Mi'kmaq chiefs, former attorney general disappointed with N.S. cannabis directive

Mi'kmaq chiefs and a former Nova Scotia justice minister are criticizing the provincial government for directing police to crack down on illegal cannabis, saying the order undermines relations with Indigenous Peoples.

Sipekne'katik First Nation Chief Michelle Glasgow said in a statement on Friday she and her council are "appalled" by the province's directive, which she calls a direct threat to their communities' safety.

"The province's actions through the minister of justice are acts of systemic racism and inciting hate against Mi'kmaw people, labelling us the problem, and this narrative is absolutely disgusting," Glasgow wrote.

Her comments are in reaction to Justice Minister Scott Armstrong's directive on Thursday for all Nova Scotia police agencies to prioritize cannabis enforcement by identifying and disrupting illegal operations and distribution networks. The minister also wrote to 13 Mi'kmaq chiefs requesting their co-operation as they direct police to tackle illegal cannabis sales, saying there are at least 118 illegal dispensaries operating in their communities.

However, later on Thursday, a spokesperson with the government said they would issue a correction to the chiefs, explaining that the province didn't know how many of the 118 stores are on or off First Nations territory.

Armstrong's directive has sparked criticism that the government may be interfering with law enforcement to target Indigenous communities.

"These are abuses of colonial power, and the government of Nova Scotia and the police agencies need to focus their policing efforts to combat illicit drugs — fentanyl and opioids that are being brought into our communities and leaving devastating effects on our families," Glasgow said.

Maw-lukutijik Saqmaq, also known as the Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi'kmaw Chiefs, said in a statement on Friday that its members had reached out to the provincial government prior to the 2018 federal legalization of cannabis to discuss regulation in Mi'kmaq communities. The assembly said the province rejected those requests, and the members are disappointed by Nova Scotia's apparent lack of understanding of treaty rights and the right to self-determination.

"Although our perspectives may differ, it's important to state that the province does not govern our communities," Chief Terrance Paul said in the letter on behalf of the assembly.

"This is a clear example of what happens when the province will not come to the table with us from the outset; an archaic government process we've experienced far too often in our communities," Paul said.

Becky Druhan, former justice minister who left the Progressive Conservative caucus in October to sit as an Independent, said Friday the province is undermining its relationship with Mi'kmaq communities while missing out on the opportunity to support businesses in rural areas through expanded cannabis regulation.

"Nova Scotia has the most, or at least one of the most, restrictive cannabis regimes in the country. It's quite limited in terms of who is able to access that market … when that regime was created, there were concerns that would result in proliferation of illegal dispensaries because there's really no path to market for folks who are interested in becoming involved in a lawful way," Druhan said in an interview Friday.

Provincial law strictly controls the sale of cannabis through Nova Scotia Liquor Corp. (NSLC) outlets, which Druhan said has contributed to the boom in dispensaries.

She said the government should update rules to allow for broader licensing options, which would increase legal and safe access to cannabis, and then follow up with targeted enforcement against "truly high-risk operations."