Bill to decriminalize hard drugs including fentanyl introduced by Liberal Senate appointee

Gwen Boniface, a former commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police and Liberal Senate appointee, introduced a private bill calling for the decriminalization of various hard drugs, according to Blacklock's Reporter.

Bill S-229, An Act Respecting The Development Of A Strategy For The Decriminalization Of Illegal Substances, calls for the government to develop a plan within two years to decriminalize simple possession of drugs including cocaine, heroin, methamphetamines, and fentanyl.

Those who are caught in possession of such drugs would be subjected to fines or mandatory drug treatment rather than more severe, criminal charges.

The proposed legislation is relatively conservative compared to a bill proposed by Liberal MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith last year, which also sought to repeal all fines related to simple possession.

"It is increasingly evident substance use should be viewed through a health lens rather than a criminal lens and that the necessary supports to assist those seeking help are currently underfunded, lacking or misguided," said Senator Boniface.

The Liberal Party cabinet is not so enthused by the proposed legislation, however. The cabinet has repeatedly expressed opposition to calls to decriminalize illegal narcotics and other such substances, with Health Minister Patty Hajdu saying "I don't believe there is any silver bullet to ending problematic substance use."

Conservative MPs have taken a more unanimous approach to drug decriminalization, expressing strict opposition to such a move by the federal government.