminal penalties for those carrying small amounts of illicit drugs for personal use will reduce stigma and harm and provide another tool for British Columbia to end the overdose crisis.”

Federal Justice Minister David Lametti says a “larger discussion” on decriminalization is not happening, aside from the specific measure taken with the Pacific province.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau adds that the federal government will not pursue decriminalization with other jurisdictions without putting “the system and supports in place.” He says Ottawa took this approach with B.C. by building capacity and offering many ways to support people, such as projects offering a safe supply of illicit drugs.

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney offered a more staunch take on B.C.’s move towards drug decriminalization, saying he is “alarmed by this announcement” and that the Government of Alberta will “exhaust all options should their actions cause damage to Albertans.”

“Alberta’s government will never allow our communities to become sanctuaries for cartels and drug traffickers,” says Kenney. “This action will likely result in a dramatic increase in drug use, violence, trafficking, and addiction – something that health systems are already overburdened with.”

Instead, Kenney says his government supports dealing with addiction as a health care issue while keeping communities safe, and that people should never have to choose between the two.

He would rather see the federal government focus its efforts on targeting drug smuggling at international border crossings.

“There has been no consultation on decriminalization of drugs between the federal government and the public or the Government of Alberta. In fact, Prime Minister Trudeau specifically said he would not decriminalize drugs in the last election. This is clearly a result of the Liberal-NDP coalition and was likely demanded by the NDP as a condition of the agreement.”

Friends of Medicare issued a response to Premier Kenney’s statement, saying that under his government’s leadership, Albertans are dying from drug overdoses at record rates.

In 2021, a record 1,758 Albertans died as a result of a drug overdose, including 67 in Lethbridge. Both numbers are the highest-ever recorded.

Chris Gallaway, Executive Director of Friends of Medicare, called Kenney’s comments a “slap in the face” to the thousands of Albertans who lost their lives due to drug use.

“Rather than doubling down with highly-torqued political rhetoric, the Premier must do his job and treat this like the public health crisis that is it, starting by reversing this government’s deadly attacks on life-saving harm reduction programs,” says Gallaway.

One of the “attacks” that Gallaway referred to was the closure of the Supervised Consumption Site in Lethbridge in August 2020, which was the busiest provider of harm reduction services in North America.

It was later replaced by the Alberta Heath Services-operated Overdose Prevention Site, a smaller space located outside of the Lethbridge Shelter and Stabilization Centre.

by David Opinko

Alberta and Ottawa react to B.C. decriminalizing drug possession

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