House of Commons Hansard #320 of the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was chair.
Department of Health—Main Estimates, 2024-25Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Conservative
Tracy Gray Conservative Kelowna—Lake Country, BC
Madam Chair, does the minister believe illicit drug supplies left in parks and playgrounds increases the risk of accidental overdoses of minors?
Ya'ara Saks Liberal York Centre, ON
Madam Chair, we are moving through this public health crisis with a strict lens on public safety and public health, and we will work with jurisdictions.
Department of Health—Main Estimates, 2024-25Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Conservative
Tracy Gray Conservative Kelowna—Lake Country, BC
Madam Chair, the minister has confirmed tonight that the leading cause of death of children and teens, sadly, in British Columbia in 2023 is illicit drug toxicity, correct?
Ya'ara Saks Liberal York Centre, ON
Madam Chair, yes, the toxic drug supply is costing us many lives in many communities, and it is absolutely tragic.
Department of Health—Main Estimates, 2024-25Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Conservative
Tracy Gray Conservative Kelowna—Lake Country, BC
Madam Chair, in Campbell River, a major drug seizure was reported in February 2024 of having hydromorphone pills, with evidence suggesting they were diverted from government-funded supply.
Did the minister ask for a briefing on this?
Ya'ara Saks Liberal York Centre, ON
Madam Chair, as I have stated before, both in the House and in this committee, the RCMP, based on the most recent data, has shown that there has been no increase in hydromorphone diversion in Canada over the last decade.
Department of Health—Main Estimates, 2024-25Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Conservative
Tracy Gray Conservative Kelowna—Lake Country, BC
Madam Chair, is the minister concerned about diversion of government-funded drugs like this to children?
Ya'ara Saks Liberal York Centre, ON
Madam Chair, I think we are all concerned about diversion because it is illegal.
Department of Health—Main Estimates, 2024-25Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Conservative
Tracy Gray Conservative Kelowna—Lake Country, BC
Madam Chair, is the minister aware that the drug seizure in Campbell River had fentanyl powder moulded into the shape of gummy bears and dinosaurs?
Ya'ara Saks Liberal York Centre, ON
Madam Chair, all diversion is illegal and extremely concerning. This is why law enforcement is a key pillar of our strategy.
Department of Health—Main Estimates, 2024-25Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Conservative
Tracy Gray Conservative Kelowna—Lake Country, BC
Madam Chair, does the minister not think these were targeting children?
Ya'ara Saks Liberal York Centre, ON
Madam Chair, all diversion is illegal. We are concerned for all our children
Department of Health—Main Estimates, 2024-25Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Conservative
Tracy Gray Conservative Kelowna—Lake Country, BC
Madam Chair, is the minister taking action to stop these drugs from getting into the hands of children?
Ya'ara Saks Liberal York Centre, ON
Madam Chair, we continue to work with law enforcement and jurisdictions to ensure that diversion is mitigated.
Department of Health—Main Estimates, 2024-25Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Conservative
Tracy Gray Conservative Kelowna—Lake Country, BC
Madam Chair, has the minister given any directives at all to stop these illicit drugs from getting into the hands of children?
Ya'ara Saks Liberal York Centre, ON
Madam Chair, we are working closely with public safety and criminal justice partners to ensure that diversion is mitigated.
Department of Health—Main Estimates, 2024-25Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Conservative
Tracy Gray Conservative Kelowna—Lake Country, BC
Madam Chair, I think we should take that as a no.
September 2023, the minister received a letter from 17 addiction medicine doctors who said, “We are regularly seeing and hearing in our practices that diverted hydromorphone is causing harm to both adults and children.”
Does the minister agree with that statement?
Ya'ara Saks Liberal York Centre, ON
Madam Chair, I have both met and received letters from experts on their concerns, and this is why we have listened to them and taken their advice, and also listened to other experts to ensure that we create programs with jurisdictions that are safe.
Department of Health—Main Estimates, 2024-25Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Conservative
Tracy Gray Conservative Kelowna—Lake Country, BC
Madam Chair, has the minister implemented any of the recommendations from the letter that I referenced?
Ya'ara Saks Liberal York Centre, ON
Madam Chair, Health Canada has worked with prescribed alternative programs to ensure that protections are in place.
Department of Health—Main Estimates, 2024-25Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Conservative
Tracy Gray Conservative Kelowna—Lake Country, BC
Madam Chair, has the minister taken any action to mitigate government-funded drugs being diverted into the black market?
Department of Health—Main Estimates, 2024-25Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Conservative
Tracy Gray Conservative Kelowna—Lake Country, BC
Madam Chair, has the minister taken any action to mitigate government-funded drugs from getting into the hands of children and teens?
Ya'ara Saks Liberal York Centre, ON
Madam Chair, the government funds programs. The provinces have contracts for the medications.
Department of Health—Main Estimates, 2024-25Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
Conservative
Tracy Gray Conservative Kelowna—Lake Country, BC
Madam Chair, government-funded drug policy protocols allow for prescribed fentanyl to minors without parental knowledge in B.C. Does the minister support this?