Criminalizing drug addiction: "We can't punish the trauma out of people by creating more trauma."

Saskatchewan and Alberta are both bringing forward legislation to criminalize 

drug use as well as drug trafficking. 

It seems to be as much a performance, as a plan. 

But the people it will hurt are real. 

In Saskatchewan, the focus seems to be on stopping drug use on the street because its icky: 

Brody Langager / Saskatoon Star Phoenix 

New drug penalties could further marginalize users: PHR executive director 

Prairie Harm Reduction is raising concerns about new drug-related penalties it says could potentially further marginalize people.

The provincial government this week announced legislation to address the battle against methamphetamine and fentanyl in Saskatchewan, including fines of up to $1 million for drug trafficking; seizing property used for or purchased with the proceeds of drug sales; reclassifying drug use and “other disruptive activities” in semi-public spaces as trespassing; and classifying drug-related items (including needles) as street weapons to let officers seize them immediately.

Also under the new measures, driver’s licenses, provincial firearms licences, hunting and fishing licences, and in some cases business and other municipal licenses can be cancelled. As well, provincial benefits could be cancelled.

“While we recognize the need for action in response to the overdose crisis, we firmly oppose punitive approaches that further marginalize people who use drugs,” Prairie Harm Reduction executive director Kayla DeMong said this week following the government announcement.

“For decades, the government has focused on criminalization as a way to solve systemic issues. Instead, they push people further into unsafe conditions, increasing overdose risk and barriers to health care.”

DeMong said charging people for possession of needles or potentially taking away income assistance will strongly impact those who are using substances, not those selling the drugs. She said labelling sterile needles as a weapon is “a direct attack” on efforts that have helped reduce the spread of HIV and hepatitis C, and that needle exchanges and safe consumption sites are proven to save lives.... 

“Saskatchewan needs more low barrier voluntary treatment, accessible housing, investment in health care & mental health care, more harm reduction services, & decriminalization & supportive policies”. thestarphoenix.com/news/local-n...

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— Laurence Thompson (@thompsonlg.bsky.social) February 26, 2025 at 5:19 PM

This is the way America ends. Not with a bang but a whimper.

We are the hollow men 

We are the stuffed men 

Leaning together 

Headpiece filled with straw.

Alas, here we go again:

Trump’s 25 percent tariffs on goods from Mexico and Canada — which he inaccurately used drug trafficking to justify — were paused at the last minute. Now, it seems that Trump’s massive tariffs are back on.

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— The New Republic (@newrepublic.com) February 27, 2025 at 7:51 PM

The rest of the world is now realizing what Canada learned a month ago, that America is no longer Reagan's "shining city on the hill". 

It is turning into Mordor.

Every single day in America with Trump as president is the worst day in history, until the next day.

— Outspoken™️ (@out5p0ken.bsky.social) February 27, 2025 at 9:44 PM

Today's News: Liberal debate night two "Chrystia Freeland won on tone, Mark Carney won on policy"

It was the second night of the Liberal leadership debates, and once again, no fireworks:

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This Liberal leadership debate is so boring, so rife with specific policy ideas delivered in a careful, measured manner by four intelligent wonks, all who are being respectful of each other and scathing towards the PCP leader and I’m so grateful for it…

— 🇨🇦Lisa Gabriele🇨🇦 (@lisagabriele.bsky.social) February 25, 2025 at 8:30 PM

Watching the Liberal Leadership debate. The U.S. could take lessons on how to have a civilized debate from us. Carney is shining!

— Mike the Canuck (@mikekraan.bsky.social) February 25, 2025 at 8:19 PM

Today's News: Liberal leadership debate, night one; and Trudeau in Ukraine

My photo is by "PoliLEGO" on tonight's Liberal leadership debate from @polilego.bsky.social -it shows @markjcarney.bsky.social @chrystia-freeland.bsky.social @karinagould.bsky.social and Frank Baylis.

So tonight I went spinning through X, Threads, Bluesky and the news, and here are some of the opinions about the French debate for the Liberal leadership. 

First, I saw many comments like these:

I’m watching the French Liberal debate and can I just say how reassuring it is to hear four multilingual adults with sane ideas debate each other on a stage. #Cdnpoli 🇨🇦

— Holly Hoye 🇨🇦 (@hollyhoye.bsky.social) February 24, 2025 at 7:46 PM

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Some questions for the Liberal leadership debates

So on Monday night the Liberal leadership candidates are debating in French, and on Tuesday in English. 

