I call this meeting to order.
Welcome to meeting number 98 of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health.
Today's meeting is taking place in a hybrid format, pursuant to the Standing Orders.
In accordance with our routine motion, I'm informing the committee that all remote participants have completed the required connection test in advance of the meeting.
Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2) and the motion adopted on November 8, 2023, the committee is resuming its study of the opioid epidemic and toxic drug crisis in Canada.
We are joined today for the first hour of the meeting by the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, the Honourable Ya’ara Saks. Welcome, Minister.
Accompanying the minister, we have officials who will remain for the full meeting.
From the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, we have Dr. Samuel Weiss, scientific director, Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction.
From the Department of Health, we have Dr. Stephen Lucas, deputy minister; Eric Costen, associate deputy minister; and Jennifer Saxe, associate assistant deputy minister, controlled substances and cannabis branch.
From the Public Health Agency of Canada, we have Dr. Theresa Tam, chief public health officer of Canada, and Nancy Hamzawi, executive vice-president.
Thank you all for taking the time to appear today.
Minister Saks, you have the floor for the next five minutes. Welcome.