Alberta ‘Charting a Path’ With Its Recovery Approach to Drug Crisis, Says Former Justice Minister

CALGARY—Alberta is leading the way in Canada to tackle the drug crisis by expanding recovery programs and involuntary treatment across the province, rather than using approaches that may intensify addiction, a former provincial justice minister says.

Doug Schweitzer, who served as Alberta’s justice minister from 2019 to 2020, made the comments on Sept. 6 during the Canada Strong and Free Network conference in Calgary, an annual Conservative networking event. He was one of the speakers on a panel about Alberta’s efforts to address drug smuggling and illegal trade, moderated by investigative journalist Sam Cooper.