Like most Canadians, I have been semi-following the leadership race -- I wasn't prepared to support Mark Carney at first, but I loved Carney's appearance on Jon Stewart, he seemed like a potential Prime Minister to me -- if we're going to select an inexperienced politician to go up against Poilievre, then it should be an experienced leader like Mark Carney.  As much as I have liked Freeland in the past, I don't think she can win a federal election over Poilievre. As for Gould and Bayliss, they seem nice but relatively unknown. 

I get the feeling too that much of Canada now agrees:

(Support me by subscribing/donating) Federal Polling: CPC: 38% (+4) LPC: 37% (+4) NDP: 11% (-7) GPC: 6% (+4) PPC: 4% (-1) BQ: 3% (-5) EKOS / Feb 20, 2025 / n=730 / MOE 3.6% / IVR (% Change With 2021 Federal Election) Check out federal details on @338canada.bsky.social at: 338canada.com

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— Polling Canada (@canadianpolling.bsky.social) February 21, 2025 at 8:32 PM

Weekend break: Funny stuff, some beautiful paintings, and of course, Animal Crackers

Nailed!

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Hooters is deflating:

Hooters is going bust. Sad to see one of America’s great cultural institutions go tits up. I hope they get the support they need during the upheaval of the restructuring. Expect they’ll reveal their assets in the fullness of time. Ok, you can all go home. Just want to nip this discourse in the bud.

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— Tabatha Southey (@tabathasouthey.bsky.social) February 21, 2025 at 12:42 PM

"Courage is found in unlikely places": Chris Kluwe, Charlie Angus, AOC, Zelenskyy and Europe, Mike Pence, FP Wellman, John Cole...

Taking one of my favorite Lord Of The Rings quotes as my text today, I thought I should highlight some of the people - both likely and unlikely - who are showing courage against the fascist hellhole that is today's America: 

Football player Chris Kluwe:

Parker Molloy / The Present Age 

Democrats Could Learn Something from Former NFL Punter Chris Kluwe 

Chris Kluwe's strategic protest shows exactly what's missing from the current resistance to authoritarianism. 

... Chris Kluwe, who has long been outspoken about social issues, got himself arrested at a city council meeting while protesting a proposed "MAGA" plaque for the local library. 

But before he did, he delivered a searing indictment of what MAGA really means: "MAGA stands for trying to erase trans people from existence. MAGA stands for resegregation and racism. MAGA stands for censorship and book bans. MAGA stands for firing air traffic controllers while planes are crashing. MAGA stands for firing the people overseeing our nuclear arsenal. MAGA stands for firing military veterans and those serving them at the VA, including canceling research on veteran suicide. MAGA stands for cutting funds to education, including for disabled children. MAGA is profoundly corrupt, unmistakably anti-democracy and most importantly, MAGA is explicitly a Nazi movement. You may have replaced a swastika with a red hat, but that is what it is." 

 Then he did something crucial: He got arrested. 

Peacefully. 

Deliberately. 

And most importantly, strategically. 

He made sure his arrest would be theatrical without being violent. And guess what? It worked. The story got picked up everywhere from the LA Times to Sports Illustrated to Fox News. His message reached millions of people... 

MP Charlie Angus: 

Charlie Angus / The Resistance 

Speak Now or Forever Lose Your Peace 

Final Dispatch from NATO, Brussels 

 ...we can resist the Trump/Putin plan. My hope is that in the coming months, nations like Europe, Australia, Japan, Latin America, and Canada can work together to oppose the Trump gang. Trump is being reckless on so many fronts, and he will trip and fall. And this will be the opportunity in the United States to begin pushing back. 

 But my advice to fellow Canadians and our international allies is that we can’t wait or hope for America to get its act together. The resistance must start now. 

 I am hoping that a coalition from around the world will join Canada. But if not, we will stand on our own. Canadians will never kiss the gangster ring, no matter how hard the fight. 

What a game!

I had a post about politics almost ready to go, but not tonight! What a great game:

Report: CANADA! CANADA! CANADA! CANADA! CANADA! CANADA!

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— The Beaverton (@thebeaverton.com) February 20, 2025 at 10:43 PM

You can’t take our country — and you can’t take our game.

— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) February 21, 2025

Never has a win felt this good.

— George Stroumboulopoulos 🐺 (@strombo) February 21, 2025

Lol yup 😂

— QuickDickMcDick 🇨🇦 (@QuickDickMcDick) February 21, 2025

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More than just a hockey game:

So Bill Guerin and all of USA Hockey can eat literal shit forever www.thedailybeast.com/us-hockey-te...

