Toronto may be seeking federal permission to decriminalize illegal drugs, but Prime Minister Justin Trudeau hinted the city may need broader support from the Ontario government, which currently rejects the proposal.
Ottawa needs to work with “all partners, including provinces” on any decriminalization proposals, Mr. Trudeau told reporters during a May 3 press conference in Hamilton, Ont.
“The proposal in British Columbia of a few years ago also had a proposal from the city of Vancouver,” Mr. Trudeau said, adding that the proposal required health and public safety supports. “We couldn’t just deal with the Vancouver application, we needed to work with the province on that.”
Instead, the premier argued, governments should be focused on treatment and investment in mental health.
“That’s what we should be doing, not legalizing hard drugs,” he said. “Like you got to be kidding me. Like letting people do cocaine and crack and heroin.”
“I will fight this tooth and nail. This is the wrong way to go. It’s proven,” the premier added, citing examples of drug decriminalization in both British Columbia and the U.S. state of Oregon.
The change in policy came after the concerns of municipal leaders and provincial politicians were echoed by the general public about people being allowed to use drugs in public spaces, including the province’s hospitals.
The prime minister was asked during the May 3 press conference if the federal government would grant B.C.’s request for a ban on drug use in public spaces.
“We have from the very beginning worked closely with the government of British Columbia as they wanted to move forward on a pilot project,” Mr. Trudeau said.
“We’ve continued to work with them, as they are asking to modify that pilot project, we will do so in alignment with them and work with them on making sure that it’s done right.”
