Reinstate mandatory minimums
Petitioners ask the Government to reinstate mandatory minimums removed in Bill C‑5, end federal safe‑supply programs, and fund rehabilitation beds for addiction treatment. The government responds that federal pilots for prescribed alternatives have ended, provinces deliver health services, and it is pursuing tougher bail/sentencing laws plus funding for treatment and community safety.
Why we would sign this petition
- It would restore mandatory penalties for production and trafficking, increasing legal consequences for organized dealers and aiming to deter large-scale illicit operations.
- Ending federal safe-supply programs would aim to reduce legally distributed alternatives that petitioners say lowered street prices and increased availability.
- Funding rehabilitation beds would expand treatment capacity and offer a pathway for people who use drugs to enter recovery.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- Mandatory minimums remove judicial discretion and can produce uniform sentences that may not fit individual cases or address underlying causes of crime.
- Halting safe-supply programs could remove a harm-reduction measure that proponents argue prevents overdoses and keeps people connected to care.
- Expanding treatment beds may require sustained provincial delivery and funding; federal action could face jurisdictional or budgetary constraints.
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 Fairhaven, Meadowgreen, Parkridge, and Confederation in Saskatoon, and all of Saskatoon, have faced significant challenges as crime, chaos, and disorder take over the neighborhoods. Drug use and homelessness have overrun these neighborhoods, making public areas, schools, and even private backyards unsafe. Safe supply and harm reduction programs paid for by the federal government have prolonged and encouraged drug use instead of offering treatment for addiction. WE, THE UNDERSIGNED, residents of Saskatoon West, CALL UPON THE Government of Canada to: 1. Bring back the mandatory minimum sentences for the trafficking, importing, and production of illegal narcotics that were removed in Bill C-5, making it less risky for criminals, dealers, and narcotic producers to operate. 2. End the dangerous safe supply experiment that has lowered the costs and increased the supply of narcotics on the street. 3. Invest in real treatment for drug users, such as rehabilitation beds that encourage people to get off drugs.
Government response
Response by the Minister of Health Signed by Maggie Chi Our government understands that toxic drugs are a serious public health threat and is being driven by the increasingly toxic and unpredictable illegal drug supply. Fentanyl remains widespread and 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. Prescribed alternatives provide prescription drugs to people at high risk of overdose due to the illegal toxic drug supply, with the goal of preventing overdoses and saving lives. The federal government does not approve, authorize, or deliver prescribed alternative services. As the delivery of healthcare services falls under provincial and territorial jurisdiction, these services are delivered by provincially-regulated health care practitioners under the scope of medical practice. Provinces and territories may choose to operate prescribed alternative programs within their jurisdiction, and individual healthcare providers may continue offering prescribed alternatives under the practice of medicine, where permitted. Health Canada funded some time-limited prescribed alternative pilot projects under the Substance Use and Addictions Program. All federal funding for these pilot projects ended on March 31, 2025, and there are no plans to fund new prescribed alternative projects. While provinces and territories are responsible for the funding and delivery of treatment services, facilities and beds, federal contribution programming under the Canadian Drugs and Substances Strategy fund shorter-term pilot projects that support provincial and territorial efforts. 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 Substance Use and Addictions Program 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 provides funding through the Emergency Treatment Fund, which helps provide a rapid response to emergent, critical needs to municipalities and Indigenous communities on the illegal drug crisis. As of March 2026, Health Canada has committed funding to 110 projects supporting Indigenous communities and municipalities across Canada. An additional 30 projects ending by March 31, 2028, were approved through the October 2025 Emergency Treatment Fund Call for Proposals. Emergency Treatment Fund 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 Emergency Treatment Fund Projects is available on Health Canada’s website and is updated on a regular basis as further project announcements are made. Our government’s actions are building on the work done by the previous government, such as the Working Together Plan’s commitment of $25 billion over 10 years through bilateral agreements with provinces and territories to support shared health priorities, including improving access to quality mental health and substance use services. In 2023-24, initial Working Together bilateral agreements were signed with all provinces and territories, providing $7.5 billion over 3 years to support shared health priorities and $1.8 billion over 3 years from Budget 2017 to improve access to mental health and substance use services. Discussions are underway to renew the Working Together bilateral agreements with provinces and territories in 2026-27. Additional information on actions undertaken to date on the illegal drug 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 Everyone deserves to live in a society where they are safe. The Government knows that drug-related crime and the harms associated with the illicit drug trade are top-of-mind for many people in Canada, along with concerns about the role of organized crime in exploiting communities and fueling violence. This is why the Government introduced Bill C-14, the Bail and Sentencing Reform Act, which is the result of extensive collaboration between the federal government, the provinces and territories, as well as law enforcement partners. The Bill would strengthen community safety and bolster confidence in the administration of justice by making bail harder to obtain in cases involving organized crime, including those connected to the production and trafficking of illicit drugs, and by reinforcing the sentencing framework for these offences. In terms of a stricter bail system, the Bill would create new reverse onuses in cases involving serious organized crime offences, meaning the starting point is detention and the accused would have to demonstrate why their release is justified. Additionally, when considering whether to grant bail, the amendments would direct police not to release an accused where it would be contrary to the public interest or where detention is necessary to protect victims, witnesses, or the broader community. The Bill would also strengthen sentencing laws for organized crime offences, including those involving the production and trafficking of illicit drugs. Courts would be required to give primary consideration to denunciation and deterrence in these cases, ensuring that sentences better reflect the serious harms caused by the illicit drug trade and discourage others from participating in these activities. The Government is further committed to advancing legislative reforms to ensure that those responsible for investigating crime and threats to national security and protecting our borders have the tools they need. That is why, on March 12, 2026, the Government introduced Bill C-22, An Act respecting lawful access. Informed by extensive consultations, Bill C-22 would strengthen Canada’s laws and support law enforcement with new tools to investigate serious threats, disrupt organized crime, including drug trafficking, and protect our communities. Taken together, these measures represent a clear and firm commitment to disrupting organized crime and addressing the serious impacts of drug-related offending in communities across Canada.