Trudeau criticizes Alberta government’s response to drug overdose crisis
EDMONTON – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau criticized the Alberta government’s response to the worsening drug overdose crisis while visiting Edmonton to promote the federal budget.
Trudeau knocked the province’s recovery-focused approach, saying it is shifting away from science and harm reduction.
Alberta recorded its deadliest year for fatal overdoses in 2021 with more than 1,700 deaths.
His comments came after a question from a reporter about the possibility of exemptions under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act to decriminalize simple possession of illegal drugs.