Evidence of meeting #98 for Health in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was evidence.
A video is available from Parliament.
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Conservative
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Scientific Director, Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction, Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Yes. I know that there's—
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Conservative
Stephen Ellis Conservative Cumberland—Colchester, NS
When are you going to take into account the criticisms for that paper when you're creating your policy on your so-called safer supply?
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Scientific Director, Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction, Canadian Institutes of Health Research
I don't create policy. I'm a researcher—
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Conservative
Stephen Ellis Conservative Cumberland—Colchester, NS
Thank you very much. I don't need an answer from you, then.
That's very good, because the person who is signing off on the policy isn't reading the paper and clearly is not getting good advice.
I'll turn the time over to my colleague Mrs. Goodridge.
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Conservative
Laila Goodridge Conservative Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB
Thank you.
Do you believe that drug users should be able to use drugs in children's playgrounds?
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Liberal
Ya'ara Saks Liberal York Centre, ON
We signed an amendment at the request of the B.C. government in September with regard to playgrounds.
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Conservative
Laila Goodridge Conservative Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB
You don't think that drug users should be allowed to use drugs in children's playgrounds.
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Liberal
Ya'ara Saks Liberal York Centre, ON
I believe that in addressing the opioid crisis and the level of overdoses that we're seeing, we need to have a clear anchor both in public health and public safety.
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Conservative
Laila Goodridge Conservative Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB
I'm asking a really simple question. Yes or no: Should drug users be allowed to use drugs in a children's playground?
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Liberal
Ya'ara Saks Liberal York Centre, ON
We signed an amendment at the request of the B.C. government in terms of demarcation for public use with regard to playgrounds, splash pads and other public areas.
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Conservative
Laila Goodridge Conservative Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB
Do you believe that recovery from addiction is possible?
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Liberal
Ya'ara Saks Liberal York Centre, ON
I think that everyone's journey is unique and that recovery is possible for those...but often the evidence shows that in many cases it takes more than one try.
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Conservative
Laila Goodridge Conservative Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB
Do you believe that we should have a recovery-oriented system of care in place in Canada?
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Liberal
Ya'ara Saks Liberal York Centre, ON
I believe we need a full suite of services and a continuum of care that includes prevention, harm reduction and treatment.
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Conservative
Laila Goodridge Conservative Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB
For people who struggle with addiction, do you think treatment should be easier to access than drugs?
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Liberal
Ya'ara Saks Liberal York Centre, ON
An individual who struggles with substance use should have the lowest barriers for access to help and medical services.
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Conservative
Laila Goodridge Conservative Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB
Do you believe that people who struggle with addiction should have access to treatment and supports that help them get to treatment that is easier than their access to drugs?
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Liberal
Ya'ara Saks Liberal York Centre, ON
They should have the lowest-barrier access to all medical services and supports that can help them towards recovery from their substance use.
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Conservative
Laila Goodridge Conservative Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB
Do you believe we should start restricting the amount of drugs available on the streets so as to reduce the number of new addictions?
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Liberal
Ya'ara Saks Liberal York Centre, ON
That would be with regard to enforcement on the illegal toxic drug supply. Is that what you're referencing?
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Conservative
Laila Goodridge Conservative Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB
I'm wondering, because what we have been seeing are so many stories coming out about diversion. There are facts and stats coming out about drugs being diverted from safe supply programs and getting into the hands of kids. I'm wondering if you think that we should be far more strict. If you're going to continue allowing drugs to just be flooded into the streets, do you think there should be witness programs? Do you think there should be spaces so that they cannot just carry those with them and potentially sell them to kids at playgrounds?
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Liberal
Ya'ara Saks Liberal York Centre, ON
In my answers to Ms. Atwin earlier—they are on the record—we talked about the extensive mitigation steps that we have taken with those safer supply programs to ensure diversion is mitigated as much as possible. As I said, diversion is illegal in this country, and continues to be so.
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Conservative
Laila Goodridge Conservative Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB
Drug use is illegal, and it's still happening. My questions are very pertinent.
Frankly, I don't want to see so-called safe supply at kids' playgrounds. That should never happen, and yet we see it. We see it day after day.