B.C. drug decriminalization: Ottawa ‘urgently’ waiting for info [Video]

A decision about whether to recriminalize drug use in British Columbia needs to be made urgently, Canada’s addictions minister said Wednesday, and she says she is still waiting for more information from the province before making a call.

But B.C.’s health minister said it was hard for him to imagine that federal action was waiting on more information from the province, with both federal Addictions Minister Ya’ara Saks and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau having been briefed.

The province is one year into a three-year pilot project to decriminalize possession of small amounts of certain illegal drugs, including heroin, fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine. A Health Canada exemption was issued to allow the pilot to proceed.

Last week, B.C. Premier David Eby asked Health Canada to recriminalize the use of those drugs in public spaces, such as hospitals and parks. Possession in private spaces would still be covered by the decriminalization program.

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