Federal NDP brings decriminalization push to Winnipeg

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This article was published 16/05/2022 (1400 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A federal NDP push to decriminalize drug possession for personal use has reached Winnipeg, with supporters arguing Monday there’s an urgent public health need for the changes.

“We need to take away the stigma around consumption. This is costing lives, certainly for people in Winnipeg Centre, and we need to treat it like a public health issue,” said Leah Gazan, NDP MP for Winnipeg Centre.

Gazan joined MP Gord Johns, her party’s mental health and addictions critic, to visit several organizations that serve Winnipeggers who use illicit drugs, to drum up awareness and support for the bill.

The changes would decriminalize drug possession for personal use and have the federal government expunge criminal records for simple possession of drugs, which the party says would remove barriers to employment, housing and travel.

It also calls to expand substance use treatment through a federal addictions treatment strategy.

The NDP argues the changes would save lives. While a second reading is expected June 1, private member’s bills often lack enough support to pass a final vote. Gazan hopes public support will help ensure this one succeeds.

“This should not be about politics. This is a human rights matter. This is a public health issue,” she said.

Johns noted Winnipeg was the 11th stop on his cross-country tour to promote the bill. He called the matter a “health emergency,” accusing the federal Liberal government of dragging its feet on the issue.

“People are dying from preventable deaths. We need to do everything we can to help stop (this) unnecessary loss of life.”

Locally, there is an urgent need to prevent drug-related deaths and expand access to treatment, said Kate Armstrong, communications co-ordinator for Resource Assistance for Youth.

“What we’re seeing on the streets is that people are dying, people are avoiding getting the help they need because of things like stigma. So, any help in the right direction of reducing stigma and breaking down barriers for people, is a good thing to us,” said Armstrong, whose organization assists youth and young adults with addictions.

“We see this every day. Our team on the street is seeing so much drug poisoning, so much toxic supply and the problem is just growing, it’s not going away.”

A Winnipeg city councillor who has long lobbied municipal government colleagues to support the decriminalization of possessing small amounts of drugs, said she hopes the bill moves forward.

“We really are in a drug poisoning crisis, so it would be incomprehensible to me that (federal politicians)… wouldn’t be addressing this head-on in a free vote in Parliament,” said Coun. Sherri Rollins.

Meanwhile, Rollins has raised her own motion to ask city council to formally support safe drug consumption sites and the decriminalization of simple possession, while calling for federal and provincial action to put those changes in place.

If a local community organization applies to create a safe consumption site in Winnipeg, her motion also calls for the city to write a support letter.

Rollins’ proposal is set for debate at Wednesday’s executive policy committee meeting.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga