Moms Stop The Harm Takes Its Message to Municipalities

In November 2020, Moms Stop the Harm asked municipalities and Indigenous communities across the country for their assistance in ending the overdose crisis and the toll it is taking on our communities. Specifically, we asked them to consider passing a resolution on the overdose crisis (see text below). Among other things, the resolution asks 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 and legal regulation of drugs.

The MSTH municipal initiative, like our petition campaign, is aimed at increasing political pressure on the federal government to take the overdose crisis seriously. Unfortunately, it has not done so to date.

If you’d like to help with phase two of this initiative - following up with municipalities- please let us know.

And it is still not too late to collect signatures for petitions to the House of Commons. You can get more information about how to go about this on our Petition for Urgent Action on the Overdose Crisis page.

---

43 municipalities have passed the full MSTH resolution (As of November 9, 2021)

• 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

• 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

  • Castlegar

  • Port Alberni

---

17 Municipalities and 1 municipal federation have passed part of the MSTH resolution or have taken other actions: (up to date March 20, 2022)

• Selwyn, ON: Passed a resolution urging the federal government to declare the overdose crisis a national public health emergency and work with provinces to develop a comprehensive pan-Canadian plan for ending the overdose crisis

• Laird, ON: Passed a motion saying "that council petitions the Federal Government in developing a comprehensive pan-Canadian overdose action plan

• North Grenville, ON: Passed part of the MSTH resolution at their council meeting on March 16, 2021. The motion “urges the Government of Canada to declare the overdose crisis a national public health emergency so that it is taken seriously and funded appropriately and to meet with the provinces to develop a comprehensive, pan-Canadian overdose action plan.”

• Perth, ON: Passed the vast majority of the MSTH overdose crisis resolution at their council meeting on March 23rd and subsequently sent a letter to health minister Patty Hajdu noting that council had adopted the following: “Be it resolved that the Council of the Town of Perth support Mom Stop The Harm’s request that the government of Canada immediately seek input from the people most affected by this crisis and meet with provinces and territories to develop a comprehensive, pan-Canadian overdose action plan, which includes comprehensive supports and full consideration of reforms that other countries have used to significantly reduce drug-related fatalities and stigma, such as legal regulation of illicit drugs to ensure safe supply of pharmaceutical alternatives to toxic street drugs, and decriminalization for personal use.”

• Brockville, ON: Passed part of the MSTH resolution at a council meeting on April 13th, after a request from MSTH board member Christine Wingate. Council approved three separate motions, including one calling on the federal government to make the overdose crisis a national public health emergency. It also approved a motion to install six needle disposal boxes in city parks and another to share potentially life-saving information about matters such as toxic drugs. You can read the full story by going to https://www.recorder.ca/news/council-backs-overdose-measures . Thank you Brockville, ON and Christine Wingate!

• Edmonton, AB: Passed a two-part motion:

  • Part 1 reads: “That the Mayor, on behalf of City Council, write a letter to the Prime Minister asking for the following:

    • that the Federal Government officially recognize the overdose crisis as a national public health emergency;

    • that the Federal Government fund and accommodate overdose prevention programs in Edmonton utilizing pharmaceutical alternatives under medical supervision to illegal street drugs;

    • that the principles of decriminalization within the Government of Canada’s proposed amendments to the Canadian Drug and Substances Act, as proposed in Bill C-22 be enacted by parliament. “

  • Part 2 reads: “That Administration engage with the Government of Alberta in regards to Edmonton’s five supportive housing sites to determine their eligibility for designation as therapeutic communities, with addiction treatment that includes pharmaceutical alternatives to illegal street drugs.

• Delta, BC: Mayor Harvie sent a letter and local report about the overdose crisis to Health Minister Patty Hajdu. The letter urges “the Federal government to recognize the overdose crisis as a national public health emergency and work with the provinces to develop a comprehensive plan to address this issue.

• Burnaby, BC: Passed most of the MSTH resolution: “Therefore be it resolved that the Government of Canada declare the overdose crisis a national public health emergency so that it is taken seriously and funded appropriately; and Therefore be it further resolved that the Government of Canada immediately seek input from the people most affected by this crisis and meet with provinces/territories and local governments to develop a comprehensive, pan-Canadian overdose action plan.”

