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Public Safety

Question period touched on public safety and drug policy. The Conservative leader said the government’s approach to drugs has coincided with tens of thousands of overdose deaths, and asked the government to commit to appealing a BC court ruling that, in his words, treats selling illegal drugs as a constitutional right; he also began by criticizing the Prime Minister for not correcting remarks he described as misstatements. A Liberal minister replied that trafficking in harmful drugs is already a crime under Canadian law and said decisions about appeals in that case rest with independent public prosecutors, not politicians.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

2 statements

Pierre Poilievre

Conservative
“The government's drug policy has caused 55,000 overdose deaths. Now a judge in British Columbia has ruled that selling illegal drugs is a constitutional right. I want the government to announce today that it will appeal this ruling.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, when the Prime Minister makes a misstatement of facts, he cannot even stand up and correct himself or defend his remarks. Maybe we will do better on the issue of public safety. The Liberal approach to drugs has killed 55,000 people with drug overdoses, and now a Liberal-appointed judge in British Columbia has ruled there is a constitutional right to sell illegal narcotics. This threatens to kill even more people. Will the government announce today that it is appealing this outrageous ruling so that we can get drugs off our streets and keep our people safe?

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Sean Fraser

Liberal

Linked statement

“Selling dangerous drugs is already a crime in Canada. Independent prosecutors decide whether to appeal this case, not politicians. We respect our legal system and will let them do their job.”

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, those who traffic in serious drugs that create serious harm are committing a crime, and that is the law in Canada today. When it comes to the specific case the member mentioned, it is currently within the period for appeals, which are going to be determined by the independent Public Prosecution Service. As was the case under the previous Conservative government, there is respect on this side of the House for the independence of the legal system, including the independent public prosecutor. We are going to let them do their job, and I look forward to seeing them discharge their responsibilities with care.

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