Skip to content

B.C. challenges court order temporarily blocking public safety law

A court blocked Restricting Public Consumption of Illegal Substances Act in late 2023
web1_20230529160528-64750bb1b26a776a8fb17307jpeg
B.C. Attorney General Niki Sharma, here seen speaking in Ottawa in 2023, says the provincial government has decided to file a notice of appeal to overturn the court order that has temporarily blocked legislation promising public safety but facing criticism for stigmatizing drug users.(THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby)

The provincial government is challenging a court decision that has temporarily blocked legislation promising public safety but facing criticism for stigmatizing substance users.

B.C. Supreme Court Chief Justice Christopher Hinkson Dec. 29 had issued an injunction against the Restricting Public Consumption of Illegal Substances Act scheduled to come into effect on Jan. 1, following passage in late fall.

The injunction means that the law won’t come into effect until March 31 as it remains the subject of a Charter challenge.

Support local journalism today

Join thousands of other like-minded readers and sign up below to gain immediate & unlimited access to our news for the next 30 days – plus start receiving our newsletters.

Sign Up with google Sign Up with facebook

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Reset your password

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

A link has been emailed to you - check your inbox.



Don't have an account? Click here to sign up


Wolf Depner

About the Author: Wolf Depner

I joined the national team with Black Press Media in 2023 from the Peninsula News Review, where I had reported on Vancouver Island's Saanich Peninsula since 2019.
Read more