C-272 (45-1) - An Act to amend the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (supervised drug consumption sites)
Chamber
commons
Stage
1st Reading
Introduced
Mar 26, 2026
Progress
This bill bans supervised drug consumption sites from operating within 500 metres of schools, daycares, or playgrounds.
Key Changes
- Bans supervised drug consumption sites from being located within 500 metres of elementary schools, secondary schools, daycares, or playgrounds
- Prevents any federal regulation or exemption under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act from overriding this distance restriction
- Automatically revokes existing exemptions for permanent sites currently within the 500-metre zone, effective 180 days after royal assent
- Adds the distance restriction as a mandatory condition for mobile supervised consumption sites rather than revoking their authorization entirely
- Comes into force 180 days after receiving royal assent, giving affected sites a transition period
Gotchas
- The 180-day transition period gives existing sites some time to relocate or wind down, but does not guarantee they can find a compliant location
- The bill applies to substances 'obtained in a manner not authorized under this Act,' meaning it targets sites where illicit drugs are consumed, not legally authorized medical facilities
- Mobile sites are treated differently from permanent ones — they are not shut down but must comply with the distance rule wherever they operate, which could significantly limit where they can provide services
- The 500-metre rule applies regardless of physical barriers, sight lines, or actual risk assessments, as no exceptions or case-by-case evaluations are built into the bill
- Revoking existing exemptions could displace people who currently rely on these services, potentially increasing health and safety risks for those individuals
Who's Affected
- Operators of existing supervised drug consumption sites located near schools, daycares, or playgrounds
- People who use supervised consumption services at affected sites
- Health organizations and harm reduction service providers
- Municipal governments and communities near affected sites
- Federal and provincial health authorities responsible for issuing exemptions
Vibes
0 responses
Gotchas
- The 180-day transition period gives existing sites some time to relocate or wind down, but does not guarantee they can find a compliant location
- The bill applies to substances 'obtained in a manner not authorized under this Act,' meaning it targets sites where illicit drugs are consumed, not legally authorized medical facilities
- Mobile sites are treated differently from permanent ones — they are not shut down but must comply with the distance rule wherever they operate, which could significantly limit where they can provide services
- The 500-metre rule applies regardless of physical barriers, sight lines, or actual risk assessments, as no exceptions or case-by-case evaluations are built into the bill
- Revoking existing exemptions could displace people who currently rely on these services, potentially increasing health and safety risks for those individuals
Summary
Bill C-272 amends the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act to prohibit supervised drug consumption sites from being located within 500 metres of any elementary school, secondary school, daycare centre, or playground. This applies to both permanent and mobile sites. No federal regulation or exemption can be used to allow a site to operate within this distance from these locations. The bill affects existing sites as well as future ones. Any site currently operating within the 500-metre zone would have its exemption or authorization automatically revoked 180 days after the bill receives royal assent. Mobile sites would not be revoked entirely, but would be required to follow the distance restriction as a condition of their authorization. The bill was introduced by MP Dan Mazier as a private member's bill in March 2026. It reflects ongoing debate in Canada about where supervised consumption sites should be permitted to operate, particularly in relation to spaces used by children.
Automatically generated from bill text using Claude
Vibes
0 responses