Amend Criminal Code for encampments
Petitioners ask Canada to amend the Criminal Code to let police dismantle illegal encampments blocking public spaces, enable rapid action and invest in treatment. The government responds that existing law and programs apply.
Why we would sign this petition
- Gives police clearer authority to remove encampments that block public spaces, helping restore public order and safety.
- Pairs enforcement with referrals and investment in treatment, which could increase access to recovery services for people in camps.
- Ends safe‑supply and decriminalization policies the petitioners say have worsened addiction, shifting policy toward recovery and rehabilitation.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- Amending federal law to direct policing and land use may clash with provincial jurisdiction over administration of justice and property, complicating enforcement.
- Stronger enforcement risks displacing unhoused people if sufficient shelter and treatment capacity are not immediately available.
- Removing safe‑supply or decriminalization could eliminate harm‑reduction options some provinces use, potentially reducing options for people who use drugs.
The summary and both sets of reasons are AI-generated from the petition and given equal weight. Claims are the petitioners’ own; consult the official record for the full text.
Official petition
PETITION TO THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA WHEREAS: Residents of Saskatoon West are all too familiar with the tent encampment throughout the city. Sites that have become symbols of disorder, lawlessness, and government inaction; What begins as temporary setups turn into a hub of criminal activity and public safety concerns, endangering vulnerable individuals trapped in addiction and the families living nearby; Under current law, authorities already have some authority to act, but ambiguity and weak enforcement have left cities throughout Canada hesitant to dismantle these camps; The Carney government's reckless soft-on-crime approach and radical drug policies have allowed this crisis to spread unchecked across the country. WE, THE UNDERSIGNED, residents of Saskatoon West, CALL UPON THE Government of Canada to: Amend the Criminal Code to provide clear and unequivocal authority for law enforcement to dismantle illegal encampments that block public spaces and threaten public safety; Ensure police are empowered to act quickly and decisively to restore public order while also connecting individuals in these encampments with access to treatment and shelter; End the failed policies of safe supply and decriminalization that have only worsened the addiction crisis and undermined public safety; Support real recovery by investing in treatment and rehabilitation programs—not policies that perpetuate drug use.
Government response
Response by the Minister of Health Signed by Maggie Chi Our government understands that the toxic drug and overdose crisis is one of the most serious public health threats in Canada’s recent history and is being driven by the increasingly toxic and unpredictable illegal drug supply. Fentanyl remains widespread but the rise or emergence of other substances, including stronger synthetic opioids, stimulants, and sedatives, has further compounded efforts to address the crisis. The cost of substance use-related harms extends beyond the loss of lives, affecting health, well-being, public safety and Canada’s prosperity. The federal government does not approve, authorize, or deliver “safer supply” programs. The delivery of healthcare services falls under provincial and territorial jurisdiction. Provinces and territories may choose to operate “safer supply” programs within their jurisdiction, and may regulate health care practitioners to deliver the programs under their scope of medical practice, as part of the practice of medicine. Health Canada funded some provincial and territorial “safer supply” pilot projects under the Substance Use and Addictions Program (SUAP). However, all federal funding under SUAP for these pilot projects ended on March 31, 2025, and there are no plans to fund new prescribed alternative projects. Any pilot projects funded were required to demonstrate that they met all legislative and regulatory requirements in their respective jurisdictions, and were also required to have mitigation strategies in place to prevent drugs from being diverted away from the programs. Any diversion from such programs was illegal and fell under the definition of drug trafficking in Canada. Health Canada supported and continues to support law enforcement actions to address drug trafficking and support community safety, wherever it takes place. While provinces and territories are responsible for the funding and delivery of treatment services, facilities and beds, the federal government supports their efforts through funding provided under the Canadian Drugs and Substances Strategy. The Strategy is centered on promoting public health and protecting public safety, and supports law enforcement efforts to address drug trafficking, in addition to timely access to prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery services and supports. Federal funding to support the Strategy is delivered through a number of programs. The SUAP provides funding to provinces, territories, and other levels of government, as well as community-led, Indigenous, and not-for-profit organizations, and it supports a wide range of innovative and evidence-informed prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery projects. The federal government also funds the Emergency Treatment Fund (ETF), which helps provide a rapid response to emergent, critical needs to municipalities and Indigenous communities on the overdose crisis. As of October 2025, Health Canada has provided funding to more than 90 projects supporting Indigenous communities and municipalities across Canada, with more projects under consideration. ETF funding supports a range of activities, including treatment related supports, harm reduction and overdose prevention support, cultural and community programming, outreach activities, and certain capital costs. The list of active ETF projects is available on Health Canada’s website and is updated on a regular basis as further project announcements are made. The ETF launched a national Call for Proposals on October 6, 2025, for new projects starting in fiscal year 2026-2027. Our government’s actions are building on the work done by the previous government, including the Working Together bilateral agreements. These agreements provide the provinces and territories with $25 billion over ten years to address shared health priorities, including improving access to quality mental health, and substance use services. Additional information on actions undertaken to date on the overdose crisis can be found at the following website. Response by the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency Signed by THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY PATRICIA LATTANZIO The Criminal Code already provides police with a range of authorities that may apply where conduct associated with an encampment poses risks to public safety or interferes with the lawful use of property. These include, among others, mischief under section 430 (obstructing or interfering with the lawful use of property), causing a disturbance under section 175, common nuisance under section 180, and trespassing at night under section 177. In circumstances involving threats, or obstruction of peace officers, police also retain authority under provisions related to criminal harassment (section 264), uttering threats (section 264.1), assault (sections 266–268), and intimidation (section 423). Police officers have broad authorities to enable them to investigate crime. The administration of the criminal justice system falls to the provinces and territories, who are also responsible for property rights and the regulation of land use. Enforcement of these provisions is undertaken by police services acting independently. Response by the Minister of Public Safety Signed by JACQUES RAMSAY, PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY 2. In Canada, policing is a shared responsibility between all levels of government. Under the Constitution, provinces are responsible for the administration of justice, including policing. From a federal perspective, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) is Canada’s national police service responsible for enforcing federal laws. The RCMP is also contracted by all provinces and territories—except Ontario and Quebec—and over 150 municipalities across Canada to provide front-line policing services through the contract policing program. The Saskatoon Police Service is responsible for local policing in Saskatoon and operates in accordance with provincial legislation and municipal bylaws. In Saskatoon, the City of Saskatoon and the Saskatoon Fire Department (SFD) are the primary responders when encampments are deemed to pose public safety or health risks. The SFD and partnering agencies work together to provide emergency resources to unhoused individuals, such as mental health and/or addiction support, safe and healthy emergency shelter, and access to social services. In 2024, through the Unsheltered Homelessness and Encampments Initiative, the federal government signed an agreement with the City of Saskatoon to contribute up to $4,483,162 over two years to support a Community Encampment Response Plan. The City of Saskatoon will cost-match this funding in collaboration with community partners to implement this initiative.