Toronto's top doctor recommends decriminalizing possession of small amounts of illicit drugs
Toronto’s medical officer of health is recommending that possession of small quantities of illegal drugs be decriminalized within the city’s geographical boundaries.
The recommendation, which will be presented to the city's board of health at a meeting next week, states that the city should pursue a federal exemption under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act to decriminalize possession of small amounts of illegal drugs in Toronto.
“The status quo approach to the drug poisoning crisis is not working,” Dr. Eileen de Villa’s report to the board of health read.
“There is an urgent need for a comprehensive public health approach to drug policy that removes structural barriers to healthcare and social services, provides alternatives to the toxic drug supply, and enhances and expands services to improve the health and well-being of Toronto's communities.”
According to data released by the city, there were 531 confirmed drug overdose deaths in Toronto in 2020, marking an 81 per cent increase compared to 2019.
“If granted by Health Canada, this exemption would mean that people found in possession of drugs for personal use in Toronto would not be subject to criminal penalties,” the report read.
“All activities associated with drug trafficking, such as production and sale, would remain illegal and subject to the penalties under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.”
Toronto Public Health has already initiated a consultation process on moving forward to request the exemption within Toronto and the move has the support of the Toronto Police Service.
In a letter penned last week, Toronto Police Chief James Ramer said the police service, along with the national associations of chiefs of police, endorse the decriminalization of personal possession of illegal drugs.
“We agree that the current approach to managing drug use does not support safe communities or advance the health of people who use drugs,” the letter read.
“Decriminalization of the simple possession of all drugs- combined with the scale-up of prevention, harm reduction and treatment services- is a more effective way to address the public health and public safety harms associated with substance use.”
Toronto is not the first jurisdiction in Canada to make this request.
Both the City of Vancouver and the province of B.C. are seeking federal approval to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of illegal drugs.
“The Controlled Drugs and Substances Act is administered by Health Canada and establishes the legislative framework that regulates the possession, distribution, and sale of unregulated drugs in Canada,” de Villa,s report read.
“Under Section 56(1) of the Act, the Federal Minister of Health has the authority to exempt jurisdictions, including municipalities and provinces, from provisions of the Act that criminalize drugs if the Minister deems it necessary for a medical purpose or it is in the public interest.”
She noted that supervised consumption services have been permitted to operate in jurisdictions across the country using the federal authority.
The board of health will vote on the recommendation at its next meeting on Dec. 6.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Serial sexual offender linked to unsolved 1970s homicides of four Calgary girls, women
An investigation into unsolved historical homicides from the 1970s has linked the deaths of two girls and two young women in and around Calgary to a now-deceased serial offender.
Woman with liver failure rejected for a transplant after medical review highlights alcohol use
For nearly three months, Amanda Huska has been in an Ontario hospital, part of it on life support, because of severe liver failure. Her history of alcohol use is getting in the way of her only potential treatment: a liver transplant.
A look back on Alberta's record-breaking wildfire season: Preparing for potential challenges in 2024
By the end of the 2023 wildfire season in Alberta, 1,088 wildfires had burned more than 2.2 million hectares of land, and this year, the wildfire season is already in full swing.
Video appears to show Sean 'Diddy' Combs beating singer Cassie in hotel hallway in 2016
Security video aired by CNN appears to show Sean 'Diddy' Combs physically assaulting singer Cassie in a Los Angeles hotel hallway in 2016.
B.C. man 'attacked suddenly' by adult grizzly near Alberta border: RCMP
A B.C. man is recovering from multiple injuries after he was "attacked suddenly" by an adult grizzly bear near Elkford Thursday afternoon.
Anglers reel in 3.5-metre-long tiger shark off coast of Florida: 'She found my bait'
A group of fishers said it took roughly 20 minutes to reel in this 3.5-metre-long tiger shark off the coast of Florida.
Australia's richest woman seeks removal of her portrait from exhibition
Art is subjective. And while many artists long to share their work with the world, there's no guarantee that the audience will understand it, or even like it.
Scottie Scheffler isn't the first pro golfer to be arrested during a tournament
Scottie Scheffler's arrest hours before his second-round tee time at the PGA Championship in Louisville, Kentucky, will go down as one of the most shocking in professional golf history. It certainly wasn't the first, though.
Canadian convicted of attacking Nancy Pelosi's husband with a hammer sentenced to 30 years
The man convicted of attempting to kidnap then-U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and attacking her husband with a hammer was sentenced Friday to 30 years in prison.