Canada Appoints Fentanyl Czar Amid Growing Pressure to Tackle Opioid Crisis

Experts call for systemic changes to fight fentanyl trafficking as Canada faces criticism from the U.S. over cross-border drug flow.

The Canadian government has pledged to appoint a 'fentanyl czar' to coordinate efforts against the opioid epidemic, which has caused over 49,000 deaths in Canada since 2016.
The move follows U.S. tariff threats, with the White House citing a 2,050% increase in fentanyl seizures at the northern border, though some data lacks clear links to Canada.
Experts argue that addressing fentanyl trafficking requires legislative reforms, enhanced law enforcement collaboration, and updated approaches to transnational crime.
Canada plans to designate drug cartels as terrorist organizations, a step aimed at providing law enforcement with more tools to disrupt illicit financial networks.
Critics warn that without significant resources and structural changes, the fentanyl czar role could become symbolic rather than effective.