• Oliver, BC: Passed their own version of part of the MSTH resolution at their council meeting on February 22nd. Their resolution stated “That Council direct staff to draft correspondence to the Federal Government expressing concern regarding drug poisoning deaths being a Canadian Public Health Emergency.”

• North Vancouver, BC: Passed part of the MSTH resolution at their council meeting on March 8th. The motion, which was carried unanimously, reads: “THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Mayor write to the Government of Canada, in particular, the Minister of Health, on behalf of Council, requesting that the overdose crisis be declared a national public health emergency and be met with the same urgency observed in the federal response to the COVID-19 pandemic; AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the Mayor write to Premier John Horgan, on behalf of Council, requesting that he advocate for a national overdose action plan that would work in tandem with provincial plans, such as The Pathway to Hope, at a future First Ministers Meeting.”

• Prince George, BC: City Council sent a letter to Health Minister Hajdu supporting the vast majority of the MSTH’s resolution, including “THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Council: a) request that the Government of Canada: i) declare the overdose crisis a national public health; and ii) immediately seek input from the people most affected by this crisis and meet with provinces and territories to develop a comprehensive, Pan-Canadian overdose action plan, which includes comprehensive supports and full consideration of reforms that other countries have used to significantly reduce drug-related fatalities and stigma.”

• Oak Bay, BC: Passed the following overdose crisis motion at their council meeting on March 22nd in response to a request for action from the District of Saanich: “To receive the correspondence and to direct the mayor to issue a letter to Saanich mayor and council supporting the approach outlined in their correspondence and indicating Oak Bay council’s support for their advocacy with senior levels of government on this topic. “ The Saanich request was based on the MSTH resolution.

• North Vancouver District, BC: Passed the vast majority of the MSTH resolution at their council meeting on April 12th. The motion concluded with the following: BE IT RESOLVED that the Government of Canada declare the overdose crisis a national public health emergency so that it is taken seriously and funded appropriately. BE IT ALSO RESOLVED that the Government of Canada immediately seek input from the people most affected by this crisis and meet with provinces and territories to develop a comprehensive, pan-Canadian overdose action plan, which includes comprehensive supports and full consideration of reforms that other countries have used to significantly reduce drug-related fatalities and stigma, such as legal regulation of illicit drugs to ensure safe supply of pharmaceutical alternatives to toxic street drugs.”

• District of West Vancouver, BC: Passed the following at a council meeting on April 12th: “THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Mayor write to the Federal Government, in particular, the Minister of Health, on behalf of Council, requesting that the overdose crisis be declared a national public health emergency and be met with the same urgency observed in the Federal response to the Covid-19 pandemic; AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the Mayor write to Premier John Horgan, on behalf of Council, requesting that he advocate for a national action plan that would work in tandem with provincial plans at a future First Ministers meeting AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the mayor, in her letter to federal and provincial governments, urge them to seriously consider measures such as decriminalization and proper funding of harm reduction, including safe supply.”
  Council’s debate over this motion is at the 6:41 minute mark of the following URL:
  https://westvancouver.ca/government/mayor-council/council-videos

• Mission, BC: Passed the vast majority of the MSTH resolution at a council meeting on April 19, 2021: “That Council request that the Government of Canada declare the opioid overdose crisis a national public health emergency; and immediately seek input from the people most affected by this crisis and meet with provinces and territories to develop a comprehensive, pan-Canadian overdose action plan, which includes comprehensive supports and full consideration of reforms that other countries have used to significantly reduce toxic supply, drug-related fatalities and stigma.”

• Township of Langley, BC (a district municipality)
  Passed part of the MSTH resolution at their council meeting on January 10th. Their resolution states: “That Council request the Federal Government to declare the overdose crisis a national public health emergency and to work with Provinces to develop a comprehensive pan-Canadian plan for ending the overdose and drug poisoning crisis”.

• City of Langley, BC: Passed part of the MSTH resolution. On February 7, 2022, council called on the “Federal Government to declare the overdose crisis a national public health emergency. Further, the resolution requests that the Federal government work with the Provinces to develop a comprehensive pan-Canadian plan for ending the overdose and drug poisoning crisis.”

