The Kamloops ASK Wellness Society believes marijuana laced with fentanyl is currently in the Interior., Fentanyl in its illegal street form. Credit: THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO - Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT)

Big city mayors launch fentanyl task force to share experience, best practices

VANCOUVER – Mayors from a dozen major Canadian cities have launched a task force to tackle the opioid crisis.

The big city mayors' caucus of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities wants to share experiences and best practices in an effort to stem the escalating number of overdose deaths.

The task force will meet with federal Health Minister Jane Philpott and Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale, though a date has not yet been set.

Representatives from the provinces and territories will also be invited to attend.

Opioid overdose deaths surged in 2016, with 914 people losing their lives last year in British Columbia, including 142 in December alone.

Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson will head the initiative.

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Kim Anderson

Originally from a northern B.C. town that boasts a giant fly fishing rod and a population of 3,100, Kim moved to Kamloops in 2011 to attend Thompson Rivers University. Kim is as comfortable behind a camera as she is writing on her laptop. After graduating with a degree in journalism, Kim has been busy with an independent freelance writing project and photography work. Contact Kim at kanderson@infonews.ca with news tips or story ideas.

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