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— ⭐️Dan⭐️ (@265kilometres.bsky.social) February 18, 2025 at 12:41 PM

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Best Jersey ever. #Canpoli #Canada #Hockey

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— KootenayGirl (@kootenaygirl.bsky.social) February 20, 2025 at 6:58 PM

Cue the pearl-clutching -- "Ohhh, she changed the LYRICS!"

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Scorch!

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Edited because I just saw this one, too:

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Some days, we just need to laugh...

How funny people can be about politics, even when things are just so grim!

First, isn't this good news!

And isn't this the way we all feel now: 

Moving on:

Can’t spell tariffs without FFS.

— Jen The Feisty Librarian (@Feisty_Waters) February 12, 2025

Ok that made me laugh

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— Kara Swisher (@karaswisher.bsky.social) February 18, 2025 at 8:03 PM

"No Kings Day" - A day of protest against Trump and Musk

America won't go down without a fight. 

There were massive protests across the US on Monday, with the rallying cry "No Kings!" -- that precisely expressed the new American message to Trump and Musk. 

Here are some of the best signs - and I also appreciated how they were all handmade - no slick generic "protest" signs here, just a profoundly personal outrage:

 

Morgan Stephens / Daily Kos 

Protests ramp up across the country as rage builds against Trump and Musk 

...The demonstrations, called “No Kings on Presidents Day” or “No Kings Day,” are led by 50501, an online grassroots activist group that started on Reddit. The group initially stood for “50 protests, 50 states, one day,” but it has morphed into “50 protests, 50 states, one movement.” 

 The No Kings Day protest was the group's second wave of anti-Trump and Musk demonstrations. The first nationwide protests took place on Feb. 5 across state capitols. The movement focused on the White House’s dismantling of government agencies and threatened prosecution for diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. It explicitly targets Musk’s hostile takeover of sensitive personal data in the U.S. government. 

 This time, 50501 partnered with Political Revolution to list nearly 80 events on its website. This allowed users to find a protest happening near them to attend. The group is a “leaderless” movement, which encourages others to create their own activist groups in their circles. According to a press release, 50501 states that the coalition was created to demand “justice,” “transparency,” and “accountability” to “uphold the Constitution” and end Trump and Musk’s “executive overreach.” 

.... This comes as another group of protesters targeted Tesla dealerships over the weekend. Musk’s Tesla sales have been in an unprecedented decline since he got on the right-wing political scene in support of MAGA. ... 

Good! Couldn't happen to a more deserving guy. 

Taking a step back

So now, in this Year of Our Lord 2025, let's look at where are we at.

In Canada, by mid-March, we will have a new federal Liberal leader - I hope it will be Mark Carney - who will immediately need to deal with Trump attempting to crush us with tariffs. The new PM will be implementing tit-for-tat tariffs against America, and likely need to call a new session of Parliament to pass a package of CERB-type support programs for damaged industries across the country. At some time this spring -- later in March, maybe, or in April, or maybe even early June, Carney will call a federal election. And I hope the Liberals will win again, because if they don't Canada will be taking a giant step backwards.

In the United States, they already took their giant step backwards. By mid-March, they will be experiending a profound buyers remorse -- costs for food and gas and home insurance will skyrocket, and the government they took for granted will no longer be able to respond to natural disasters, airplane crashes, hospital closures, epidemics, and all the other things that go wrong for a nation of 300+ million people -- hell, they won't even be able to do ordinary stuff like manage the campgrounds in their National Parks! -- and all the while, Musk and his short-pants boys will gleefully continue to rampage around breaking things they don't understand and causing havoc and misery to public servants who don't deserve it. Not to mention the spreading chaos this summer as crops are unharvested, meat plants unstaffed, facilities uncleaned, restaurants close, and all the other jobs done by undocumented immigrants are abandoned.

In Europe, by mid-March, the Russia-Ukraine war will still be going on, and likewise, in the Middle East, by mid-March, the Hamas-Israel war will still be going on too. While Trump and Rubio and Vance and their ignorant crew of "special advisors" and "special envoys" boast about how they are going to fix everything any minute now, as they continue to diss and insult their friends and allies while they scurry around holding summits with every dictator they can find, the more tin-pot the better. Overall, 2025 is not going to be a productive year, though it may be memorable.

If the world was experiencing an overall "anti-incumbent" spasm in 2024, when so many countries were voting against their existing progressive governments, I expect we can conclude that impulse will definitely be over in 2025 -- the horrors of what I call "Trump 2: The Revenge Tour" will demonstrate to voters around the world why they should never never absolutely never even consider letting their own far-right-wing nut jobs get power.