• Union of British Columbia Municipalities: Endorsed a resolution submitted to its 2021 Convention by the District of Saanich. This resolution was based, in part, on the MSTH resolution and states “that the UBCM request the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia declare the overdose crisis a national public health emergency and develop appropriate comprehensive, Holistic Pan-Canadian overdose action plans that include the legislative and funding frameworks for decriminalization, de-stigmatization, free and safe supply, suitable medical treatments and thereby function to holistically address the opioid crisis, mental health issues and their connections to homelessness and overdose deaths in local governments across Canada.

---

7 Municipalities or municipal bodies have passed their own resolutions (up to date as of November 9, 2021)

• Oshawa, ON: On March 27, 2019, Oshawa’s city council passed a motion urging “the federal and provincial governments to officially declare the opioid crisis a national and provincial crisis.”

  Source: http://app.oshawa.ca/agendas/City_Council/2019/03-26/MINUTES_2019-03-26_Council.pdf

• Montreal, QC: Montreal’s city council passed a motion calling on the federal government to decriminalize the simple possession of illicit drugs nationally. That move was applauded by harm reduction groups who are urging Montreal to also follow Vancouver’s lead and apply for a formal decriminalization exemption. 

  Source: https://www.vice.com/en/article/m7akgy/canada-is-formally-considering-full-drug-decriminalization-for-vancouver”

• Vancouver, BC: Councillors in Vancouver have voted unanimously to ask the federal government to decriminalize possession of small amounts of illicit drugs.… city staff will now write to federal officials, including the ministers of health and justice, seeking an exemption from the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. Source: https://bc.ctvnews.ca/drug-decriminalization-unanimously-endorsed-by-vancouver-city-council-1.5205625

• Niagara Regional Council, ON

  After bouncing between the full council and committee, Niagara’s regional councilors have voted narrowly to ask the federal government to study the decriminalization of possession of all drugs.

  Source: https://www.niagarafallsreview.ca/news/council/2020/10/23/niagara-regional-council-to-ask-feds-to-decriminalize-drug-possession-for-personal-use.html

• St. Catharines, ON: St. Catharines is adding its support to the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police effort to decriminalize personal possession of illicit drugs, in the hope of focusing on treatment of people suffering from addictions rather than arresting them.

  Source: https://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/news/council/2020/07/28/st-catharines-supports-police-chiefs-call-to-decriminalize-drugs.html

• Nelson, BC: Nelson’s city council passed a resolution at its August meeting urging the federal government to declare the overdose crisis a national public health emergency.

  Source: http://thenelsondaily.com/news/council-cans-financial-support-request-outreach-program-approves-letter-support

• Chatham-Kent, ON: passed the following motion endorsing drug decriminalization at its Council meeting on September 13, 2021: That Chatham Kent endorse a decriminalization approach to drug policy, and send a letter to relevant federal and provincial partners outlining this endorsement, as well as a summary of the current situation in Chatham Kent and the need for further support for harm reduction strategies. “

  Source: https://pub-chatham-kent.escribemeetings.com/Meeting.aspx?Id=673e2394-c08d-46e3-82fe-181d5e455e5a&Agenda=Agenda&lang=English&Item=42&Tab=attachments

  The Star article: https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2021/09/21/municipal-council-urges-drug-decriminalization.html

---

Here is a copy of our resolution to the municipalities on the overdose crisis:

Whereas the opioid crisis is one of the largest public health emergencies of our lifetime, with a death on average every two hours and a death toll of 26,690 in the past five years alone (January 2016 to September 2021)

Whereas other countries have significantly reduced drug-related fatalities with reforms such as legal regulation of illicit drugs to ensure safe supply and decriminalization for personal use.

Whereas the federal government has indicated it is premature to discuss these measures until there are comprehensive supports for people to get well.

Whereas supports are needed, but measures that save lives are essential if people are to survive and access supports.

Whereas the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police has stated that they agree the evidence suggests “decriminalization for simple possession as an effective way to reduce the public health and public safety harms associated with substance use”, causing the government to indicate that it is now “deliberating” over decriminalization.

Whereas the overdose crisis rages, showing few signs of abating.                                                          

Be it resolved that the Government of Canada declare the overdose crisis a national public health emergency so that it is taken seriously and funded appropriately.             

