Conservative motion to curb any decriminalization project defeated
(Ottawa) The Liberals, Bloc Québécois and New Democrats on Tuesday rejected a motion by Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre calling on Ottawa to refuse any future request to decriminalize simple drug possession.
ÉMILIE BERGERONThe Canadian PressThe official opposition was the only political party to support the initiative, which was defeated by a majority.
The motion referred to municipalities, such as Montreal, that have spoken out in favour of the decriminalization approach. This is tantamount to avoiding criminal records and penalties for people found in the presence of small amounts of drugs for their personal use, as British Columbia had begun to do.
The Conservatives, however, in the text they submitted to the floor of the House of Commons, mention demands "for the federal government to legalize deadly hard drugs."
In fact, no call for the legalization of all drugs has been made by municipalities and provinces to Justin Trudeau's government, which legalized cannabis in 2018. In this case, a legal and regulated market for the sale and distribution of marijuana has emerged.
The Conservatives' choice of words led Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante's office two weeks ago to criticize Poilievre for making "false claims."
Asked at the time to react, the Conservative leader's office responded that "the mayor of Montreal
has confirmed her desire to legalize hard drugs."
As early as 2021, Montreal's elected officials adopted a motion to ask Ottawa to allow the decriminalization of simple possession. Ms. Plante voted in favour and has since reiterated her support for the approach several times.
However, no approach was then made to Health Canada, which must, in order for decriminalization to become a reality, grant an exemption to the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.
Plante's press secretary, Catherine Cadotte, said that "the conditions are not right in Montreal."
"Before changing laws, it's critical to provide cities with more resources in housing, mental health, addictions and social intervention," she continued in a written statement.
It's unclear what would happen to a formal request from Montreal — if it ever materializes — since Trudeau has made it clear that he wants to work with provincial levels of government on this issue.
"When Vancouver asked us for an exemption, we said, 'No, we only want to work with the province on this.' […] The same thing [will prevail] with respect to Ontario or Quebec," he said earlier this month.
Ottawa has since rejected a request from the City of Toronto citing public safety concerns.
When Ottawa granted British Columbia its exemption in the spring of 2022, François Legault's government
signaled that decriminalization was not in the cards.
There is no doubt in the eyes of the Conservatives that the Trudeau government's exemption to British Columbia "has resulted in death and destruction, chaos and carnage in hospitals, playgrounds, parks and public transit," Poilievre spokeswoman Marion Ringuette said recently.
ÉMILIE BERGERONThe Canadian PressThe official opposition was the only political party to support the initiative, which was defeated by a majority.
The motion referred to municipalities, such as Montreal, that have spoken out in favour of the decriminalization approach. This is tantamount to avoiding criminal records and penalties for people found in the presence of small amounts of drugs for their personal use, as British Columbia had begun to do.
The Conservatives, however, in the text they submitted to the floor of the House of Commons, mention demands "for the federal government to legalize deadly hard drugs."
In fact, no call for the legalization of all drugs has been made by municipalities and provinces to Justin Trudeau's government, which legalized cannabis in 2018. In this case, a legal and regulated market for the sale and distribution of marijuana has emerged.
The Conservatives' choice of words led Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante's office two weeks ago to criticize Poilievre for making "false claims."
Asked at the time to react, the Conservative leader's office responded that "the mayor of Montreal
has confirmed her desire to legalize hard drugs."
As early as 2021, Montreal's elected officials adopted a motion to ask Ottawa to allow the decriminalization of simple possession. Ms. Plante voted in favour and has since reiterated her support for the approach several times.
However, no approach was then made to Health Canada, which must, in order for decriminalization to become a reality, grant an exemption to the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.
Plante's press secretary, Catherine Cadotte, said that "the conditions are not right in Montreal."
"Before changing laws, it's critical to provide cities with more resources in housing, mental health, addictions and social intervention," she continued in a written statement.
It's unclear what would happen to a formal request from Montreal — if it ever materializes — since Trudeau has made it clear that he wants to work with provincial levels of government on this issue.
"When Vancouver asked us for an exemption, we said, 'No, we only want to work with the province on this.' […] The same thing [will prevail] with respect to Ontario or Quebec," he said earlier this month.
Ottawa has since rejected a request from the City of Toronto citing public safety concerns.
When Ottawa granted British Columbia its exemption in the spring of 2022, François Legault's government
signaled that decriminalization was not in the cards.
There is no doubt in the eyes of the Conservatives that the Trudeau government's exemption to British Columbia "has resulted in death and destruction, chaos and carnage in hospitals, playgrounds, parks and public transit," Poilievre spokeswoman Marion Ringuette said recently.
