People on meth, other drugs could be detained longer under proposed Manitoba law

WINNIPEG — The Manitoba government introduced a bill Thursday that would allow authorities to detain intoxicated people for up to 72 hours instead of the current 24.

The extra time would apply to people on drugs other than alcohol and is aimed at dealing with the longer-lasting effects of methamphetamines and some other substances.

“With this bill, health-care professionals can keep someone in protective care for 72 hours, giving them time to stabilize and giving them a chance to connect with addiction supports,” Bernadette Smith, the minister for housing, addictions and homelessness, told reporters.

The idea was supported by Winnipeg police Chief Gene Bowers, who said the longer periods would reduce the number of calls police receive about intoxicated people posing a threat to themselves or others.

“Check-the-well-being calls for the Winnipeg police is the top call that we have as a service, and definitely these calls tie up a lot of resources,” Bowers said.

Police have pointed to meth as a factor in the rise in certain types of crime, including aggression against officers.

The bill does not propose forced addiction treatment but does include a provision for an involuntary medical exam.

There would also be medical assessments required for people every 24 hours during their detention, if they remain intoxicated. People could be released early if they are no longer intoxicated or if they can be handed to the care of a responsible adult.

The Opposition Progressive Conservatives said they have a number of questions about the NDP government’s bill, such as where people would be detained.

The bill is so vaguely worded, it could see people held at hospitals, where families are awaiting medical care, or inside a supervised consumption site, where drugs may be readily available, Opposition leader Obby Khan said.

“These are valid concerns and questions that Manitobans have,” Khan said.

The bill would allow people to be held in a detention location for up to 24 hours. Any period beyond that, up to a total of 72 hours, would require a move to a “protective care centre,” which is not defined in the bill and will be designated in the future by the provincial cabinet.

Main Street Project, a non-profit that operates a holding facility for intoxicated people in Winnipeg, recently said if people are to be held longer, they must be offered more than just detention, and have access to mental health supports and withdrawal management.

It’s not clear whether the bill will be passed into law before the end of the legislative session in mid-November.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 2, 2025.

Steve Lambert, The Canadian Press