Trudeau kiboshes decriminalization of hard drugs

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COVID-19 update

British Columbia is ending the week with one new death from COVID-19 and 121 new infections confirmed. There have been two new cases in the Island Health Region in the past 24 hours. Over the past week, the region has recorded eight new cases.

Trudeau kiboshes decriminalization of hard drugs

BC's Minister of Health is downplaying recent comments by the Prime minister refusing to decriminalize hard drugs. This comes after the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police the Premier and Dr. Bonnie Henry have called for decriminalization for simple possession. Earlier this week, Justin Trudeau told CBC Vancouver that is not going to happen

"The key to decriminalization is making sure there is a safer supply for people struggling with addictions and that is what we will move forward on without having to take the step to decriminalize."—Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Nevertheless, Adrian Dix says the federal position does not affect the province's plan to deal with the overdose crisis.

"It is true that a more fundamental change would require a change by the federal government but the public health emergency related to the overdose crisis that was declared some years ago and made worse by the COVID-19 crisis that public health emergency requires a comprehensive response and that's what we are doing"—Minister of Health Adrian Dix.

Dix says the province is working with the federal government to expand the safe drug supply.

SD-68 brings another option to the table for parents with children returning to school

A vast majority of parents in Nanaimo and Ladysmith say their kids will be returning to classrooms next week. A school district survey of more than 12,000 families found 83 per cent intend to send their children back to in-class learning on September 10. Fewer than 200 have chosen home schooling, with no support from the district. However, close to 1,000 students have opted for the district's distributed learning program, which is a hybrid model, and, more than 1200 others are undecided. In light of that, the district has created a fourth option: a Transition Learning Program for Kindergarten to Grade 9. District Superintendent Scott Saywell says it will give families more time to decide whether their child will return to in-class instruction.

"We have a great number of parents who are a little nervous or anxious for their son or daughter to return to school so we have created a transition option for them. So students will keep their spot at their home school and they will have a completely online education."—SD-68 Superintendent Scott Saywell.

But that online education will only last until November the 4th. By that date, students will have to decide whether to return to class, enroll in the distributed learning program or opt for home schooling.