End decriminalization in British Columbia
Petitioners ask the Government of Canada to end federal decriminalization of hard drugs in British Columbia immediately and replace it with investments in treatment, recovery, and prevention.
Why we would sign this petition
- It would halt a federal policy petitioners say has increased visible drug activity and crime, aiming to restore public order and community safety.
- It redirects federal resources into treatment, recovery and prevention, which could expand access to care and help people leave addiction.
- It responds to calls from first responders, local governments and provincial leaders, enabling coordinated local interventions and relief for affected communities.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- The petition's harm claims are contested; public‑health advocates argue decriminalization can reduce stigma and overdose deaths, so ending it may reverse health gains.
- Removing decriminalization could deter people from seeking help and risk reviving criminal penalties for users, potentially worsening health outcomes.
- Replacing the policy with treatment programs requires significant funding, capacity and coordination; without those in place, ending decriminalization may not quickly reduce street drug harms.
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 The federal government authorized a reckless experiment to decriminalize hard drugs in British Columbia — including deadly fentanyl; This policy has flooded our streets with hard drugs, turned neighbourhoods into open-air drug sites, fueled crime, and left families, communities, and first responders to deal with the devastating consequences; First responders, and local governments have demanded an end to this failed policy, and even the Premier of British Columbia has admitted he was wrong to support decriminalization; and The Government of Canada continues to defend this dangerous policy despite clear evidence of harm and growing calls for change; We, the undersigned, citizens of British Columbia, call upon the Government of Canada to end the chaos of the failed decriminalization experiment immediately, and replace it with investments in treatment, recovery, and prevention that save lives and build stronger, safer communities.
Government response
No government response is available yet.