We've heard from the Conservatives that in British Columbia they're blaming decriminalization and safe supply for the root of the problem of the toxic drug crisis. The reality is that decriminalization didn't start until January 31.
Six people a day have been dying. It's been mounting for six years. Out of the 100,000 people in British Columbia with substance use disorder, literally hundreds might have access to a truly safer supply of substances. The problem is that its drug policy, Minister, has failed.
We've heard from the police chiefs association. They can't police their way out of this problem. It won't matter how many resources they get; they can't solve it.
It's easier to get the toxic concoction of drugs almost anywhere in this country than it is to get a prescription at a pharmacy. You can fill it faster. This is a problem.
It's the police chiefs who have suggested a safer supply to get people away from the toxic drug crisis and to stop criminalizing people who use substances. This is also reflective of the expert task force on substance use.
My problem with your government is the delay and lack of rapid response in terms of a safer supply getting out to communities. It's not a diversion of safer supply that's killing people; toxic street drugs are killing people.
When are you going to scale things up? I keep asking the procurement minister if you've reached out and asked her to procure a safer supply of substances so you can scale things up. When will that happen?