Expire B.C. decriminalization exemption
Petitioners ask the federal government to let the exemption authorizing B.C.'s drug decriminalization pilot expire on Jan 31, 2026 or to revoke it sooner, and to coordinate strengthened evidence-based prevention, treatment and recovery supports. The government responds that B.C. will not seek renewal and Ottawa will continue funding prevention, treatment, harm-reduction and public-safety efforts.
Why we would sign this petition
- It ends the federal exemption that petitioners say has coincided with more visible public drug use and disorder, addressing community safety concerns.
- It creates an opportunity to review evidence, including reported increases in overdose-related hospitalizations, before deciding whether to continue the pilot.
- It calls for coordinated, evidence-based prevention, treatment and recovery supports that could improve access to care and reduce harms in affected communities.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- Revoking the exemption could disrupt ongoing local approaches used in the pilot and may remove legal space for health-focused responses to drug use.
- Ending the exemption without expanded treatment capacity risks shifting responses back toward enforcement rather than care, which could worsen outcomes for people who use drugs.
- The petition cites studies and community concerns, but policymakers might prefer improving services and evaluation rather than immediate revocation; revocation could preclude learning from the pilot.
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 House of Commons We, the undersigned citizens and residents of Canada, draw the attention of the House of Commons to the following: Whereas: The federal government granted the Province of British Columbia an exemption under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, enabling a drug decriminalization pilot program that began in 2023; The continuation of this pilot program depends on the federal exemption, and the federal government has the authority to allow the exemption to expire or to revoke it; Communities across British Columbia have reported concerns related to the impacts of the pilot program, including increased public drug use, public disorder, and challenges for community safety; Peer-reviewed research in JAMA has linked the period following British Columbia's decriminalization policy to increased overdose-related hospitalizations, adding pressure to emergency and acute-care services; Allow the federal exemption authorizing British Columbia's drug decriminalization pilot program to expire on January 31, 2026, or revoke the exemption prior to that date; and Encourage collaboration among federal, provincial, municipal, law-enforcement, and health services to strengthen evidence-based prevention, treatment, and recovery supports that improve community safety and health outcomes.
Government response
Response by the Minister of Health Signed by Maggie Chi The previous government granted a request from the British Columbia government in May 2022 for a time-limited, three-year exemption that allowed adults in the province to not be subject to criminal penalties for the personal possession of up to 2.5 grams cumulative of certain illegal drugs. This exemption was amended in May 2024 at the request of the province. British Columbia announced on January 14, 2026, that it would not be seeking a renewal for its exemption. Our government will continue to work closely with the province to keep communities safe and help people fight addictions. Since 2017, more than $1.2 billion has been invested to address the drug crisis. 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.