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Decentralized Democracy

House Hansard - 320

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
May 29, 2024 02:00PM
Context: House Hansard - 320 - May/29/24
Hon. Ya'ara Saks
  • May/29/24 11:23:20 p.m.
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Madam Chair, just like the member does not have a crystal ball of what will happen in the next election, we do not have a crystal ball on what jurisdictions will need and what they will ask the federal government to collaborate with them on in addressing the overdose crisis.
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Ms. Melissa Lantsman
  • May/29/24 11:23:35 p.m.
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Madam Chair, the minister was asked, yes or no, whether she will commit to never decriminalizing illegal drugs in Toronto as she did with her failed, insane drug policy in British Columbia. She was asked whether she is not going to bring it forward in Toronto, and she cannot answer the question. I am going to give her one more opportunity: Will the minister commit to never decriminalizing drugs, going forward, in Toronto?
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Hon. Ya'ara Saks
  • May/29/24 11:24:01 p.m.
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Madam Chair, I would kindly ask the member to check her language in the stigmatization of those who need our help in addressing substance use and addictions. On this side of the House, we deal with facts, with experts, with evidence and with health care systems, and we will continue to work—
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The Deputy Chair
  • May/29/24 11:24:22 p.m.
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The hon. member for Thornhill.
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Ms. Melissa Lantsman
  • May/29/24 11:24:31 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, I am going to ask this one last time tonight: Will the minister commit to not decriminalizing illegal drugs in Toronto going forward? The people of Toronto want to know what she is going to do in her own community, because she has already let down B.C.
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Hon. Ya'ara Saks
  • May/29/24 11:25:07 p.m.
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Madam Chair, the City of Toronto knows that it needs health care services from the province and that it needs to work collaboratively with all levels of government to save lives and address those people who use substances.
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Mrs. Laila Goodridge (Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, CPC)
  • May/29/24 11:25:31 p.m.
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Madam Chair, is diversion being tracked?
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Hon. Ya'ara Saks (Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health, Lib.)
  • May/29/24 11:25:37 p.m.
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Madam Chair, according to DASA, it is being tracked, and the RCMP—
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The Deputy Chair
  • May/29/24 11:25:42 p.m.
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The hon. member.
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Mrs. Laila Goodridge
  • May/29/24 11:25:44 p.m.
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Madam Chair, how is diversion being tracked?
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Hon. Ya'ara Saks
  • May/29/24 11:25:49 p.m.
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Madam Chair, DASA assists us in tracking diversion.
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Mrs. Laila Goodridge
  • May/29/24 11:25:54 p.m.
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Madam Chair, B.C. is looking to add chemical tracers to its safe supply. Will the government make tracers required in all safe supply across this country?
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Hon. Ya'ara Saks
  • May/29/24 11:26:06 p.m.
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Madam Chair, that would have to be in discussion with pharmaceutical companies, but as the member mentioned earlier, counterfeits of drugs are being made in the illegal market to look like real drugs, so it would be challenging.
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Mrs. Laila Goodridge
  • May/29/24 11:26:21 p.m.
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Madam Chair, the government funds the so-called safe supply programs. It could make it mandatory to put tracers into the drugs. Will the government do it, yes or no?
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Hon. Ya'ara Saks
  • May/29/24 11:26:32 p.m.
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Madam Chair, the member fails to recognize that in the illicit toxic drug supply, counterfeits of prescribed drugs and prescribed alternatives are on the illicit market, so it is difficult to—
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The Deputy Chair
  • May/29/24 11:26:34 p.m.
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The hon. member.
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Mrs. Laila Goodridge
  • May/29/24 11:26:48 p.m.
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Madam Chair, the minister is making arguments as to why tracers are absolutely required in a government-funded safe supply. Will she commit to putting tracers in the safe supply the government is funding, yes or no?
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Hon. Ya'ara Saks
  • May/29/24 11:27:01 p.m.
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Madam Chair, the member is misleading in her assessment that putting tracers in will mitigate diversion. It is one of many tools, but counterfeit illicit drug supplies will also be an issue, and she has not addressed that in terms of enforcement.
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Mrs. Laila Goodridge
  • May/29/24 11:27:19 p.m.
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Madam Chair, the minister is actively enabling illegal drug trafficking by not employing every tool available to fight drug diversion. Why will the minister not add tracers to drugs?
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Hon. Ya'ara Saks
  • May/29/24 11:27:35 p.m.
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Madam Chair, we have not currently received such a request. However, as I mentioned, that would be a collaborative work with pharmaceutical companies, prescribers and provinces. At this point in time, there is no request before us.
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