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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
Mr. Stephen Ellis
  • May/29/24 11:31:28 p.m.
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Madam Chair, to the minister, when did the NDP-Liberal government fully commit to so-called safe supply?
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Hon. Ya'ara Saks (Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health, Lib.)
  • May/29/24 11:31:38 p.m.
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Madam Chair, we have had a comprehensive program since 2017 looking at all option tools and resources to address the toxic drug supply.
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Mr. Stephen Ellis
  • May/29/24 11:31:50 p.m.
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Madam Chair, since 2020, when the government fully committed to safe supply, how many Canadians have died from overdose?
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Hon. Ya'ara Saks
  • May/29/24 11:32:01 p.m.
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Madam Chair, sadly, we have lost 42,000 Canadians due to overdose, but 86% of overdose deaths in the last set of data was from the illicit toxic drug supply, not—
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The Deputy Chair
  • May/29/24 11:32:14 p.m.
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The hon. member.
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Mr. Stephen Ellis
  • May/29/24 11:32:16 p.m.
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Madam Chair, what was the average street price of Dilaudid in Ottawa before so-called safe supply was introduced?
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Hon. Ya'ara Saks
  • May/29/24 11:32:28 p.m.
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Madam Chair, I do not have that number. I am happy to get it for the member, but I am sure he will tell me.
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Mr. Stephen Ellis
  • May/29/24 11:32:38 p.m.
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Madam Chair, I am quite happy to educate the minister that it was $25 before so-called safe supply was introduced. Perhaps the minister might know what the so-called safe supply has done to reduce the street price of Dilaudid. Maybe the minister could tell us what it is now. It was $25. What is it now?
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Hon. Ya'ara Saks
  • May/29/24 11:32:58 p.m.
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Madam Chair, I am aware that the street price of diverted hydromorphone has lowered in many jurisdictions across the country, but we see that the majority of overdose deaths are because of illicit fentanyl and not due to the drug that he is referring to.
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Mr. Stephen Ellis
  • May/29/24 11:33:18 p.m.
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Madam Chair, those people who really care about this issue know that the street price for Dilaudid has reduced from about $25 to $1 to $2 per tablet, shockingly. I wonder if the minister could tell Canadians this: Has the import and supply of heroin ever been allowed in Canada?
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Hon. Ya'ara Saks
  • May/29/24 11:33:41 p.m.
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Yes, Madam Chair.
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Mr. Stephen Ellis
  • May/29/24 11:33:48 p.m.
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Madam Chair, I wonder if the minister could answer this for Canadians: Has heroin been legally imported in Canada in the last five years?
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Hon. Ya'ara Saks
  • May/29/24 11:33:57 p.m.
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Madam Chair, as a physician, the member should well know that heroin is used in the standard practice of medicine in terms of pain management.
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Mr. Stephen Ellis
  • May/29/24 11:34:10 p.m.
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Madam Chair, oddly enough, I did have a pain clinic for 15 years, and that is not true. Anyway, that being said, did Fair Price Pharma import 15 kilograms of heroin into Canada in November 2021?
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Hon. Ya'ara Saks
  • May/29/24 11:34:24 p.m.
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Madam Chair, just to correct the record, it is true that heroin is used in medical practice. However, no, Health Canada did not import 15 kilograms of heroin.
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Mr. Stephen Ellis
  • May/29/24 11:34:36 p.m.
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Madam Chair, has any private firm been granted a dealer's licence to legally possess, produce, sell and distribute opium or heroin in Canada?
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Hon. Ya'ara Saks
  • May/29/24 11:34:48 p.m.
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Madam Chair, there are licence-holders who can import for research purposes.
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Mr. Stephen Ellis
  • May/29/24 11:35:07 p.m.
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Madam Chair, that is not what I asked, but “legally possess, produce, sell and distribute opium and heroin in Canada”, were the words. Yes or no.
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Hon. Ya'ara Saks
  • May/29/24 11:35:17 p.m.
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Madam Chair, as mentioned, they have been licensed for research purposes, so the answer would be no.
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Mr. Stephen Ellis
  • May/29/24 11:35:27 p.m.
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Madam Chair, Canadians should know that Sunshine Earth Labs was granted such a dealer's licence in January 2023. Has any private firm been licensed to legally produce, sell or distribute cocaine in Canada?
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