I am concerned about the way Alberta has scaled back harm reduction, but I do like its approach to recovery, getting people stabilized on OAT. Unfortunately, we are seeing the results of the model through their data. Last year, B.C.'s increase in overdose deaths from 2022 was 6.9%. Alberta had a 16.6% increase, and Saskatchewan actually had a 23% increase. The lesson here from all of it across the country is that we have to do both: harm reduction and recovery together.
It's a relay race, like a baton passing back and forth as many times as possible to meet the needs of the individuals who are struggling. If you're going to meet somebody where they're at, then meet them where they're at. It's one thing to say it, but people aren't dying from safer supply. They're dying from toxic drugs. If that's a pathway to get people to move forward with OAT and into treatment and recovery, I don't see why anybody would be against that because, sadly, people are dying from toxic drugs.