C-216Health-based Approach to Substance Use Act
An Act to amend the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and to enact the Expungement of Certain Drug-related Convictions Act and the National Strategy on Substance Use Act
Private member's bill, introduced in the House of Commons on December 15, 2021
- Status
- Defeated at second reading in the House of Commons
What it does
Repeals the federal offence of possessing certain substances, creates a process to erase some related convictions, and requires a national substance use strategy.
What it does
- Repeals sections 4 and 4.1 of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, which include the offence of possessing certain substances.
- Creates the Expungement of Certain Drug-related Convictions Act, letting the Parole Board of Canada order expungement for some past convictions if the conduct would not be an offence now.
- Requires the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and federal departments or agencies to destroy or remove judicial records covered by an expungement order, and to notify other police forces and courts that hold records.
- Requires the Minister of Health to develop a national strategy on substance use to address harm caused by problematic substance use.
Who it affects
- People with drug-related convictions
- People charged with simple possession
- Parole Board of Canada
- RCMP
- Federal departments and agencies
- Provincial and municipal police
- Courts
- Minister of Health
Background
The bill amends the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and also enacts two new laws, one on expungement and one on a national strategy on substance use.
Where it is
House of Commons
First reading
Completed.
Second reading
Defeated here. Defeated
Committee
Not reached.
Report stage
Not reached.
Third reading
Not reached.
Senate
First reading
Not reached.
Second reading
Not reached.
Committee
Not reached.
Third reading
Not reached.
Royal assent
Royal assent
Not reached.
Introduced by an MP who is not a minister. These bills compete in a lottery for debate time, and most do not become law. How a bill becomes law
How the House voted
2nd reading of Bill C-216, An Act to amend the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and to enact the Expungement of Certain Drug-related Convictions Act and the National Strategy on Substance Use Act
Vote 114,
Failed
71 yeato248 nay
Party breakdown for vote 114 Party Position Yea Nay Did not vote Liberal Nay14 broke ranks 14 131 14 Conservative Nay 0 117 2 Bloc Yea 29 0 3 NDP Yea 25 0 0 Green Yea 2 0 0 Independent Yea 1 0 0 Total 71 248
What MPs said
Each party’s first speech on this bill in the House, from Hansard. Excerpts are the speaker’s opening sentences, unedited.
LiberalBrendan Hanley· March 2, 2022
“I am pleased to rise this evening to speak in support of this bill presented by my colleague, the hon. member for Courtenay—Alberni. I thank the member for his dedication and leadership on this issue.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caConservativeLaila Goodridge· March 2, 2022
“We share an idea of seeing a world free from addiction. I would also like to thank two very dear friends of mine, Eric and Sheldon, for their assistance with this speech today, especially for sharing their experience, strength and hope with those suffering from addiction and helping them find a path toward recovery.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caBlocLuc Thériault· March 2, 2022
“I will read out the summary because the bill has three parts. I would have thought the government would want to put these eggs in its Bill C‑5 basket, but apparently not.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caNDPGord Johns· December 15, 2021
“Moved for leave to introduce Bill C-216, An Act to amend the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and to enact the Expungement of Certain Drug-related Convictions Act and the National Strategy on Substance Use Act. I am honoured to rise today to introduce the health-based approach to the substance use act.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.ca
Read the source
LEGISinfo status: Bill defeated. Bill data from LEGISinfo, votes from openparliament.ca and the House of Commons. Last updated October 13, 2026.