QUESTION PERIOD — Justice
Illegal Drugs
October 1, 2026
It could be redirected for more effective measures.
Government leader, a recent decision by a B.C. Supreme Court justice declared a federal drug-trafficking provision unconstitutional and quashed charges against the co-founders of the so-called compassion club that purchased heroin, cocaine and methamphetamines and distributed those drugs to members. The judge suspended the declaration for six months to give Parliament time to respond.
Canadians are deeply concerned that your government’s permissive approach to hard drugs is contributing to the confusion about the enforcement of our drug laws. Will your government appeal this ruling and reaffirm that trafficking dangerous drugs is a crime, regardless of the label attached to them?
The decision to appeal belongs to the Minister of Justice, not to me, as you’re well aware. We will wait for the announcement from the justice minister.
This being said, we are acting very hard on drugs. As a matter of fact, look what we’ve done for the fentanyl crisis. We have increased the budget for border security; we are increasing the number of members of the RCMP; we have made an unprecedented investment in police forces to make sure Canadians feel safe all across the country.
That’s the responsibility we have, and that’s the way we are acting.
This is a responsibility that is federal. These individuals knowingly acquired illegal drugs and distributed them through a membership-based model after being unable to secure a federal exemption. Canadians want treatment and recovery for those struggling with addiction.
Will your government commit to defending the trafficking provisions of the Criminal Code and the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act?
Since you are referring to a case that is in front of the court, I will limit my comments here. The fact is that we will respect the decision of the court, and if the Minister of Justice decides to appeal, it would be for the Court of Appeal to say whether or not the trial judge was right and if the judgment will be maintained.
