The co-founder of a Vancouver-based drug compassion club has voiced his profound disappointment with what he describes as a critical lack of urgency from Health Canada in addressing the nation's escalating overdose crisis. Jeremy Kalicum of the Drug User Liberation Front (DULF) shared his surprise following court proceedings related to the group's activities.
Advocate's Court Appearance and Stark Realization
Jeremy Kalicum, a key figure in the Drug User Liberation Front (DULF), returned to the B.C. Supreme Court in Vancouver on Monday, November 24, 2025. It was in this legal context that his frustration with the federal health authority crystallized. Kalicum expressed that the delayed and insufficient response from Health Canada is unacceptable given the daily toll of the public health emergency.
The core mission of DULF is to provide a tested, safe supply of drugs to individuals who use substances, a direct response to the toxic and unpredictable illegal drug market that is claiming lives across British Columbia and Canada. The group's operations have placed them at the forefront of a contentious public health debate and, at times, in direct conflict with federal drug laws.
The Growing Chasm Between Action and Crisis
Kalicum's comments highlight a significant disconnect between the on-the-ground reality of the overdose crisis and the pace of regulatory action from Ottawa. While communities and advocates like DULF implement grassroots, life-saving interventions, they often do so without the official sanction or support they argue is necessary to scale up their impact effectively.
This perceived lack of urgency from the federal regulator comes as provinces, particularly B.C., continue to declare states of emergency over the staggering number of overdose deaths. The crisis has been exacerbated by an increasingly poisoned drug supply, where substances are often contaminated with powerful synthetic opioids like fentanyl and its analogues.
A Call for Compassionate and Swift Federal Response
The situation underscores a pivotal moment in Canada's approach to drug policy. Advocates are pushing for a paradigm shift away from criminalization and toward a framework rooted in public health and harm reduction. The work of organizations like DULF represents a direct challenge to the status quo, demanding immediate and innovative solutions.
For Jeremy Kalicum and his colleagues, the time for deliberation has passed. The ongoing drug crisis requires decisive and compassionate action from Health Canada, including the formal approval and support of safe supply projects that have demonstrated their potential to save lives. The question remains whether the federal agency will match the urgency of those on the front lines in cities like Vancouver.
