Ontario warns Toronto to drop drug decriminalization request – CBC
City submitted application to decriminalize drugs for personal use in 2022
May 16, 2024
The Ontario government says it is “100 per cent opposed” to Toronto Public Health’s bid to have small amounts of illegal drugs for personal use decriminalized in the city.
In a public letter addressed to Toronto’s medical officer of health, Health Minister Sylvia Jones and Solicitor General Michael Kerzner call the request “misguided” and warned the agency against pursuing the application further.
“Under no circumstances will our government ever support your request, which would only add to crime and public drug use while doing nothing to support people struggling with addiction,” the cabinet ministers write.
The pair go on to say that decriminalization “does not work” but rather “encourages dangerous behaviour in public spaces” and compromises law enforcement’s ability to keep communities safe. They also reference B.C.’s recent decision to backtrack on its own experiment with decriminalization.
“If Toronto Public Health fails to rescind its misguided application, we will be forced to explore all options available to us,” the letter says, without elaborating further on what those options may be.
Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/drug-decriminalization-toronto-ford-government-1.7205880
