Alberta government clarifies Compassionate Intervention Act after criticism
Global News
As the United Conservative government faces criticism over its Compassionate Intervention Act, the premier's chief of staff sat down with Global News to set the record straight.
The United Conservative government is trying to set the record straight when it comes to its Compassionate Intervention Act.
This comes after criticisms from addictions and health experts after it was reported the province is considering the policy.
If turned into legislation and passed, the act would give police and family members or legal guardians of drug users the ability to refer adults and youth into involuntary treatment if they pose a risk to themselves and others.
The premier’s chief of staff — Marshall Smith — said that won’t happen in most cases.
In an exclusive interview with Global News, Smith explained the intervention would be forced but treatment wouldn’t be, except in certain cases.
“It’s a completely voluntary process, and the individual can refuse the help that’s being offered,” he said.
The system the UCP government is modelling its treatment plan on is borrowed from Portugal, which two decades ago became the first country in the world to abolish criminal penalties for consumption and possession of all drugs and adopted a public health approach.
Portugal decriminalized possession of all drugs in 2001, making it so anyone caught with a small amount with no evidence of trafficking faces possible fines or referral to treatment programs — not jail.