Toronto’s denied drug decriminalization is a step ‘backwards,’ expert says

published on May 18, 2024 by Naomi Barghiel in Global News

Provinces and territories should not stop pushing for drug decriminalization despite the federal government’s rejection of Toronto’s request, one expert says.

Guy Felicella, a harm reduction and recovery expert in British Columbia, says all regions in Canada need to persevere with treating substance addictions as a health issue.

“I think everybody should be making those requests still, regardless of what the federal government is going to do… because the current model of criminalizing people doesn’t work,” Felicella told Global News on Saturday.

The federal government rejected a request from Toronto health officials to decriminalize the possession of small quantities of drugs for personal use Friday.

Federal Minister of Mental Health and Addiction Ya’ara Saks turned down the bid roughly two years after it was first filed…