11.5 Some Recent Canadian Policy Changes
- The COVID-19 pandemic impacted the drug supply in Canada and increased risks to people experiencing SUDs. In response, Health Canada temporarily loosened the prescribing and dispensing rules for a number of substances that people experiencing SUDs require, in an effort to lessen reliance on illegal/unregulated sources. The temporary revised rules allowed prescribers to provide a person experiencing a SUD, who was at risk of both COVID-19 and suffering withdrawal systems, a prescription for up to a 23-day supply of pharmaceutical opioids, stimulants, and benzodiazepines (Canada, October 21, 2022; CDPC, 2020).
- On May 31, 2022, the Canadian Federal government announced that it was granting the province of British Columbia’s request for a subsection 56(1) exemption under the CDSA. The goal of the exemption being “to support the public health response to the drug [poisoning] (overdose) crisis in BC” (Canada, September 14, 2023, para. 4). Under the granted exemption, from January 31, 2023 to January 31, 2026, any adult 18 years of age or older in BC “will not be subject to criminal charges for the possession of a cumulative total of up to 2.5 grams of certain illegal drugs for personal use” (Canada, September 14, 2023, para. 2).
- In November 2022, Bill C-5 An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Controlled Drugs & Substances Act received royal assent. This enactment repeals “certain mandatory minimum penalties [and] allow[s] for a greater use of conditional sentences and establish diversion measures for simple drug possession offences” (Bill C-5, 2022).
Click the links below to learn more about recent Canadian policy changes:
