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House Hansard - 78

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
May 31, 2022 10:00AM
Context: House Hansard - 78 - May/31/22
Ms. Joanne Thompson (St. John's East, Lib.)
  • May/31/22 2:10:58 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague across the aisle for his work on the opioid crisis. I agree on the need for robust harm reduction strategies, including supervised consumption sites, diversion away from the criminal justice system, access to dignified housing options and treatment. However, from my years of working in this sector, I have seen the sad realities of what happens when we force a top-down national approach without taking into consideration regional differences. Each province and territory’s ability to respond to this crisis differs, based on the supports and strategies they have in place. I believe we must work quickly and first ensure that the foundational elements are effectively in place across the country before we address nationally mandated decriminalization. Too many lives have been lost and we must act, but I believe we must do the work at the community level. There is no one-size-fits-all answer to a crisis that differs so vastly across the country.
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Context: House Hansard - 78 - May/31/22
Right Hon. Justin Trudeau (Prime Minister, Lib.)
  • May/31/22 2:35:34 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the opioid crisis has severely affected the families and communities of those we have lost to overdoses. Our approach follows other steps we have taken previously to address the opioid crisis, including investments of more than $800 million in community-led harm reduction, treatment and prevention initiatives. We also just approved British Columbia's request to decriminalize the personal possession of small amounts of certain illicit drugs in the province. We will continue to work with all provinces and jurisdictions to save lives and end this crisis.
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