Drug & Alcohol Testing Industry News
New addiction treatment centre planned for Bilijk First Nation in New Brunswick
Earlier in September, the Government of New Brunswick announced it is moving forward with plans to build an addiction treatment facility in Bilijk First Nation. According to the community’s chief, this project will help tackle broader systemic challenges affecting the...
Doug Ford open to involuntary treatment amid Ontario’s addiction crisis
Ontario Premier Doug Ford has indicated that he would consider introducing involuntary treatment for people struggling with addiction. His comments come as Ontario’s Big City Mayors renew calls for the provincial government to review current mental health legislation...
Court upholds ruling against post-incident drug testing
In August, the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal upheld compensation awards for five SaskEnergy natural gas workers who were required to undergo drug and alcohol testing following two separate gas line strikes. SaskEnergy Incorporated challenged both an evidentiary ruling...
Court upholds trucker’s dismissal after second failed drug test
The Ontario Superior Court of Justice has upheld the dismissal of a long-haul truck driver who tested positive for cannabis during a second random drug test in McCarthy v. Bison Transport Inc. The court found that termination for cause was justified because he held a...
The Invalid Alcohol Test
This month we will review the procedure for an invalid screening test completed by a Screening Test Technician or Breath Alcohol Technician. Not every mistake made during a DOT alcohol test results in a cancelled test. The 49 CFR Part 40 distinguishes between problems...
Random drug search at B.C. LNG site raises workplace privacy issues
A recent article published by HR Law Canada examined a British Columbia privacy decision involving a random drug dog search at an LNG construction site. A British Columbia adjudicator upheld a worker's privacy complaint following a random drug dog search at an LNG...
Two Air Canada employees arrested in alleged airport drug trafficking scheme
In August, two Air Canada ground operations employees were arrested over an alleged cocaine and cannabis trafficking operation at Montréal-Trudeau Airport, raising concerns about the misuse of restricted-area workplace credentials. The RCMP searched two homes, a...
Cychlorphine detected in Whitehorse amid rise in severe overdoses
In late August, Whitehorse harm reduction advocates issued alerts over a recent increase in overdoses linked to cychlorphine, a powerful synthetic opioid. In her interview with CBC News, Jill Aalhus, executive director with Blood Ties Four Directions, says the drug...
Mobile addiction clinics can expand access to care: Study
According to the results of a new research study, mobile addiction services can be implemented across multiple organizations and communities to provide addiction treatment, harm reduction services and basic healthcare directly to individuals who use drugs, especially...