Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present a petition on behalf of constituents from Saskatoon West regarding tent encampments in the city.
The petitioners note that what begins as a temporary set-up turns into a hub of criminal activity and public safety concerns endangering vulnerable individuals. Under current law, authorities have some authority to act, but ambiguity and weak enforcement have left cities throughout Canada hesitant to dismantle these camps. The government's reckless soft-on-crime approach and radical drug policies have allowed this crisis to spread unchecked across the country.
The petitioners are asking the government to amend the Criminal Code to provide clear and unequivocal authority for law enforcement to dismantle illegal encampments; ensure that police are empowered to act quickly and decisively to restore public order; end the failed policies of safe supply and decriminalization, which have only worsened the addiction crisis and undermine public safety; and finally, support real recovery by investing in treatment and rehab programs, not policies that perpetuate drug use.