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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. Pierre Poilievre (Leader of the Opposition, CPC)
  • May/29/24 2:56:56 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, he did not hear the question, which was about day cares. It is true that because of decriminalization in British Columbia, nurses had to breathe in crack cocaine and methamphetamine. However, right now I am talking about Montreal, where the Prime Minister's policies mean that violent criminals are walking free and drugs are being used on the street next to a day care. I am going to ask the question again. Why will the Bloc and the Liberals not accept our common-sense plan to get rid of drugs and put criminals in jail?
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Context: House Hansard - 320 - May/29/24
Mr. Mike Morrice (Kitchener Centre, GP)
  • May/29/24 4:20:36 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to rise to present a petition on behalf of folks who are concerned with the number of deaths across the country as a result of poisoned drugs, a crisis that is hitting my community particularly hard. Petitioners note that they call on the Government of Canada to, first of all, declare a public health emergency with respect to overdose deaths. They look to have the government reframe this away from a criminal justice issue to a public health one. They call for a comprehensive, multi-faceted approach to addressing this crisis and the root causes of poverty, addiction, housing and health care, among others; and, including in that multi-faceted approach the decriminalization of drugs. The petitioners go on to call for the government to specifically listen to and act on recommendations made not by politicians, but by social workers, frontline workers, nurses, doctors and those directly involved in the drug-using community.
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Context: House Hansard - 320 - May/29/24
Mrs. Laila Goodridge
  • May/29/24 7:56:46 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, has decriminalization been successful in British Columbia?
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Context: House Hansard - 320 - May/29/24
Mrs. Laila Goodridge
  • May/29/24 7:57:41 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, how is the minister measuring success in B.C.'s decriminalization?
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Context: House Hansard - 320 - May/29/24
Hon. Ya'ara Saks
  • May/29/24 9:21:35 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the member is misleading Canadians. People die of overdoses because of the illegal toxic drug supply. Decriminalization is simply one tool of many in order to direct people to health services rather than putting them through the justice system. I would think that he would not want to stigmatize or criminalize those who need health care.
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Context: House Hansard - 320 - May/29/24
Hon. Ya'ara Saks
  • May/29/24 9:23:06 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the member does not seem to be familiar with international jurisdictions that have also implemented decriminalization tools.
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Context: House Hansard - 320 - May/29/24
Hon. Ya'ara Saks
  • May/29/24 9:24:07 p.m.
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Every death is a tragedy, Mr. Speaker, but the people are dying from an illegal toxic drug supply, not decriminalization, which is a tool that has been used in such countries as Germany, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland. If time allows, I will continue with the list.
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Context: House Hansard - 320 - May/29/24
Hon. Ya'ara Saks
  • May/29/24 9:58:55 p.m.
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Madam Chair, again, the exemption allowed for releasing the decriminalization in public spaces.
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Context: House Hansard - 320 - May/29/24
Hon. Ya'ara Saks (Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health, Lib.)
  • May/29/24 10:16:53 p.m.
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Madam Chair, just to correct the member, decriminalization is about possession. It is not the legalization of illicit drugs.
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Context: House Hansard - 320 - May/29/24
Mr. Luc Berthold
  • May/29/24 10:21:19 p.m.
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Madam Chair, how is it then that the minister is unable to say no to the possible decriminalization of hard drugs in Montreal when, according to TVA Nouvelles, “around the [Cactus supervised injection site], psychosis, crack and crystal meth use, and the constant presence of drug dealers have become the norm”? Does the minister continue to claim—
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Context: House Hansard - 320 - May/29/24
Hon. Ya'ara Saks
  • May/29/24 10:21:44 p.m.
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Madam Chair, just so that we are clear, the Montreal mayor has said that such hypothetical allegations of her proposal for decriminalization are false.
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Context: House Hansard - 320 - May/29/24
Mr. Brad Vis
  • May/29/24 10:30:22 p.m.
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Madam Chair, before decriminalization was implemented in B.C., did Health Canada conduct any studies on the impact of public drug use on children? If so, can the minister please provide such information to the House?
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Context: House Hansard - 320 - May/29/24
Hon. Ya'ara Saks
  • May/29/24 10:30:36 p.m.
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Madam Chair, decriminalization as a tool is one that is well used in many jurisdictions across the world.
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Context: House Hansard - 320 - May/29/24
Mr. Brad Vis
  • May/29/24 10:32:39 p.m.
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Madam Chair, B.C. businesses across the province have reported deteriorating public safety. The Surrey Board of Trade called it a “crime tax”. Does the minister agree with the Surrey Board of Trade that decriminalization is effectively a crime tax on small businesses?
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Context: House Hansard - 320 - May/29/24
Ms. Melissa Lantsman (Thornhill, CPC)
  • May/29/24 11:19:32 p.m.
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Madam Chair, today the minister stood by her failed decriminalization project in British Columbia after being forced to walk it back. Last week, she voted against ruling out the expansion of drug decriminalization everywhere else in Canada. Will the minister unequivocally commit today to never expanding her insane decriminalization policy from B.C. to anywhere else?
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Context: House Hansard - 320 - May/29/24
Hon. Ya'ara Saks (Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health, Lib.)
  • May/29/24 11:20:02 p.m.
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Sadly, Madam Chair, I have to say again that the stigmatized language from the other side of the House is highly disturbing. Decriminalization is one tool of many in addressing the overdose crisis. It exists in jurisdictions around the world, such as Switzerland, Portugal and Spain, and we know it is an important tool that we need to use. I really wish the member would look at the evidence and the facts rather than use rhetoric.
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Context: House Hansard - 320 - May/29/24
Hon. Ya'ara Saks
  • May/29/24 11:20:52 p.m.
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Madam Chair, as the member well knows, we have said no to the Toronto proposal. Again, she seems to ignore the many stakeholders and evidence supporting a full use of tools to address the overdose crisis. People are dying because of street drugs; they are not dying because of decriminalization.
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Context: House Hansard - 320 - May/29/24
Ms. Melissa Lantsman
  • May/29/24 11:21:38 p.m.
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Madam Chair, it is not a hypothetical; it is a yes or no question. Will the minister rule out decriminalization for Toronto going forward?
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Context: House Hansard - 320 - May/29/24
Ms. Melissa Lantsman
  • May/29/24 11:22:00 p.m.
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Madam Chair, it is a very simple question. The people of Toronto have watched crack being smoked in hospitals and people shooting up in parks, next to children. Will the minister say no to decriminalization in Toronto going forward? It is a yes or no question.
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Context: House Hansard - 320 - May/29/24
Ms. Melissa Lantsman
  • May/29/24 11:22:28 p.m.
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Madam Chair, it is a yes or no question. Yes or no, will the minister rule out decriminalization for Toronto, for Montreal and for Halifax? I will even expand the question for her.
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