Alberta’s government is calling on the federal government to take a tougher stance on drug-related crimes, demanding the repeal of Bill C-5 and the reinstatement of mandatory minimum jail sentences for Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) offences.
Premier Danielle Smith and Minister of Justice and Attorney General Mickey Amery are urging Ottawa to overturn federal guidelines that direct prosecutors to seek alternative measures for drug offences rather than criminal prosecution.
If the federal government does not act, Alberta is asking for federal funding to allow the province to take over all CDSA prosecutions.
“For years, Alberta’s government has urged the federal government to reverse their soft-on-crime policies which have allowed illegal drugs to flood our streets and for repeat offenders to prey on our most vulnerable,” said Smith.
“The federal government must act now and put an end to their insane policies. And if they refuse to, then they must allow the Province of Alberta to take over all prosecutions under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.”
Bill C-5, which was passed by the federal government, eliminated all mandatory minimum sentences for CDSA offences, reduced mandatory minimums for serious weapons and drug-related crimes, and removed restrictions on conditional sentences.
It also requires police and prosecutors to consider referring drug offenders to treatment programs rather than charging them. According to Alberta officials, these policies have weakened law enforcement’s ability to prosecute drug traffickers and have led to a rise in drug-related crime.
“Alberta is deeply concerned about the federal government's failure to address the growing drug crisis in Canada,” said Amery.
“Federal prosecution directives and Bill C-5 have significantly weakened our justice system, allowing criminals and drug dealers to exploit loopholes while putting public safety and Canadian lives at risk.”
Alberta has also highlighted the broader impact of drug trafficking, which is often linked to other crimes such as human trafficking, gun smuggling and money laundering. In response, the province has introduced a $29-million border security plan, which includes a new Sheriffs unit, a 51-officer Interdiction Patrol Team, four K-9 patrol teams, 10 weather surveillance drones and four narcotics analyzers.
The province is warning that without immediate federal action, drug-related crime will continue to rise, endangering public safety and worsening the ongoing drug crisis in Canada.