Okanagan mayors support legal battle to ban public drug use in parks, playgrounds [Video]

The legal battle over where drug use should and shouldn’t be allowed is heating up after the B.C Supreme Court struck down Bill 34.

The provincial government passed the legislation in October to outlaw open drug use in some public places like playgrounds, bus stops, and in front of businesses.

During a recent visit to the Okanagan, B.C. Premier David Eby said the government will ask the B.C. Court of Appeal to hear the Bill 34 case. “The Attorney General’s team has made that decision. They filed the necessary documents to appeal.”

Bill 34 is now on hold after advocates won an injunction arguing the legislation violates sections of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

“Simply because we, as British Columbians, have that compassionate understanding about people struggling with addiction doesn’t mean that we have to give up our parks or the doorways of businesses or the bus stops …