Ontario eyes involuntary addiction treatment for people in jail, on parole, probation
Global News
Ontario is set to study how it can introduce involuntary addictions treatment for people involved in the correctional system.
Ontario is set to study how it can introduce involuntary addictions treatment for people involved in the correctional system.
The Canadian Press has learned that the government will make that announcement today, as it sets out new justice measures that will be contained in a bill being tabled later in the day.
Two senior government sources who were not authorized to share the news yet publicly say the province intends to mandate treatment for people with addictions in jail, on probation and on parole.
The sources say officials will now look into how this can be done, how much it would cost, what sort of help they would need from the federal government to enact those measures, and consider lessons learned from other jurisdictions.
They say the ministry intends to present a plan to cabinet by this fall with a plan and options.
The sources say Ontario is looking more to the model in British Columbia, which includes involuntary addictions treatment for people with simultaneous mental health challenges, rather than Alberta’s more sweeping approach.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s government recently tabled legislation that would allow parents, family members, health-care professionals, police or peace officers to apply for a treatment order. People using substances and deemed a risk to themselves or others could be apprehended by police and ordered into treatment in a secure facility for up to three months, with the possibility of six months in community-based treatment, under the bill.
British Columbia last week announced the opening of a 10-unit facility for involuntary treatment of people already in custody at the Surrey Pretrial Centre, and a second such facility is on the way.
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