Yukon NDP urges Liberals to follow B.C., apply for decriminalization of illicit drugs

June 1, 2022

Whitehorse, YT — Yukon NDP Leader Kate White is calling on the Yukon Liberals to follow British Columbia’s example by applying to the federal government to decriminalize the possession of illegal drugs for personal.

The BCNDP Government received approval from Health Canada on May 31 for the partial decriminalization of opioids, cocaine, methamphetamine and MDMA. As of Jan. 31, 2023, British Columbians aged 18 years or older will be allowed to possess up to 2.5 grams of illicit drugs for personal use.

“We know the exemption allowed by Health Canada doesn’t go far enough, but it’s a good start. The Yukon is a small jurisdiction, and we could pilot a more aggressive version and be a leader in saving lives from the drug poisoning crisis,” White said Wednesday, June 1.

On June 1, the day after the exemption was granted in B.C., the House of Commons voted down Private Member’s Bill C-216.

The Bill, tabled by NDP MP Gord Johns, would have seen personal possession of illicit drugs struck from the Criminal Code of Canada.

Yukon MP Brendan Hanley voted for Johns’ Bill, but couldn’t convince his Liberal colleagues to do the same.

“Yukoners continue to die preventable deaths because of the toxic drug supply. The Yukon has taken the first steps – a supervised consumption site and a modest expansion of safe supply – in fighting the opioid crisis. If the Federal Government won’t act, it’s up to the Yukon Government to step up our game and decriminalize personal possession of drugs and to implement a rapid expansion of a safe supply program in the territory,” the NDP’s White added.

Yukon NDP members had previously called for decriminalization policy and a safe supply at their last annual convention in February, making it official party policy, as part of a broader policy resolution about drugs and alcohol.

-30-