Madam Speaker, last year Gord Portman saved two people in a house fire in Penticton. When he saw his picture in the local newspaper, he realized he needed help. Gord was addicted to opioids, so he turned to Discovery House, a local organization that helps men battle their addictions. Now he thanks Discovery House for saving his life.
There are 1,300 British Columbians who have died from COVID-19, but over the same period 1,700 have died because of the opioid crisis. These people were sons and fathers, daughters and mothers. They had a medical problem, not a criminal problem. Thousands are being poisoned by drugs laced with fentanyl. We must decriminalize these drugs and provide a safe supply so we can help people like Gord and go after the real criminals who are selling the poisoned drugs.
Gord was recently honoured with a bravery award by the Royal Canadian Humane Association. I thank him and the people at Discovery House who saved his life.