Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is calling on Ottawa to take a harder stance against drug crimes by reintroducing mandatory minimum jail sentences.
Smith is urging the federal government to reinstate minimum sentencing under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) as well as revoke guidelines that instruct federal prosecutors to redirect less severe drug-related cases out of the criminal justice system with measures like conditional sentences.
“For years, Alberta’s government has urged the federal government to reverse their soft-on-crime policies which have allowed illegal drugs to flood our streets and for repeat offenders to prey on our most vulnerable,” Smith said in a Feb. 10 statement. “The federal government must act now and put an end to their insane policies.”
If the federal government does not take measures to strengthen its drug laws, then the province wants to assume full responsibility for prosecutions under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act in Alberta, Smith said.
“Let there be no mistake, Alberta’s government will find these dangerous criminals, prosecute them and keep them in jail where they belong,” she said.
Smith has argued the changes made under Bill C-5 “weakened” the Canadian justice system. The bill, which was made law in the fall of 2022, eliminated all mandatory minimum sentences of imprisonment for CDSA offences and removed mandatory minimum sentences for many weapons and substance-related offences under the Criminal Code of Canada.
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The policy stipulates that police and prosecutors prioritize the referral of individuals to treatment and support programs before resorting to charges or prosecution for drug possession offences.
The justice department describes Bill C-5 as a method of promoting fairness and “more effective responses” to criminal conduct.
Former Justice Minister David Lametti said it also addresses discrimination in Canada’s criminal justice system.
“Systemic racism is a reality for too many in Canada’s criminal justice system,” he said in the 2022 statement. “With this law, we have repealed the mandatory minimum penalties that have most contributed to the over-incarceration of Indigenous people, Black persons and racialized Canadians. These reforms will ensure a fairer, more effective justice system for all, while maintaining public safety.”
Drug-Border Connection
Smith’s suggestion to crack down on drug crime has been underscored by U.S. President Donald Trump, who has demanded Canada secure the border against drug trafficking, particularly fentanyl.
Trump signed an executive order Feb. 1 to enact 25 percent tariffs on Canadian products as a means to convince Ottawa to beef up border security. The tax was paused on Feb. 3 for 30 days after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pledged to broaden his government’s $1.3 billion border security program by appointing a “fentanyl czar.”
Trudeau also promised to spend an additional $200 million to fight drug trafficking, launch a new cross-border task force, and list cartels as terrorist organizations.
Smith took to social media over the weekend to voice concern that a fentanyl czar has yet to be appointed.
“Alberta is perplexed and concerned by the delay in appointing this Fentanyl czar and calls on the federal government to do so without further delay,” Smith wrote in a Feb. 9 post. “There is much work to be done, and while efforts to strengthen border security and crack down on fentanyl trafficking have begun across the country, these efforts will have limited effect without a federal lead to coordinate the national response.”
Ontario Premier Doug Ford has issued similar calls for Ottawa to act.
“Time is running out,” Ford said during a Feb. 8 press conference. “We can’t be waiting until the last minute. Please appoint a fentanyl czar. Start showing the Americans what we are doing.”
Trudeau said Canada planned to tackle the drug problem “head-on.”
“Through Canada’s Border Plan, we’re deploying thousands more frontline personnel to the border, launching a precursor chemical detection unit, and building a new drug profiling centre to combat the fentanyl trade,” he said in a Feb. 4 social media post.
Though he did not comment specifically on when a fentanyl czar would be appointed, Public Safety Minister David McGuinty said during a Feb. 6 press conference the scope of the role would be finalized by the end of the week. He said Ottawa would “absolutely” make the appointment within the 30-day grace period.
