Thank you, Minister, for being here today.
Nearly a year and a half ago the expert task force on substance use set up by Health Canada recommended, “An expert committee should be convened within three months of this report to lead the design of a national safer supply program, with the goal to increase access to safer supply for up to one (1) million Canadians at risk of death from drug toxicity.” The task force further indicated that such a committee could “Develop a plan for deploying an expanded health response with resources commensurate with those allocated to responding to other emergencies such as COVID-19.”
Your colleague, the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, said in September the government is moving towards a regulated safer supply of drugs. However, it's unclear what work is taking place to make that a reality and stop the thousands of deaths we're seeing every year because of the contaminated drug supply.
Have you engaged with the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions on how PSPC might support the development of a national safer supply program?