New Campbell River bylaw bans open use of drugs as B.C. decriminalizes possession
A city on Vancouver Island rushed in a new bylaw just before B.C. officially decriminalized the possession of small amounts of drugs.
The new bylaw in Campbell River, B.C., prohibits the open consumption of street drugs on public property, including in municipal parks, city facilities and roads.
The bylaw was introduced on Thursday, just ahead the province's decriminalization pilot project, which came into effect on Tuesday.
B.C. is now the first province in Canada to make it legal for adults to possess a combined 2.5 grams of drugs, such as opioids, cocaine, methamphetamine or MDMA.
Health officials say by decriminalizing the possession of small amounts of drugs, more people will be able to access medical services and there's an opportunity for the perception of substance use to shift from crime to public health.
Campbell River, like many cities across Canada, has been struggling with an addiction issue in its downtown core.
With the new bylaw in place, Campbell River’s director of community safety Peter Wipper says people can be fined $200 for consuming drugs in public spaces, similar to bylaws that are in place that prohibit the open consumption of alcohol or marijuana.
"I would think one of the main thrusts is to address the public's concern when they come downtown," said Wipper.
"Let's say they want to go to Spirit Square and sit down on the benches, are they going to feel safe there?" he said.
James Simon, who operates a business in downtown Campbell River, says he applauds the new bylaw, but he isn't sure how much of an effect it will have.
"It's getting worse," said Simon. "I don't feel any fear, but I do understand it."
The city has the power of enforcing the bylaw effective immediately, but whether they do, remains to be seen.
"[In] the dark evening, just like anywhere else, don't go into back alleys or anything," said Simon.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
Toxic testing standoff: Family leaves house over air quality
A Sherwood Park family says their new house is uninhabitable. The McNaughton's say they were forced to leave the house after living there for only a week because contaminants inside made it difficult to breathe.
Decoy bear used to catch man who illegally killed a grizzly, B.C. conservation officers say
A man has been handed a lengthy hunting ban and fined thousands of dollars for illegally killing a grizzly bear, B.C. conservation officers say.
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
OPP responds to apparent video of officer supporting anti-Trudeau government protestors
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) says it's investigating an interaction between a uniformed officer and anti-Trudeau government protestors after a video circulated on social media.
An emergency slide falls off a Delta Air Lines plane, forcing pilots to return to JFK in New York
An emergency slide fell off a Delta Air Lines jetliner shortly after takeoff Friday from New York, and pilots who felt a vibration in the plane circled back to land safely at JFK Airport.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Loud boom in Hamilton caused by propane tank, police say
A loud explosion was heard across Hamilton on Friday after a propane tank was accidentally destroyed and detonated at a local scrap metal yard, police say.