Advocates of Lethbridge's former supervised consumption site launch legal challenge
Two organizations aimed at supporting Albertans with addictions say the Kenney government's plan to handle the opioid crisis is wrong and they have gone to court to prove it.
Moms Stop the Harm, which represents families affected by substance abuse, and the Lethbridge Overdose Prevention Society attended a number of hearings in Lethbridge provincial court this week. In them, they laid out their argument that the closure of supervised consumption sites throughout the province will result in more deaths and overdoses in Alberta.
They also claimed the government's requirement for clients of those sites to show photo ID and their Alberta health care card was unfair.
The proceedings took place on Wednesday and Thursday and, at the end, the presiding judge reserved a decision in the case.
One of the advocacy groups understood that to be good news.
"This judge seemed open-minded and willing to learn," said Kym Porter, a member of Moms Stop the Harm. "He asked excellent questions and just the fact that he asked for an extension, he realizes how complex an issue addiction is as well as people that struggle with substance issues."
According to the most recent data, 624 Albertans died from overdoses during the first five months of 2021.
A decision is expected at the end of January.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian former Olympic snowboarder wanted in Ontario double homicide: DOJ
A Canadian former Olympic snowboarder who is suspected of being the leader of a transnational drug trafficking group that operated in four countries is wanted for allegedly orchestrating the murder of an 'innocent' couple in Ontario in 2023, authorities say.
Ontario school board trustees under fire for $100K religious art purchase on Italy trip
Trustees with an Ontario school board are responding to criticism over a $45,000 trip to Italy, where they purchased more than $100,000 worth of religious statues.
A photographer snorkeled for hours to take this picture
Shane Gross, a Canadian marine conservation photojournalist, has won the title of Wildlife Photographer of the Year.
Tobacco giants would pay out $32.5 billion to provinces, smokers in proposed deal
Three tobacco giants are proposing to pay close to $25 billion to provinces and territories and more than $4 billion to some 100,000 Quebec smokers and their loved ones as part of a corporate restructuring process triggered by a long-running legal battle.
More Trudeau cabinet ministers not running for re-election, sources say shuffle expected soon
Federal cabinet ministers Filomena Tassi, Carla Qualtrough and Dan Vandal announced Thursday they will not run for re-election. Senior government sources tell CTV News at least one other, Marie-Claude Bibeau, doesn't plan to run again, setting the stage for Justin Trudeau to shuffle his cabinet in the coming weeks.
Robert Pickton's handwritten book seized after his death in hopes of uncovering new evidence
A handwritten book was seized from B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton's prison cell following his death earlier this year, raising hopes of uncovering new evidence in a series of unprosecuted murders.
Former members of One Direction say they're 'completely devastated' by Liam Payne's death
The former members of English boy band One Direction reacted publicly to the sudden death of their bandmate, Liam Payne, for the first time on Thursday, saying in a joint statement that they're 'completely devastated.'
Israel says it has killed top Hamas leader Yayha Sinwar in Gaza
Israeli forces in Gaza killed top Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, a chief architect of last year's attack on Israel that sparked the war, the military said Thursday. Troops appeared to have run across him unknowingly in a battle, only to discover afterwards that a body in the rubble was Israel's most wanted man.
Indian government employee charged in foiled murder-for-hire plot in New York City
The U.S. Justice Department announced criminal charges Thursday against an Indian government employee in connection with a foiled plot to kill a Sikh separatist leader living in New York City.