Madam Chair, all of the people the minister mentioned are advocating for decriminalization. While it is not a silver bullet, it is definitely an important measure to help stem the tide of overdose deaths. However, the truth is that Canada is faced with three crises: the pandemic, the opioid crisis and a national housing crisis.
In my riding, the Downtown Eastside is a strong, caring and resilient community, but we are faced with one of the most deadly public health emergencies of our lifetime. To date, more than 1,000 people in B.C. have died of an overdose in 2020. We are seeing an average of five overdose deaths a day in B.C.
Dr. Henry said, “Now more than ever, we must remove the stigma of drug use and remove the shame people feel, which keeps them from seeking help or telling friends and family.” The path forward to help remove the stigma is to decriminalize.
Back in July, the member for Vancouver Kingsway and I wrote to the minister and urged her to implement a nationwide exemption, under section 56 of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, to the prohibition on simple possession in section 4, as an urgent interim health measure. Yesterday, the City of Vancouver unanimously passed a motion to request the federal government to decriminalize simple possession of illicit drugs for personal use.
Will the minister act on those requests?