We urge the Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs (the “Committee”) to take bold action and propose meaningful amendments to Bill C-5. This requires:

1) Repealing all mandatory minimum sentences;
2) Removing unnecessary restrictions on the availability of conditional sentence orders;
3) Repealing section 4 of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and decriminalizing necessity trafficking; and
4) Ensuring that the implementation of diversion measures is consistent with human rights.

It is uncertain when these pressing issues will be before Parliament again. Marginalized communities should not have to wait any longer. The present opportunity should not be wasted. More than incremental reform is required: this Bill must go further and this Committee has the power to make it happen.