OTTAWA - The Supreme Court of Canada has affirmed the acquittal of a man who was arrested at the scene of a drug overdose, saying he had immunity under a law intended to reduce the number of substance use deaths.

The top court's 6-3 judgment Friday said Paul Eric Wilson's arrest in Saskatchewan five years ago seriously violated his Charter rights due to the shielding effect of the Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act.

In 2017, Parliament approved the Good Samaritan law — an amendment to the broader Controlled Drugs and Substances Act — to help save lives from overdoses.

Under the provision, no one who seeks emergency medical or police assistance can be charged or convicted of simple drug possession if the evidence was discovered because that person sought assistance or stayed at the scene o

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