Weekend funny stuff: The ridiculous weather: Our ridiculous politics; and Animal Crackers

Our weather here on the Prairies has been generally awful this winter -- cold cold and more cold, week after week since November.

Well, its going to be a little more springlike next week, apparently.

Next up -- politics!

It sounds like our premiers just made themselves look ridiculous in their much-publicized visit to Washington:

Dale Smith / Routine Proceedings

Roundup: Paying $85,000 for the privilege of being humiliated

As if that “big” meeting the premiers had with those mid-level White House officials who ended up trolling and humiliating them couldn’t get any worse, well, it did. It turns out, they paid a lobbyist connected with Don Jr. $85,000 to arrange said meeting, where they didn’t get properly briefed, and froze out the Canadian ambassador (who had a meeting in the White House with actual senior officials earlier that day) ...

I’m not sure that I can stress this enough—premiers have absolutely no business trying to conduct foreign negotiations. The federal government not only has been handling the situation, but they have told the premiers not to constantly react to everything coming from the Trump administration because it’s chaotic and incoherent, and then they went and tried to get their own meetings? ...

I’m also going to point a finger at the media for emboldening these premiers because they keep saying things like “there’s a vacuum of leadership” at the federal level and so on, which is not the case. Trudeau is still on the job, even if he’s on his way out. Ministers are still doing their jobs. We have an ambassador in Washington doing her job. They have explicitly told the media that they are not going to react to everything for very good reason. There is no actual need for the premiers to step in and start freelancing. Doug Ford’s “Captain Canada” shtick was him positioning himself before an election, and thanks to uncritical media coverage, waaaaaaaay too many people fell for it. But the media needs people to light their hair on fire at every utterance, and the premiers have been only too happy to step in and fill that role...

Canada's National Treasures: Elizabeth May - Craig Baird - Gurdeep Pandher - Wab Kineau, P.J. Akeeagok and R.J. Simpson - Canadian Hockey Fans. And Moose Art

Just a post to highlight some of our most impressive Canadians in these times. 

First, Elizabeth May is a national treasure:

Elizabeth May: "This is what you get: free health care – universal free health care....Those gun laws that your Congress is too afraid to pass because of the national gun lobby. We already got our strict gun laws." pic.twitter.com/f6edx09Ec9

— PoliticsVideoChannel (@politvidchannel) February 13, 2025

Historian Craig Baird is doing outstanding work:

I'm sharing an image a day to celebrate the vibrant and unique culture and history of Canada.
Today, it is acclaimed Canadian folk artist Maud Lewis in her Nova Scotia home in 1965. #ProudlyCanadian

📸Bob Brooks pic.twitter.com/XSkrjgxRxu

— Craig Baird - Canadian History Ehx (@CraigBaird) February 14, 2025

Yes, Carney actually did save us in 2008

The Cons are trying to re-litigate and downplay Mark Carney's role in protecting Canada from the world financial melt-down in 2008, and Scrimshaw is having none of it:

Mark Carney was an “invaluable support” to Jim Flaherty, who praised him relentlessly at their joint press conference to announce Mark’s move in 2012

This is crass bullshit https://t.co/QhL31yYfPX

— Evan Scrimshaw (@EScrimshaw) February 12, 2025

Things I learned today: Canada is really pissed; the "White Horse Prophecy"; "Leprechaun economics". And an excellent rant!

Doom-scrolling through social media today, I learned some things:

First, its always better to be pissed off than pissed on!

This is what is happening across all of Canada right now!
🇨🇦😊 pic.twitter.com/VgtW7rJvVU

— JustMePam (@PamelaApostolo1) February 12, 2025

JOIN CANADA

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— Brittlestar (@brittlestar.com) February 10, 2025 at 2:21 PM

Hell yah Canada.

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— Daniel Miller (@danielmilleresq.bsky.social) February 12, 2025 at 7:12 PM

The internet brightens the day, every day.
pic.twitter.com/TKwcb8pRya

— Beefeater (@Beefeater_Fella) February 11, 2025

Canada‘s biggest aluminum-producing province with a surprising threat to the U.S.: You want to tariff us? Okay. Maybe we’ll add to it with a surtax. And sell that aluminum elsewhere. And you’ll see who needs whom. https://t.co/zTAqJ2CvQr

— Alexander Panetta (@Alex_Panetta) February 13, 2025

That sound you hear is Canada cutting off intelligence sharing with The US. https://t.co/Ik5mIS6Jlc

— Dean Blundell🇨🇦 (@ItsDeanBlundell) February 12, 2025