Mr. Speaker, the second petition is on behalf of folks who are devastated by the poisoned drug crisis. They note that since 2016, over 34,000 people across the country have died, each one a preventable death, as the result of a poisoned drug supply.
The petitioners note that the Canadian Public Health Association and other experts have recommended a number of measures that, comprehensively, could address this crisis. As a result, they call on the government to declare a public health emergency as a result of poisoned drugs; treat this crisis as a health issue rather than a criminal one; provide a regulated safer supply of drugs for people who need them, to reduce overdose deaths; ensure that folks have access to get to treatment, as one has to be alive to get to treatment; and last, make significant, long-term investments in supports for those who use drugs or those who are in recovery.