THUNDER BAY – Patty Hajdu, Member of Parliament for Thunder Bay—Superior North is in New York City today, attending the United Nations General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) on the World Drug Problem.
Minister Hajdu joined the Canadian delegation at the invitation of Health Minister Jane Philpott.
During the session, Minister Philpott announced that the Government of Canada would introduce legislation in the spring of 2017 to legalize, strictly regulate, and restrict access to marijuana.
“I’m honoured to have witnessed Minister Philpott deliver a compelling statement about Canada’s intention to take a public health approach to drug policy,” said Minister Hajdu. “Our government is honouring its commitment to keep marijuana out of the hands of children and the profits out of the pockets of criminals.”
Prior to her election last year, Patty Hajdu’s work revolved around reducing harms associated with substance use in Thunder Bay. As executive director of Shelter House, she worked directly with vulnerable people living with addictions. She was also the co-author of the Thunder Bay Drug Strategy.
“This is the sensible drug policy I’ve been fighting for my entire career,” commented Hajdu. “The Liberal Party’s approach to drug policy is one of the main reasons I became involved in federal politics.”
