Thank you, Madam Chair and honourable members.
I'm Alex Caudarella, and I had the privilege of joining the CCSA three years ago as CEO.
In 1988, all-party support created the CCSA act. It created this arm's-length charity to bring together expertise from across the country and to increase the participation of people in Canada.
CCSA is the only national organization mandated to address both the health aspects and the public safety aspects of substance use. We work to address alcohol and other drug-related harms through a balanced approach that prioritizes both individual and collective well-being.
As a family physician with experience across multiple provinces and territories, I bring evidence-based, compassionate and collaborative leadership grounded in a need to have a real-world impact.
CCSA's CEO is appointed by its board of directors and must be approved by the Governor in Council. This model reflects CCSA's status as an independent national organization created by and accountable to Parliament. CCSA's board is a volunteer board of directors made up of 13 members. Together, they provide governance and strategic oversight, which I'm very thankful to have.
The chair and up to four other directors are appointed by the Governor in Council. Eight additional directors—members at large—are appointed by the board itself.
CCSA has many achievements, from launching the country’s first addiction and recovery surveys to producing a Canadian substance use costs and harms report repeatedly referred to as the most robust analysis of the impacts of drugs and alcohol.
Since then, our work together has prioritized the many communities we serve, working with them to better understand their needs and leverage science to bring evidence, as a trusted partner, to the grassroots.
Our CCENDU network is a partnership of academics, governments—