Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre said in a written statement that he’s happy with Ottawa’s proposed changes to the Controlled Drug and Substances Act.
The new approach aims to shift Canada’s drug strategy out of the realm of criminal justice and into the public health fold.
READ MORE: Feds update anti-drug strategy, making it easier to open safe-injection sites
If adopted, Bill C-37, would make it easier for municipalities to open safe-injection sites in their communities, namely by eliminating 26 strict requirements for new “consumption” sites put in place by the previous Conservative government.
Canada currently has only two supervised drug injection sites, both are in Vancouver.
READ MORE: Montreal mayor pledges to open injection sites even without federal approval
Coderre said there are three proposed safe-injection sites for Montreal, stating the project has been in the works for over two years, as part of the city’s action plan on homelessness.
Coderre also expressed his impatience for the new measures to come into effect.
READ MORE: Advocates of Quebec safe drug injection sites expect approval from Liberals
Montreal is home to an estimated 4,000 intravenous drug users, a quarter of whom are homeless, according to the released statement.
“In this context, the presence of safe-injection sites also contributes to reduce the number of syringes left lying around, thus improving cohabitation in public spaces.”
— With files from La Presse Canadienne’s Fannie Olivier
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