Public health experts, law enforcement, front line workers and people with lived and living experience have long called for a shift in Canada’s approach to substance use, including: decriminalizing simple possession, expungement of convictions records and universal access to treatment and recovery programs and education. The governmental organizations below have asked the federal government to declare the overdose crisis to be a national public health emergency and develop a pan-Canadian plan that looks at decriminalization:
Governmental Organizations
Newfoundland:
Daniel’s Harbour
Ferryland
Quebec:
Colombier
Saint-Valérien
Saint-Joseph-de-Coleraine
Sainte-Émélie-de-l'Énergie
Saint-André-D'Argenteuil
Saint-Francois-Xavier-De-Viger
Ontario:
Halton Hills
Cobourg
Thessalon
Killaloe, Hagarty and Richards
Brantford
Mallorytown
Elizabethtown-Kitley
Central Frontenac
Ottawa (with additions)
St. Thomas
Barrie
Region of Waterloo
Saskatchewan:
Creighton
Saskatoon
British Columbia:
Squamish
Kamloops
Salmo
Victoria
Lake Country
White Rock
Saanich
Central Saanich
Powell River
New Westminster
Pemberton
Smithers
Fruitvale
Ashcroft
Fernie
Courtenay
Rossland
Village of Cumberland
Trail
Terrace
Tofino
Castlegar
Port Alberni
Comox Valley Regional District
Town of Comox
Town of Qualicum Beach
Mayor of Vancouver, Kennedy Stewart
Mayor of Rossland, Kathy Moore
Community Organizations And
Advocacy Groups endorsing Bill C-216:
Moms Stop The Harm
Canadian Public Health Association
BC Nurses Union
Canadian Association of Social Workers
Vancouver Overdose Prevention Society
Thunderbird Partnership Foundation
Ontario Aboriginal HIV/AIDS Strategy
Atira Women's Resource Society
Income Security Advocacy Centre
Comox Valley Community Action Team
Oceanside Community Action Team
Burnaby Community Action Team
New Westminster Community Action Team
Trail Community Action Team
Port Alberni Community Action Team
Street Health Overdose Prevention Site
Canadian Drug Policy Coalition (with amendments)
Pivot Legal Society (with amendments)
Réseau SOLIDARITÉ en itinérance du Québec
HIV Legal Network
Doctors For Decriminalization
Prisoners' Legal Services
Direction 180
Blood Ties Four Directions Centre Society
PEERS Alliance
TOMS - Table des organismes communautaires montréalais de lutte contre le VIH/sida
Regent Park Community Health Centre
Avenue B Harm Reduction
Pozitive Pathways Community Services
Action Hepatitis Canada
The Substance User Network Of The Atlantic Region (SUNAR)
EACH + EVERY: Businesses For Harm Reduction
Shining Waters Regional Council, United Church of Canada
Get Your Drugs Tested
Phoenix Society
The Bridge Youth and Family Services
4B Harm Reduction Society
Redwood Park Communities
AIDS NB/ SIDA NB
Positive Living Niagara
Association des intervenants en dépendance du Québec
Streetworks, Boyle Street Community Services
Brave Technology Coop
Cannabis Amnesty
Brandon Overdose Awareness
Ryan's Hope