The Saskatchewan government is launching a legal crackdown on drug traffickers, introducing new legislation Monday that allows both the province and individual citizens to sue those involved in the illicit drug trade.
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The Response to Illicit Drugs Act, which officially came into force June 1, establishes legal tools to recover costs and damages from anyone participating in the production, trafficking, importing, or exporting of highly addictive substances.
“Drug traffickers cause real and lasting harm to individuals, families and communities across Saskatchewan,” Justice minister and attorney general Tim McLeod said in a statement.
“By bringing this Act into force, the Government of Saskatchewan is ensuring that those who profit from trafficking deadly substances face meaningful consequences for the damage they cause.”
The new civil cause of action specifically targets major illicit operations and does not apply to simple possession offences.
Under the legislation, the province also gains the authority to void certain appointments, grants and agreements if an individual or entity is convicted of specified Schedule I drug offences under the federal Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. Schedule I substances include fentanyl, methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, morphine and codeine.
The legal crackdown coincides with a record $674-million investment in mental health and addictions services in the 2026-27 provincial budget, aimed at expanding treatment capacity. According to the government, more than 330 new addictions treatment spaces are currently operational out of a targetted 500 spaces.
The province is also allocating $22.7 million this fiscal year to support 160 municipal police positions across nine communities, alongside $190,000 for small-town and rural policing. This builds on a multi-year plan initiated in 2025-26 that dedicated nearly $6 million to add approximately 100 frontline officers across Saskatchewan.
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