Evidence of meeting #24 for Health in the 43rd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was women.
A recording is available from Parliament.
6:25 p.m.
Bloc
Luc Desilets Bloc Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
Okay.
In the few remaining seconds, I'd like to hear your opinion on the recommendations—
6:30 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ron McKinnon
Thank you.
We go now to Ms. Kwan.
Ms. Kwan, please go ahead. You have two and a half minutes.
6:30 p.m.
NDP
Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC
Thank you.
Ms. York, you mentioned that at the moment, even with the provincial government's initiative in providing housing for the homeless population in the community, it's only really 5% of the population that this support is provided for. I know that the federal government has not provided any resources to the province to provide that housing. In the province's purchase of the Comfort Inn to make permanent housing for the homeless population, there was no contribution from the federal government either.
To that end, in terms of the need here, the federal government used to be a real partner in 1993, prior to pulling out of affordable housing. Do we need to go back to those days when the federal government actually engaged in real partnership with the provinces and territories to address the homelessness crisis?
6:30 p.m.
Project Coordinator and Administrator, Carnegie Community Action Project
Absolutely. I would say that is really essential. Definitely with the hotels, as I mentioned, it's for about 5% of those in need, which includes those who are homeless and those who are really inadequately housed in poorly maintained SROs that are not providing the opportunity for social distancing or sanitation.
It certainly would be good to see a partnership with the federal government. There was some action from the province, certainly not enough and not done in a way that targets those most in need, and there was a motion municipally for some efforts being made there. There's very little, but federally, it seems like there's the potential and the opportunity to do a lot more. We see as well that in other municipalities there has been more. For example, we've heard that it's about 50% in the Peel region, so certainly we'd like to see more.
6:30 p.m.
NDP
Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC
Thank you.
I have two other quick issues on safe supply. We have a health emergency with respect to overdose and we are now having some measures with respect to safe supply. Would it not be essential for this to be permanent and to also make this program available in other communities across the country?
Last but not least, on the question around protective equipment, some of the agencies got protective equipment, others not so much. I wonder if you could expand on the situation there and the need.
6:30 p.m.
Project Coordinator and Administrator, Carnegie Community Action Project
Sure. Regarding safe supply, absolutely, there have been calls for years for a safe supply since the overdose crisis began in 2016-17. As I mentioned, there have been about 1,000 deaths now, so it's really a horrifying crisis. Safe supply is a very essential way to address that. We'd like to see that extended. There's been no notice nor confirmation that this will be a permanent program. It was implemented for the pandemic and it might be pandemic-specific. Certainly we'd like to see that made permanent.
As I mentioned, many aspects of the pandemic contributed to that overdose spike because of less use of overdose prevention sites and lockdowns in buildings where people are isolated and not able to be with a friend or use safely with a friend. That safe supply is really essential and absolutely should be made permanent and extended into other cities.
We know these things, again, happen everywhere in B.C. and across the country. There are tent cities; there's homelessness. It's happening everywhere, and the overdose issue happens everywhere as well. Safe supply is one very specific measure that will really do a lot to address that.
6:30 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ron McKinnon
Thank you, Ms. Kwan.
That brings round three to an end.
I would like to thank all the witnesses for sharing with us so much of your time today and for your excellent information and recommendations.
Thank you to the committee for your time as well.
With that we are adjourned.