By Ashley Wiebe

Supervised injection sites raising concerns

Dec 14, 2016 | 12:45 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB —The federal government is making it easier to set up supervised drug injection sites in Canada, however police in Medicine Hat are concerned about officer safety in regards to the sites.

The Canadian Health Minister and Public Safety Minister announced the proposed changes to the Controlled Drug and Substances Act Tuesday.

Health Minister Jane Philpott touts the changes are part of the Liberal government’s overall effort to take Canada’s drug strategy out of the realm of criminal justice, and into the public health fold.

Canada currently has only two safe drug injection sites; both are located in Vancouver.

The new law would make it easier for such sites to be established if health officials can demonstrate a serious public health need that also won’t pose a risk to public safety.

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While Medicine Hat Police Chief Andy McGrogan said he understands the need to keep the people who choose to take these types of drugs safe, he has concerns over the supervised injection sites.

“We know that fentanyl, a couple grains inhaled or touched through your skin can kill a caregiver or a police officer affecting an arrest where they come across this stuff,” he said. “It’s a big issue, it’s bigger than just safe injection sites. At the end of the day we need to stop consumption of it.”

McGrogan says police forces across the country along with the government are struggling to figure out how to best manage and implement harm reduction strategies.

During Tuesday’s announcement, Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale also announced changes to the Customs Act aimed to combat the spread of fentayl into Canada.

The changes will allow mail weighing 30 grams or less to be opened by the Customs and Border Services Agency, something which previously required concent from the sender or addressee. Goodale says all incoming packages are inspectable if there are reasonable grounds for suspicion.

Goodale and Philpott allso announced Bill C-37, which will require pill presses and encapsulators to be pre-approved by Health Canada before being imported.