Evidence of meeting #133 for Health in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was treatment.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Medical Officer of Health, City of Toronto
Yes. When it comes to the regulation of health care professionals, clearly they have a role.
Medical Officer of Health, City of Toronto
There are regulatory bodies for health care professionals. I'm probably best positioned to speak to that which is in place for physicians because that's the one that I'm most familiar with.
There's a training process for physicians to go through in order to acquire their medical licence to practice. Through the various provinces' colleges of physicians and surgeons, there are ongoing expectations that you are meant to uphold in the practice of medicine. As well, for those of us who are specialist physicians, we have obligations to our college, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. In the case of family medicine practitioners, it's The College of Family Physicians of Canada.
Liberal
Élisabeth Brière Liberal Sherbrooke, QC
Thank you.
Mr. Fallu, during this meeting, we've heard a number of comments from people who are in favour of a comprehensive approach, although I don't like that word. It's an approach that includes everything from prevention to harm reduction to treatment.
Does it make sense at this point to be talking about compulsory treatment when we don't even have enough spaces in voluntary treatment programs?
Associate Professor, Université de Montréal, As an Individual
That's absolutely right.
As I was saying earlier, before we talk about forcing people into treatment, let's start by expanding access to treatment. Treatment is hard to access, in part because people are stigmatized. It's much more complicated than it seems. A lot of things have to happen before getting to that point. It's really a last-ditch solution.
Since I'm being personally attacked, I'd like to clarify something. Until people address the issue of drug use in our society from a health perspective, be it mental health or sexual health, they're only going to make things worse and kill people.
Liberal
Élisabeth Brière Liberal Sherbrooke, QC
That's the reason it's seen as more of a public health issue than a justice system issue.
Would you care to comment on that?
Associate Professor, Université de Montréal, As an Individual
That's absolutely right. That's why more and more people are moving away from the idea that it's a crime issue and toward the idea that it's a public health issue. It's important to remember that most people who consume alcohol and other drugs don't have a problem. Most people who consume psychoactive substances are neither criminals nor ill. It's a behaviour that exists, and that's exactly why I wanted to talk about it. I wanted to emphasize the fact that the representations some people put out there are completely distorted.
A lot of people use substances and are functioning members of society. Unfortunately, the big problem with prohibition is that it's applied in a very discriminatory way. The most vulnerable and fragile people, people living on the streets, are the ones who suffer the harshest consequences.
Liberal
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sean Casey
Thank you, Madame Brière.
That concludes our rounds of questions.
Colleagues, just as a reminder, we have an informal meeting right after question period, from 3:30 until 4:25, with a delegation from the United States House of Representatives. It is an informal meeting, but it would be a bad look if nobody showed up, so if you can make it, it will be great to have you there. We have a hard stop at 4:25 because they're off to meet the agriculture committee, I think, after us.
To all of our witnesses, thank you so much for being with us today.
Ms. Krupp, please allow me to add my condolences for the passing of your daughter, and my empathy for the challenges you're going through with your son. No parent wants to go through that, and for you to be going through that and to have the courage to speak to it publicly.... Thank you.
Thank you to our expert witnesses as well.
Is it the will of the committee to adjourn the meeting?