The City of Kamloops has officially legislated sweeping open use drug restrictions into existence, but still has no power to use it.
Kamloops city council on Tuesday — without discussion or debate — voted to give a 4th and final reading to the bylaw amendment.
That amendment restricts open drug use within 100-meters of parks, playgrounds, beaches, municipal buildings with public access — as well as on all city sidewalks.
Councillor Katie Neustaeter, who championed the bylaw change, notes enforcement of it still can’t take place.
“It has cleared all of our municipal hurdles. So technically it is a bylaw that’s been put in place,” noted Neustaeter. “That being said, there does require provincial sign-off. So that will go to the next level of government, who will take a look at it and make assessments.”
However, Neustaeter says she’s not sure whether both Interior Health and the Ministry of Health will sign-off on the Kamloops initiative.
“We’ll see what happens next. The ball really is in their court now to see what they’d like to do,” said Neustaeter. “But I think they have heard us loud and clear that at council, our intention is for the provincial legislation to be a backstop.”
The NDP government has legislation pending for the fall legislative sitting, which may add to the recent move to ban illicit drug use and possession within 15-meters of areas where children are likely to gather outdoors.
Details of the government’s legislative plans surrounding open drug use policy have not been revealed, nor has the NDP indicated when said legislation may be tabled.
The next legislative sitting begins on Tuesday.