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The Saskatchewan Government introduced long-promised involuntary treatment legislation on the final day of the fall session.
The Compassionate Intervention Act is intended to support people with serious addictions who are not able to seek help on their own, the government said in a news release.
Currently, addiction treatment in Saskatchewan for adults requires voluntary participation.
If passed, the new legislation would change that by allowing family members to seek treatment for a loved one through the court system.
Authorities could also intervene if someone’s substance use “places their own life or the life of others at serious risk.”
Justice Minister Tim McLeod said the legislation will save lives and strengthen families and communities.
“Every person deserves the opportunity to heal, rebuild and thrive,” McLeod said in the news release accompanying the introduction of the legislation.
Under the law, people can only be taken to a compassionate intervention assessment center by police or law enforcement officers if they are referred by a medical professional or through a court order.
It is unclear where these compassionate intervention evaluation centers would be located or whether they would need to be built.
The legislation wasn’t introduced until the last day of the fall session, meaning it won’t pass until at least the spring.
The official opposition has already said it supports involuntary treatment.
NDP Leader Carla Beck told the media in her response to the throne speech that she believes it is acceptable, but only as a last resort and only if it does not violate an individual’s constitutional rights.
“There may be a place and a time to ensure that people are stabilized so they can begin the journey to recovery,” he said.
Commerce and healthcare dominate the fall
The fall session began in late October, as Premier Scott Moe’s government continued to grapple with trade issues involving the United States and China, as well as ongoing complaints about the state of health care in the province.
Moe’s government also recently approved an additional $1 billion in spending, which comes after a mid-year financial report predicted the province’s deficit would grow to $427 million.