Be it also resolved that the Government of Canada immediately seek input from the people most affected by this crisis and meet with provinces and territories to develop a comprehensive, pan-Canadian overdose action plan, which includes comprehensive supports and full consideration of reforms that other countries have used to significantly reduce drug-related fatalities and stigma, such as legal regulation of illicit drugs to ensure safe supply of pharmaceutical alternatives to toxic street drugs, and decriminalization for personal use.

MAILING INFORMATION

Please send your resolution to Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health, Address Locator 0900C2, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0K9

Please send a copy of your resolution to:                                                         

1)   Moms Stop the Harm at info@momsstoptheharm.com or PO Box 31062, University Heights PO, Victoria BC V8N 6J3

2)   Your local member of Parliament (MP). You can get your MP’s contact information information by calling 1-800-463-6868 or going to https://www.ourcommons.ca/en

---

Support The Bill To Decriminalize People Who Use Drugs!

Our co-founders Leslie McBain and Petra Schulz wrote a letter to Justin Trudeau in February to request his support for a private members bill called C-216 that would, if passed, decriminalize personal drug possession and take a number of other important steps towards ending our country’s cruel and unsuccessful war on drugs.

Those of us who have seen this crisis firsthand know the devastation caused by the criminalization of substance use. Individuals, families and communities are harmed and too many die when the stigma of criminalization causes them to use drugs alone.

While we sent a letter to the Prime Minister, we feel strongly that this issue should not be partisan, but that this bill deserves support from all sides of the House of Commons.

All MPs need to know this and you can help by forwarding our letter to the Prime Minister (along with a short note saying you would like your MP to support Bill C-216.) Or you can use the following text or edit as you see fit to your MP:

Dear [Name of your MP]

I am writing to request that you support  Bill C-216, An Act to amend the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and to enact the Expungement of Certain Drug-related Convictions Act and the National Strategy on Substance Use Act.

Measures taken to date to address the overdose crisis have failed. The results of this failure are heartbreaking in the extreme. About 25,000 Canadians have died since 2016, according to official figures that are at least seven months out of date, but we know that every day 20 Canadians die from fatal drug poisoning.

I am calling for bold action to end these preventable deaths and believe that Bill C-216 is the kind of action required. Also, I strongly believe that all parties need to work together to get this bill passed. It should not be viewed as a partisan issue but as a necessary step towards ending this unbearable crisis.

Bill C-216 will help save lives. I urge you to support it. . 

Regards

[Your name]

You can find the email of your MP by searching this page using your postal code.

We need bold action and we must all be part of it. NOW!

Update on MP Gord Johns's Private Members Bill C-216

RELATING TO THE OVERDOSE CRISIS

Bill C-216 was read for a second time and debated in the House of Commons on March 2, 2022.

The bill includes provisions that would, if passed:
- decriminalize personal possession
- provide for record expungement
- ensure low-barrier access to safe supply
- and expand access to harm reduction, treatment and recovery services.

During the debate in the House, Liberal MP Brendan Hanley said: “In addition to all that the government has done to address this crisis in recent years, we need an approach that will consider a broader approach to the issue, including decriminalization. These are critical discussions we must have, which is why I am happy to speak to my colleague’s bill, support it and help it get to committee. It is the direction we need to move in, and I look forward to working on it with members of the House.”

Green MP Mike Morris announced that he and the member for Saanich—Gulf Islands would support the bill “ for the simple reason that this bill, if passed, would save lives.”

Bloc MP Luc Thériault said that he supports decriminalization but believes “ Implementation of a pan-Canadian strategy should… precede decriminalization to ensure that the federal government or other levels of government do not shirk their responsibility by arguing that those people are no longer in the legal system.”

Conservative MP Laila Goodridge argued that “Decriminalizing without having the appropriate access to treatment and supports in place is akin to putting the cart before the horse.”

NDP MP Don Davies pointed out that the government “cannot say they treat drug use and addiction as a health issue and leave it criminalized on the federal books to continue to kill people.”

MSTH is asking members to send a letter of support for Bill C-216 to their MP. You can get additional information and a draft letter at https://www.momsstoptheharm.com/actions/2022/2/14/support-the-bill-to-decriminalize-people-who-use-drugs

You can read the full debate on Bill C-216 by going to the following link (look for number 1745 on the left):
https://www.ourcommons.ca/DocumentViewer/en/house/latest/hansard

You can also get information about the status of and steps attached this bill at https://www.parl.ca/legisinfo/en/bill/44-1/c-216