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Municipalities back motion to press Ottawa for safer drug access

VANCOUVER — Municipal governments across Canada will press the federal government to increase access to safer drugs, and declare a national health emergency in response to the fentanyl-driven overdose crisis, after a motion by Vancouver Mayor Kennedy
Drug deaths
Vancouver mayor Kennedy Stewart joined Dr. Patricia Daly, chief medical officer for Vancouver Coastal Health, and Vancouver Fire and Rescue Service's Capt. Jonathan Gormick to discuss the epidemic of drug-related deaths, at a press conference in Vancouver on Friday, Sept. 6, 2019.

VANCOUVER — Municipal governments across Canada will press the federal government to increase access to safer drugs, and declare a national health emergency in response to the fentanyl-driven overdose crisis, after a motion by Vancouver Mayor Kennedy Stewart was passed Friday.

Stewart’s motion, drafted with his overdose emergency task force, was approved by city council in July. Coun. Rebecca Bligh brought it to a Federation of Canadian Municipalities executive meeting this week.

The motion requires the federation to call on the federal government to support health authorities, doctors, their professional colleges and provinces to “safely provide regulated opioids and other substances through a free and federally available Pharmacare program.”

The federation will also demand that the federal government declare a national public health emergency and provide exemptions to the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, so that cities and towns can run pilot programs that prioritize a move toward a “safe” drug supply.

Stewart said Friday that there was some division among the federation’s membership over the motion, but it passed following an effective speech by Bligh. He said he hopes it will “shift the national dialogue toward a safe supply” during the federal election.

Stewart wants health professionals with non-profit organizations to be allowed to distribute diacetylmorphine, which local research has shown can be an effective treatment for chronic, relapsing opioid dependence.

Stewart said front-line responders are fatigued, people are experiencing multiple overdoses and suffering brain injuries, and the city and province desperately need the federal government to step up.

“We’re going to have to take it to the next level here. We’re reducing overdose deaths, but overdoses are increasing. Just not dying isn’t good enough,” Stewart said.

“It’s got to be life and hope for people.”