Valerie G. Barnes Connell Jordan
Northern Advocate
Saskatchewan government has introduced a new act, The Response to Illicit Drugs Act, to strengthen “accountability for drug traffickers, enhance community safety,” and provide government and individuals some options to recover expenses that may be related to “harms caused by illicit drug activity,” according to a news release dated Dec. 3.
“We want to ensure that those who profit from the production and trafficking of deadly substances face meaningful consequences here in Saskatchewan,” Tim McLeod, justice minister and attorney general for Saskatchewan is quoted as saying in the news release.
McLeod said the legislation would create a way for people to recover costs and look for damages from offences caused by drug offenders. He said it would also attempt to support people who live with addictions through treatment and recovery.
The proposed legislation is also intended to pave a way for the province and individuals to “pursue civil action to recover such costs.”
It would also allow for “certain appointments, grants, or agreements made by the Government of Saskatchewan to be declared void if an individual or entity is convicted of certain Schedule 1 drug offences,” reads the news release.
In a statement, Nicole Sarauer, Saskatchewan NDP Shadow Minister for Justice, said they are still reviewing the legislation, but were skeptical it would be effective.
“It’s one tool the government cold use, but after 18 years of the Sask. Party, it’s clear that they need to do much more than this to get tough on crime and tough on the causes of crime,” she said.
