One of the conditions Prime Minister Justin Trudeau agreed to in order to get President Donald Trump to delay the implementation of tariffs for 30 days was the appointment of a "fentanyl czar" in Canada.
BC Conservative leader John Rustad has since pointed out, however, that British Columbia already has a "fentanyl czar" — Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry.
"British Columbia already has a fentanyl czar," Rustad wrote in a post on X. Her name is Doctor Bonnie Henry, and she is focused on promoting fentanyl use in BC. Hopefully, Canada's new national fentanyl czar is focused on stopping fentanyl instead of promoting it."
Many users were quick to share screenshots of things Henry has said on the topic of fentanyl. In early 2024, for example, she backed a report suggesting drug users would benefit from smokable fentanyl. The province eventually decided not to follow her recommendations, rejecting the report.
Following the government's rejection, the BC Conservatives called on Premier David Eby to remove Henry from her position.
"Dr. Bonnie Henry's support for selling meth and other harmful drugs in government stores is not only shocking but also incredibly irresponsible," Rustad said at the time. "This approach is not a solution to our drug crisis; it is an endorsement of dangerous substances that have destroyed countless lives and families. Our communities deserve better."
He said it was "time for the government to take a stand for the well-being of its citizens," asking Eby to "act swiftly and decisively in removing Dr. Henry from her position."
Exactly who will be tapped to serve as fentanyl czar has not been revealed. Federal Public Safety Minister David McGuinty said whoever it is, they will act as a middleperson between Canada and the United States on issues related to halting cross-border fentanyl trafficking.
According to the United States Customs and Border Patrol, around 43 pounds of fentanyl was seized coming south from Canada in 2024. Meanwhile over 21,000 pounds made its way north to the United States from Mexico. It has been pointed out, however, that Canada sees an outsized amount of precursor chemicals entering the country.
In October 2024, the RCMP announced that it had successfully taken down what was referred to as the "largest, most sophisticated drug superlab" in Canadian history.
An unprecedented amount of fentanyl and precursor chemicals were uncovered, enough to kill every Canadian nearly three times times over.
