COLUMN: Every day, families in Alberta are living through the heartbreak of watching loved one’s struggle with the disease of addiction. As your representative in the Alberta Legislature, I hear these stories often, the stories of fear, desperation, and loss. It’s clear that the status quo is not working. That’s why the Ministry of Mental Health and Addiction and our government are taking bold, compassionate action through the introduction of Bill 53, the Compassionate Intervention Act.
This proposed legislation marks a significant step forward in delivering on our 2023 UCP platform commitment to help Albertans impacted by addiction. If passed, it will allow an adult family member, parent, guardian, healthcare provider, police or peace officer to request a treatment order when someone’s substance use has made them a danger to themselves or others.
This is not about punishment to those battling addiction. This is about hope. It’s about giving people the chance to stabilize, recover, and rebuild their lives with the support of their families and communities.
The Alberta Recovery Model, which our government launched in 2019, has already been making a difference. Our government is continuing to build 11 recovery communities, including five in partnership with Indigenous communities. Thanks to these efforts, opioid-related fatalities in Alberta dropped 37 per cent last year that is three times the rate of decline seen in B.C.
But we know there is still more to do.
Bill 53 if passed will provide a new pathway for those experiencing the most severe addiction, where decision-making has been overtaken by the disease. When someone can no longer choose what’s best for their own health and safety, we must step in with compassion, not abandon them to a system that has failed too many for too long.
This legislation will be used only in the most critical cases, and it includes robust safeguards to protect individual rights. The goal is not to control but to care while offering stabilization, comprehensive assessment, and long-term recovery options. This means a parent no longer must settle for a brief detox when their child needs extended treatment and support.
Importantly, the Act also recognizes the vital role of cultural connection in recovery. It empowers First Nations and Métis communities to collaborate with the Minister of Mental Health and Addiction to incorporate their traditions and healing practices into the intervention process.
To support this work, Budget 2025 allocates $180 million toward the creation of two secure compassionate intervention centers in the province with one being Edmonton and one in Calgary.
I truly believe that compassionate intervention is lifesaving and life changing. It’s not a one-size-fits-all solution, but for those in the deepest grip of addiction, it offers a real chance to reclaim their lives. We cannot sit back while Albertans suffer with addiction which is why our government is choosing action, care, and hope.
Together, we will continue to build a province where every person battling addiction is given the opportunity to recover, reconnect, and thrive.
Jackie Lovely, MLA
Camrose Constituency
#104, 4870 51 Street
Camrose, AB T4V 1S1
Tel: 780-672-0000
Email: camrose@assembly.ab.ca
