Debates of May 29th, 2024

Department of Health—Main Estimates, 2024-25

[The Deputy Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

The hon. member.

[Laila Goodridge, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

Madam Chair, how is diversion being tracked?

[Ya'ara Saks, Liberal, York Centre, ON]

Madam Chair, DASA assists us in tracking diversion.

[Laila Goodridge, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

Madam Chair, B.C. is looking to add chemical tracers to its safe supply. Will the government make tracers required in all safe supply across this country?

[Ya'ara Saks, Liberal, York Centre, ON]

Madam Chair, that would have to be in discussion with pharmaceutical companies, but as the member mentioned earlier, counterfeits of drugs are being made in the illegal market to look like real drugs, so it would be challenging.

[Laila Goodridge, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

Madam Chair, the government funds the so-called safe supply programs. It could make it mandatory to put tracers into the drugs. Will the government do it, yes or no?

[Ya'ara Saks, Liberal, York Centre, ON]

Madam Chair, the member fails to recognize that in the illicit toxic drug supply, counterfeits of prescribed drugs and prescribed alternatives are on the illicit market, so it is difficult to—

[The Deputy Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

The hon. member.

[Laila Goodridge, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

Madam Chair, the minister is making arguments as to why tracers are absolutely required in a government-funded safe supply.

Will she commit to putting tracers in the safe supply the government is funding, yes or no?

[Ya'ara Saks, Liberal, York Centre, ON]

Madam Chair, the member is misleading in her assessment that putting tracers in will mitigate diversion. It is one of many tools, but counterfeit illicit drug supplies will also be an issue, and she has not addressed that in terms of enforcement.

[Laila Goodridge, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

Madam Chair, the minister is actively enabling illegal drug trafficking by not employing every tool available to fight drug diversion.

Why will the minister not add tracers to drugs?

[Ya'ara Saks, Liberal, York Centre, ON]

Madam Chair, we have not currently received such a request. However, as I mentioned, that would be a collaborative work with pharmaceutical companies, prescribers and provinces. At this point in time, there is no request before us.

[Laila Goodridge, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

Madam Chair, will the minister ask her colleagues to increase penalties for diversion?

[Ya'ara Saks, Liberal, York Centre, ON]

Madam Chair, enforcement is a key part of addressing illicit toxic drugs.

[Laila Goodridge, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

Will you ask your colleagues to increase penalties?

[The Deputy Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

The hon. member needs to address all questions and comments through the Chair.

[Laila Goodridge, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

Madam Chair, will the minister ask her colleagues to increase penalties for diversion, yes or no?

[Ya'ara Saks, Liberal, York Centre, ON]

Madam Chair, they do not listen to chiefs of police from across the country who are saying that decriminalization is an important tool.

[Laila Goodridge, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

Madam Chair, I am asking very simply about increased penalties for people caught diverting drugs, illegal drugs.

Will the minister commit today to asking her colleagues to look at increasing those penalties, yes or no?

[Ya'ara Saks, Liberal, York Centre, ON]

Madam Chair, diversion is illegal. The member well knows it, and law enforcement is doing everything it can and has the tools available to it to address diversion.

[Laila Goodridge, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

Madam Chair, we know shipping containers are not being scanned for cars.

Are they being scanned for drugs?

[Ya'ara Saks, Liberal, York Centre, ON]

Madam Chair, that would be a question to the Minister of Public Safety. However, we are in conversation.

[Laila Goodridge, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

Madam Chair, has the minister advocated for increased drug screening at our ports?

[Ya'ara Saks, Liberal, York Centre, ON]

Madam Chair, we work with all levels of government and law enforcement to address diversion.

[Laila Goodridge, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

Madam Chair, what about at our borders?