The Smith government has introduced legislation that would in specific cases compel drug addicts to undertake addiction treatment. It is the first time such legislation has been introduced in the province.
Whether the Alberta should be taking the dramatic step of detaining non-criminal individuals in this way remains an open question. What is known is that allowing the government to hold anyone against their will, in any circumstances, must be done legally.
According to Premier Danielle Smith, the Compassionate Intervention Act will provide life-saving support to addicts while also supporting families and protecting the community-at-large.
“There is no compassion in leaving people to suffer in the throes of addiction and in Alberta we chose recovery,” said Smith. “That is why we’re introducing compassionate intervention to help keep our communities safe while ensuring our most vulnerable can access much needed recovery support.”
Dan Williams, minister of Mental Health and Addiction, echoes Smith’s comments, saying, “We cannot - and will not - stand by and let addiction destroy our families and communities.”
Critics of the proposed legislation call it a wholly unacceptable invasion of personal rights and freedoms.
“Coercing individuals into treatment without their consent, based on subjective assessments, is a dangerous step that risks abuse and further stigmatization of vulnerable people,” said Canadian Civil Liberties Association director Harini Sivalingam.
“This legislation violates the fundamental rights of individuals, undermining personal autonomy and the right to make decisions about one’s own body and health care.”
The Friends of Medicare has also called the proposed legislation dangerous.
“This legislation is anything but compassionate,” said executive director Chris Gallaway. “The government’s refusal to listen to medical evidence or diverge from their ideological, profit-driven approach, is continuing to wreak needless harm on our communities.”
Any legislation that creates a situation where non-criminal individual rights can be taken away “to help keep the community safe,” as premier Smith says, must be taken very seriously.
Whether this Compassionate Intervention Act, if passed, will stand up to legal challenge remains to be seen.
Dan Singleton is an editor with the Albertan.
