Debates of May 29th, 2024

Department of Health—Main Estimates, 2024-25

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

Madam Chair, as I mentioned, it is at all levels of enforcement.

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

Madam Chair, what about precursor chemicals?

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

Madam Chair, precursor chemicals are part of the synthetic components we see—

[The Deputy Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

The hon. member.

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

Madam Chair, what has been done to actually ban these precursor chemicals?

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

Madam Chair, working through the trilateral fentanyl group and with other countries, we are addressing it.

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

Madam Chair, the RCMP clearly asked us at committee, and it stated that many precursor chemicals were not illegal, despite it asking for it. When will the minister act to ban these precursor chemicals?

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

Madam Chair, unfortunately the member does not recognize that many of the pain management medications used in hospitals and medical facilities are part of these components, and we have to move carefully to make sure we are addressing all issues.

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

Madam Chair, people are dying.

When will they take action and act to ban these precursor chemicals to prevent drugs from being circulated in our communities?

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

Madam Chair, people are dying, and it is absolutely tragic.

[Stephen Ellis, Conservative, Cumberland—Colchester, NS]

Minister, when did your government fully commit to so-called—

[The Deputy Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

I will remind the hon. member to address questions and comments through the Chair and not directly to the minister.

[Stephen Ellis, Conservative, Cumberland—Colchester, NS]

Thank you, Madam Chair. Minister, when did the government fully commit to safe supply?

[The Deputy Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

Again, the hon. member is addressing the question directly to the minister. He should address it through the Chair. Maybe he could put the word “the” in front of the word “minister”. That might work.

[Stephen Ellis, Conservative, Cumberland—Colchester, NS]

Madam Chair, to the minister, when did the NDP-Liberal government fully commit to so-called safe supply?

[Ya'ara Saks, Liberal, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health]

Madam Chair, we have had a comprehensive program since 2017 looking at all option tools and resources to address the toxic drug supply.

[Stephen Ellis, Conservative, Cumberland—Colchester, NS]

Madam Chair, since 2020, when the government fully committed to safe supply, how many Canadians have died from overdose?

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

Madam Chair, sadly, we have lost 42,000 Canadians due to overdose, but 86% of overdose deaths in the last set of data was from the illicit toxic drug supply, not—

[The Deputy Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

The hon. member.

[Stephen Ellis, Conservative, Cumberland—Colchester, NS]

Madam Chair, what was the average street price of Dilaudid in Ottawa before so-called safe supply was introduced?

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

Madam Chair, I do not have that number. I am happy to get it for the member, but I am sure he will tell me.

[Stephen Ellis, Conservative, Cumberland—Colchester, NS]

Madam Chair, I am quite happy to educate the minister that it was $25 before so-called safe supply was introduced. Perhaps the minister might know what the so-called safe supply has done to reduce the street price of Dilaudid. Maybe the minister could tell us what it is now. It was $25. What is it now?

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

Madam Chair, I am aware that the street price of diverted hydromorphone has lowered in many jurisdictions across the country, but we see that the majority of overdose deaths are because of illicit fentanyl and not due to the drug that he is referring to.

[Stephen Ellis, Conservative, Cumberland—Colchester, NS]

Madam Chair, those people who really care about this issue know that the street price for Dilaudid has reduced from about $25 to $1 to $2 per tablet, shockingly.

I wonder if the minister could tell Canadians this: Has the import and supply of heroin ever been allowed in Canada?

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

Yes, Madam Chair.