Bill C-224 (Historical)

Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act

An Act to amend the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (assistance — drug overdose)

This bill is from the 42nd Parliament, 1st session, which ended in September 2019.

Sponsor

Ron McKinnon  Liberal

Introduced as a private member’s bill.

Status

This bill has received Royal Assent and is now law.

Summary

This is from the published bill.

This enactment amends the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act in order to exempt from charges for possession or charges related to the violation of certain conditions or orders a person who seeks emergency medical or law enforcement assistance for themselves or another person following overdosing on a controlled substance.

Elsewhere

All sorts of information on this bill is available at LEGISinfo, an excellent resource from the Library of Parliament. You can also read the full text of the bill.

Bill numbers are reused for different bills each new session. Perhaps you were looking for one of these other C-224s:

C-224 (2022) Law National Framework on Cancers Linked to Firefighting Act
C-224 (2020) An Act to amend An Act to authorize the making of certain fiscal payments to provinces, and to authorize the entry into tax collection agreements with provinces
C-224 (2020) An Act to amend An Act to authorize the making of certain fiscal payments to provinces, and to authorize the entry into tax collection agreements with provinces
C-224 (2013) Climate Change Accountability Act
C-224 (2011) Climate Change Accountability Act
C-224 (2010) An Act to amend the Canadian Bill of Rights (right to housing)

Votes

Nov. 2, 2016 Passed That the Bill be now read a third time and do pass.

Good Samaritan Drug Overdose ActRoutine Proceedings

February 22nd, 2016 / 3:20 p.m.

Liberal

Ron McKinnon Liberal Coquitlam—Port Coquitlam, BC

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-224, an act to amend the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (assistance — drug overdose).

Mr. Speaker, today I introduce the good Samaritan drug overdose act. Unfortunately, with drug overdoses, many people are afraid to call 911 for fear of getting charged. People die. Saving lives needs to come first.

With this bill, people who call 911 to report a drug overdose and remain on the scene cannot be charged for drug possession. It does not apply to trafficking or driving while impaired.

Thirty-four U.S. states and the District of Columbia have some form of overdose immunity law.

Canadians need to take care of each other, especially the vulnerable among us. This bill means that when lives are at stake, people can take action without fear of penalty. Hopefully, they will pick up the phone and save someone's son or daughter. People will live who might otherwise have died.

I hope all members will back this bill.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

Good Samaritan Drug Overdose ActRoutine Proceedings

February 22nd, 2016 / 3:20 p.m.

Liberal

Larry Bagnell Liberal Yukon, YT

Mr. Speaker, if the House gives its consent, I move that the third report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs presented to the House earlier this day, be concurred in.

Good Samaritan Drug Overdose ActRoutine Proceedings

February 22nd, 2016 / 3:20 p.m.

The Speaker Geoff Regan

Does the hon. member have the unanimous consent of the House?

Good Samaritan Drug Overdose ActRoutine Proceedings

February 22nd, 2016 / 3:20 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

Good Samaritan Drug Overdose ActRoutine Proceedings

February 22nd, 2016 / 3:20 p.m.

An hon. member

No.