Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Thank you, Minister Blaney and also Minister Ambrose, for coming to committee this afternoon.
I represent a riding where just recently there was a facility opened up called Four Winds. I was able to give an SO31 earlier in the year on the benefits of this organization and its mandate.
Part of what it states is that it goes about helping people get free from their addictions, from the use of illegal drugs, and from the misuse of prescription drugs.
My community came out very strongly in support of that. Some of the local businesses participated in fundraising efforts, there was a lot of community support through volunteerism, and the organization is doing very well. It's helping people who have destroyed their lives and destroyed their families through the use of illegal drugs.
Also in the riding I represent, I know parents would want to have a say, would want to have a voice when there is a proposal for a supervised injection site that would be opened in their community or down their street. It's just common sense.
This bill before us here today is termed the respect for communities act, in which we're respecting the wishes of the communities, the wishes of our constituents. I understand there are actually a number of criteria in the bill that would assist the health ministers in making informed decisions on supervised injection sites.
This makes sense, as a completely informed decision should be based on more than just public opinion or the opinions of those who operate such a site. There should also be criteria.
I'm wondering if the Minister of Health could provide this committee with some of the details on those criteria and give us just a little bit more information on the criteria that are required to give permits.