(Photo 129177961 © Designer491 | Dreamstime.com) By Jaryn Vecchio

By Nigel Maxwell

War on drugs

Sask. RCMP support proposed upgrades to provincial drug trafficking laws

Feb 27, 2025 | 12:00 PM

The commanding officer for the Saskatchewan RCMP says she’s not sure if there’s any magic solution or silver bullet to combat drug trafficking, but adds that any more tools they can have are very helpful.

Rhonda Blackmore is responding to proposed provincial legislation designed to curb the production, transportation, sale and use of methamphetamine and fentanyl in Saskatchewan.

The changes include the creation of provincial penalties, including fines up to $1 million in some cases for unauthorized production, transportation and distribution of the two drugs.

Other policies would cancel provincial licences for those convicted of drug-related crimes, including driver’s licences, firearms licences, hunting and fishing licences and potentially business and municipal licences.

“We have to examine it closely to see if there are any potential challenges there, but I certainly think that it’s helpful to have more tools in our toolbox as we fight this problem that we’ve seen of ever-increasing … levels of violence and all of the problems of overdoses, etc. that we’ve seen in our communities,” Blackmore said.

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The role meth plays in crime, can be heard on a daily basis at provincial court. (File photo/ paNOW Staff)

The announcements follow several major fentanyl busts in Saskatchewan, including the seizure of eight kilograms of the powerful opioid by RCMP during a traffic stop in the Swift Current area on January 29.

Last May, the Sask. Health Authority issued a public advisory, warning of a spike in overdoses in the Prince Albert area.

While acknowledging a rise in fentanyl use, Blackmore said the more problematic drug for officers in RCMP jurisdictions remains meth. She added when you look at drug trafficking, you also need to see that it’s fueled by addictions issues.

“You know if they didn’t have clients they wouldn’t be trafficking because there would be nobody to consume their product so it’s certainly something we need addressed at a multi-pronged approach. We need enforcement, we need prevention, we need treatment, and all of those angles have to be examined and you know approached in different ways,” she said.

The provincial government’s announcement follows a threat by U.S. President Donald Trump to impose tariffs if Canada didn’t do more to stop the drug from flowing south.

On Wednesday, Trump suggested that the 25 per cent across-the-board tariffs wouldn’t land until April 2 — but a White House official later said they could still take effect on March 4.

Public Safety Minister David McGuinty is in Washington this week with the new national “fentanyl czar” to outline for the Trump administration and Republican members of Congress what Canada has done on the issue in the last few months.

The RCMP said in a news release Wednesday that a “national sprint” to disrupt fentanyl production and distribution in Canada between Dec. 9 and Jan. 18 resulted in 524 arrests and the seizure of 46 kilograms of fentanyl, along with other drugs, firearms, cash and stolen vehicles.

U.S. border patrol statistics indicate less than one per cent of fentanyl seized is found at the northern border.

nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Blue Sky: @nigelmaxwell.bsky.social

— with files from the Canadian Press