I believe this a well-measured first step.
Like I said before, Peterborough Police began this in June. See this update on their increasing enforcement:
https://www.peterboroughpolice.com/.../further-to-media...
Time the City of Oshawa and Region of Durham address this!
Below is my NOTICE OF MOTION on the Monday, Sept 29 Council meeting Agenda. At the June Oshawa Council meeting this Notice of Motion was voted 'Out of Order', so over the summer I met with individuals who helped with some wordsmithing. I am hopeful it will be approved on Monday, especially considering how an article published yesterday (copied at the bottom of this post) concerning Calgary Council's plan to ban open use of illicit drugs in public spaces indicates "the tide is finally turning toward an approach that balances compassion with accountability. Ending public drug use in our cities is not just bold or courageous — it is obvious".
Whereas the possession of substances regulated under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (“CDSA”) is a criminal offence contrary to s 4(1) of the CDSA; and the open use of such substances has become flagrant in parts of the City of Oshawa and Region of Durham, reducing the quality of life for law-abiding residents;
Whereas the open-air use and availability of such substances in areas providing supports to persons attempting to recover from addiction impedes the recovery efforts of those persons and attracts drug dealers associated with greater crimes to areas where users of such substances purchase those substances;
Whereas Part V of the Public Prosecution Service of Canada Deskbook (“PPSC Deskbook”) provides that prosecutions for possession of a controlled substance contrary to s 4(1) of the CDSA will generally be reserved for the most serious manifestations of the offence;
Whereas the PPSC Deskbook provides that the most serious manifestations of the abovementioned offence justifying a criminal prosecution response include “simple possession” in areas “committed in the vicinity of places frequented by children or young persons” and “that poses a heightened risk to a community’s efforts to address consumption of controlled substances in accordance with its own community approaches”;
Whereas children and young persons frequent the municipal properties in the City of Oshawa and Region of Durham including parks, sidewalks, and other properties adjacent to such municipal properties;
Whereas the open-air and uninhibited use of drugs in areas providing supports to vulnerable persons, including persons attempting to recover from addiction and lead a life of sobriety, poses a heightened risk to the community’s efforts to address consumption of controlled substances;
Whereas open-air controlled substances offences occurring in areas of Oshawa and the Region of Durham parks, sidewalks, and other properties adjacent to such municipal properties would be considered as a most serious manifestation of the offences and be prosecuted; and,
Whereas it appears that such offences occurring in Oshawa and Region of Durham parks, sidewalks, and other properties adjacent to such municipal properties are not being prosecuted;
1. Therefore, the Council of the City of Oshawa respectfully requests that the Minister of Justice Attorney General of Canada take appropriate action to address this public concern; and,
2. That a copy of this resolution be sent to the Attorney General of Ontario, the Regional Municipality of Durham and it’s member municipalities, all Region of Durham area MPs and MPPs, the Durham Regional Police Service and AMO.
Like I said before, Peterborough Police began this in June. See this update on their increasing enforcement:
https://www.peterboroughpolice.com/.../further-to-media...
Time the City of Oshawa and Region of Durham address this!
Below is my NOTICE OF MOTION on the Monday, Sept 29 Council meeting Agenda. At the June Oshawa Council meeting this Notice of Motion was voted 'Out of Order', so over the summer I met with individuals who helped with some wordsmithing. I am hopeful it will be approved on Monday, especially considering how an article published yesterday (copied at the bottom of this post) concerning Calgary Council's plan to ban open use of illicit drugs in public spaces indicates "the tide is finally turning toward an approach that balances compassion with accountability. Ending public drug use in our cities is not just bold or courageous — it is obvious".
Whereas the possession of substances regulated under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (“CDSA”) is a criminal offence contrary to s 4(1) of the CDSA; and the open use of such substances has become flagrant in parts of the City of Oshawa and Region of Durham, reducing the quality of life for law-abiding residents;
Whereas the open-air use and availability of such substances in areas providing supports to persons attempting to recover from addiction impedes the recovery efforts of those persons and attracts drug dealers associated with greater crimes to areas where users of such substances purchase those substances;
Whereas Part V of the Public Prosecution Service of Canada Deskbook (“PPSC Deskbook”) provides that prosecutions for possession of a controlled substance contrary to s 4(1) of the CDSA will generally be reserved for the most serious manifestations of the offence;
Whereas the PPSC Deskbook provides that the most serious manifestations of the abovementioned offence justifying a criminal prosecution response include “simple possession” in areas “committed in the vicinity of places frequented by children or young persons” and “that poses a heightened risk to a community’s efforts to address consumption of controlled substances in accordance with its own community approaches”;
Whereas children and young persons frequent the municipal properties in the City of Oshawa and Region of Durham including parks, sidewalks, and other properties adjacent to such municipal properties;
Whereas the open-air and uninhibited use of drugs in areas providing supports to vulnerable persons, including persons attempting to recover from addiction and lead a life of sobriety, poses a heightened risk to the community’s efforts to address consumption of controlled substances;
Whereas open-air controlled substances offences occurring in areas of Oshawa and the Region of Durham parks, sidewalks, and other properties adjacent to such municipal properties would be considered as a most serious manifestation of the offences and be prosecuted; and,
Whereas it appears that such offences occurring in Oshawa and Region of Durham parks, sidewalks, and other properties adjacent to such municipal properties are not being prosecuted;
1. Therefore, the Council of the City of Oshawa respectfully requests that the Minister of Justice Attorney General of Canada take appropriate action to address this public concern; and,
2. That a copy of this resolution be sent to the Attorney General of Ontario, the Regional Municipality of Durham and it’s member municipalities, all Region of Durham area MPs and MPPs, the Durham Regional Police Service and AMO.
