Decriminalize drugs nationally

AI summary

Petitioners ask the House to declare a public‑health emergency, treat drug use as a health issue with a social‑determinants response, and decriminalize drugs. The government responds it funds harm reduction, treatment and housing supports, monitors drug trends, appointed a fentanyl czar and strengthens border and enforcement measures.

AI summaries describe petitioners’ requests and claims. Consult the official record for the full text.

Official petition

PETITION TO THE HOUSE OF COMMONS IN PARLIAMENT ASSEMBLED Whereas: The overdose crisis in Canada is a public health emergency, as has already been declared by British Columbia's Provincial Health Officer and several municipalities across Canada; More than 26,690 individuals have died of opioid-related deaths and there have been 29,228 opioid-related poisoning hospitalizations in Canada since 2016; There is disproportionate representation of Indigenous people affected by the overdose crisis; and The Canadian Public Health Association, the Global Commission on Drug Policy, the World Health Organization, and the United Nations, have recommended drug decriminalization. We, the undersigned citizens and residents of Canada call upon the House of Commons in Parliament assembled to: Declare a public health emergency due to overdose deaths in Canada; Reframe the overdose crisis in Canada as a health issue rather than a criminal issue; Take a comprehensive, multi-faceted approach to the overdose crisis, by addressing issues of addiction, poverty, housing, health care, racial discrimination, and economic inequality and instability; Listen to and act on recommendations made by social workers, front-line workers, nurses, doctors, drug users, and individuals directly involved in the drug-using community; and Decriminalize drugs in Canada.

Government response

Response by the Minister of Health Signed by Maggie Chi Illegal drugs are having devastating impacts on individuals, friends and families, and communities across Canada. While there are a number of complex factors that contribute to the high rates of overdose, a major driver is the toxic and unpredictable illegal drug supply, where fentanyl remains widespread and we have observed the rise or emergence of other substances, including stronger opioids, stimulants, and sedatives, as well as combinations of substances. Of all apparent opioid toxicity deaths in 2025, 82% involved non-pharmaceutical opioids, 56% involved fentanyl, and 60% involved fentanyl analogues. The cost of substance use-related harms extends beyond the loss of lives, affecting health, social well-being, public safety and Canada’s prosperity. Our government is responding to these challenges with by working closely with all orders of government, Indigenous Peoples and communities, law enforcement, criminal justice, health and social systems, people with lived and living experience and other key stakeholders, to take urgent action and leverage every available tool to save lives and work towards ending this national public health crisis. Our approach balances public health and public safety by supporting prevention, treatment and recovery efforts while enabling law enforcement to help protect the safety of individuals and communities from illegal drugs and drug-related crimes. Our actions include: Providing time-limited contribution funding through the Substance Use and Addictions Program (SUAP) to other orders of government and to community-led, Indigenous and not-for-profit organizations to support a wide range of innovative and evidence-informed initiatives across the continuum of care, including prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery. Providing funding to municipalities and Indigenous communities through the Emergency Treatment Fund (ETF) to provide urgent support and rapidly respond to emergent, critical needs related to the illegal drug crisis. Providing an additional $1 billion for Reaching Home: Canada's Homelessness Strategy to stabilize funding under the program, including $50 million to focus on accelerating community-level reductions in homelessness. Providing $250 million to address the urgent issue of encampments and unsheltered homelessness. Monitor emerging drug trends and support timely public health responses through tools such as the Canadian Drug and Substance Watch. Appointeding a Fentanyl Czar to work with all levels of the Canadian government and with U.S. counterparts to help stop the production and trafficking of illegal fentanyl. Announcing Canada’s Border Plan with $1.3 billion in investments to keep communities safe, including by detecting and disrupting the illegal fentanyl trade. Through Bill C-12, the Strengthening Canada's Immigration System and Borders Act, ensuring law enforcement has the right tools to keep our borders secure, stop the flow of illegal fentanyl, combat transnational organized crime, and crack down on money laundering. Provinces and territories also have a range of tools and authorities to address ongoing challenges within their jurisdictions related to drugs and overdoses. For example, British Columbia declared a public health emergency in April 2016, as did Alberta in May 2017 and Yukon in January 2022. In addition to provincial and territorial declarations, some municipalities and Indigenous communities have declared emergencies in response to rising substance use-related harms and deaths and public safety concerns. Invoking the federal Emergencies Act is intended to serve as a tool of last resort to ensure the safety and security of Canadians in cases of temporary, critical national emergencies that cannot be addressed with existing federal, provincial or territorial laws. Responding to the challenges of illegal drugs requires a long-term, sustained, and coordinated response across multiple jurisdictions.