New policy aims to crack down on fentanyl crisis with strict mandatory sentences.
Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre has announced that a Conservative government would impose mandatory life sentences for those convicted of trafficking, producing, or distributing more than 40 mg of fentanyl—a lethal dose capable of killing thousands.
Poilievre equated the crime to murder, arguing that the penalties must reflect the devastating impact of fentanyl on Canadian communities.
Under the proposed policy, offenders caught with between 20 mg and 40 mg of the drug would face a minimum 15-year prison sentence.
The announcement comes as U.S. President Donald Trump pressures Canada and Mexico to curb fentanyl smuggling into the United States. Trump recently delayed imposing harsh tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods after Canada outlined new border security measures, including the creation of a fentanyl czar to tackle the crisis.
With the opioid epidemic claiming thousands of lives annually, the Conservatives are positioning themselves as tough on drug trafficking and border security.