That's such a critical question. Thank you.
Language does matter, because when the person standing in front of you is struggling and you criminalize them and stigmatize them, you essentially say that they are worth less and are less deserving of health care and help. They will go back and use and struggle because they have been shamed, because they have been told that they are not worthy of care.
We as a government are fully committed to a compassion-centred, evidence-based health care lens that, at the centre, is based on the person who needs our support and help.
The impact when we hear that language is that they are dehumanizing and criminalizing loved ones who need health care.