Mr. Chair, I just want to emphasize again that there is a multi-faceted approach that the government is bringing to this problem. In budget 2018, $231 million has been invested, establishing an emergency treatment fund for treatment beds just as the member described; developing a national public education program to help address those who might be considering using opioids or moving down that path; enhancing the ability of front-line personnel to detect, intercepting illegal drugs at the border, which is happening; and accelerating and expanding access to public health data so we can track this problem.
However, the real issue here is that we have had three years to play catch-up with this problem. Where was the member in 2014? Where was he in 2013 when this problem began?
We are playing catch-up for the previous crime and punishment approach to opioids and opioid addiction. The former Conservative government did not move into treating this early enough and now we are dealing with the crisis across Canada.