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e-4803 (Public safety)
E-petition
Initiated by Freya Keddie from Victoria, British Columbia
Original language of petition: English
Petition to the Government of Canada
Whereas:
- Unregulated drug toxicity has been the leading cause of death in British Columbia (B.C.) for citizens between the ages of 10 and 59, resulting in over 2,500 deaths in 2023;
- Fentanyl is present in most of those who have died from illicit drug overdoses;
- The source chemicals for fentanyl are largely imported into B.C. via the Port of Vancouver;
- The Port of Vancouver has lacked a dedicated police presence to provide federal law enforcement oversight since 1997, with the Canada Border Services Agency only able to check one percent of shipping containers;
- The Port of Vancouver moves roughly three million containers through the port annually, with the Roberts Bank expansion adding potential capacity of about two million more; and
- A police presence at Canada’s ports would hinder the flow of illicit drugs and their precursors into Canada, thereby reducing the associated criminal activity that puts undue strain on local police forces.
We, the undersigned, citizens of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to:
1. Re-establish a dedicated police presence to provide federal law enforcement oversight at the Port of Vancouver in order to reduce the flow of illicit drugs and their precursors into British Columbia via this port;
2. Ensure such policing is always adequate to assess and deter criminal activity, including corruption and importation of contraband;
3. Establish the same federal police presence at all of Canada’s deep sea ports that offer connection to Canada's highway and railway systems.
- Open for signature
- February 13, 2024, at 10:59 a.m. (EDT)
- Closed for signature
- June 12, 2024, at 10:59 a.m. (EDT)
