Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says new marijuana legislation should be ready by summer, but his government is not considering the legalization of any other drugs.
Trudeau made the comments at CFB Esquimalt, where he kicked off a two-day trip to Victoria and Vancouver, emphasizing that people need to follow existing drug laws until the new ones are announced.
“Until we have a framework to control and regulate marijuana, the current laws apply,” he said.
Trudeau and Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan joined dozens of sailors on a five-kilometre run to start the day, before touring the naval base near Victoria.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau enjoys a morning run with members of the Canadian Forces at CFB Esquimalt on Thursday. (Chad Hipolito/Canadian Press)
In the afternoon he was to meet with Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps, who said she will again note the region’s opposition to the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion.
“This government has made up its mind on Kinder Morgan,” Helps told CBC News. “Having said that, there are very active efforts, particularly led by First Nations, that are trying to stop the pipeline.”
Traffic disruptions are expected in Victoria along Pandora Avenue between Government Street and Douglas Street during the prime minister’s visit and Victoria City Hall will be closed in the afternoon.
Meeting with Clark in Vancouver
Trudeau flew to Vancouver later Thursday to meet with Premier Christy Clark to discuss the opioid crisis and softwood lumber.
On Friday, he’ll stay in Vancouver to have a first-hand look at the city’s opioid drug crisis, in a roundtable discussion with first responders and health care professionals closed to the public.
B.C. Health Minister Terry Lake said he would also like to meet with the prime minister to discuss the drug crisis.
“There are people working on the front lines that will be very happy to see Canada’s prime minister first-hand taking a look at this public health crisis that we’ve got in B.C,” Lake told reporters Wednesday.
With files from Richard Zussman