Saskatchewan ready to give police greater authority to crack down on drug traffickers, users
Proposals include a fine of up to $1 million for using and selling drugs
The provincial government, which promised to make communities safer from illegal drug use and trafficking, is taking action on that promise with several new measures.
At a news conference in Saskatoon on Tuesday the province announced it will be making changes to legislation and regulations to crack down on drug trafficking and on people using fentanyl and methamphetamine.
One of the new measures will give police more authority to remove anyone using fentanyl or meth in a semi-public space, such as libraries, malls, restaurants, parks and business entrances.
It will also give police the power to charge those people with trespassing when they deem necessary.
Until now, Saskatoon police Chief Cam McBride told reporters, a property owner needed to provide a statement and testify in court to get those individuals removed from their property.
"Under the new legislation," McBride said, "we have the ability to go into a restaurant and if we observe it — whether we were called there or simply arrived there and see it for ourselves — we can take that action based on what we see as police officers," McBride said.
The province will update the Trespass to Property Act to classify drug use and other disruptive activities as trespassing.
It would also classify drug-related items such as needles and pipes as weapons.
"If somebody is exhibiting violent behaviour but not overtly using a needle as a weapon, we would have the ability to seize that weapon or needle in order to prevent an attack or prevent … further violence," McBride said.
Under the new provisions, police will be able to revoke a driver's licence, a business licence and even hunting and fishing licences if the person is convicted of a drug-related crime.
"We also have the ability to suspend driver licences for people who don't pay child support. And so this is just be an expansion of that one more category that you could potentially lose your licence if you engage in this behaviour," said Tim McLeod, minister of justice and attorney general.
Saskatoon Tribal Chief Marc Arcand says there is potential for people who are homeless to have more encounters with police, but adds if they aren't breaking the law, they don't have anything to worry about.
"What we have to do is hold people accountable … because there's two different sides to this, right? Because we heard today about the users, right, that are using fentanyl. How do we get them treatment, right? So then … we think about the people that are actually processing this stuff and trafficking and making a living off people when they're actually dying, right," he said.
Involuntary treatment centres possible
The province says it's also considering involuntary addiction treatment centres as in neighbouring Alberta, where Premier Danielle Smith says her government plans to spend $180 million over three years to build two such centres.
In a statement, Prairie Harm Reduction says it is deeply concerned about the changes.
"While we recognize the need for action in response to the overdose crisis, we firmly oppose punitive approaches that further marginalize people who use drugs," the statement said.
Labelling sterile needles as weapons is an attack on harm-reduction efforts that are meant to reduce the spread of HIV, hepatitis C and other infections.
"Fines, revoked licences, and cuts to social services will not deter drug use or improve public safety. These policies will only make life harder for vulnerable people, increasing poverty, homelessness and disconnection from support networks," the statement read.
It also said that treatment only works when it is voluntary, accessible and rooted in evidence-based care.
Other changes proposed by the province include fines of up to $1 million for using and selling drugs.
It's also making changes to the Fine Option program which will allow offenders to receive credit against court-imposed fines if the offender attends eligible addictions programming.
The province will also be making greater efforts under the Seizure of Criminal Property Act to seize properties gained from illegal activities or used to commit crimes.
"Prioritizing drug-related offenders, ensuring they are appropriately apprehended and held accountable, as part of the warrant intelligence team's efforts to enhance public safety and disrupt illegal drug activity," according to a news release.
The release said that team will also work with government ministries to suspend "government benefits" to such offenders.
The government says it's planning to implement these changes and additions as soon as possible. Some are regulation changes, which will be quicker. Others will be amendments to legislation that will take more time.
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