EDITORIAL: It’s time to talk law and order

With threats directed at this country by the U.S. government, it’s understandable that the issues of tariffs and Canada’s sovereignty have dominated the campaign trail.

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At some point, we need to discuss the other grave concerns gnawing at the fabric of our society. Most prominent is public safety and what the government is doing to get criminals off the streets. Part of that involves drugs and the so-called “safer supply” system the federal government supports.

Health Canada’s website claims safer supply, among other things, lowers the rate of overdose, reduces the use of fentanyl and other “street-acquired substances” and reduces hospital admissions and emergency room visits.

Health Canada claims that safer supply also reduces criminal activity, improves housing and boosts “health and social wellbeing.”

That will come as news to many neighbourhoods across this country where safer supply sites are situated. In Toronto, a young mother was gunned down outside one such site in 2023 while on her lunch break.

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A class action lawsuit, filed last year with the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, blamed the health centre for what residents called the “rapid deterioration” of the area. According to the statement of claim, one resident “witnessed violent assaults and other disturbing criminal activity when passing the (centre) and is now reluctant to invite visitors to her home because of the environment immediately outside.”

A Vancouver-based study published last year disputes Health Canada’s findings. Produced by Dr. Brian Conway, director of Vancouver’s Infectious Disease Centre, the study found many “safer supply” patients are diverting taxpayer-funded opioids to the black market and are possibly being dishonest to researchers about defrauding the system.

In a National Post story by Adam Zivo, Conway emphasized that safer supply is “not all good and all bad” and that it needs to be “fine-tuned” after being misrepresented as a “silver bullet” for solving the addiction crisis. It may not be what Health Canada would have us believe — a “safer alternative to the toxic, illegal drug supply.”

The trade war is important. So is community safety. It’s time to discuss how our next government will restore law and order to our streets.

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