Debates of May 29th, 2024

Department of Health—Main Estimates, 2024-25

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

Mr. Speaker, all medication is under the CDSA, with strict regulations.

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

Mr. Speaker, is the NDP-Liberal government looking at allowing the so-called safe supply of cocaine?

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

Mr. Speaker, prescribed alternatives are under the strict advisement of experts and physicians with their patients.

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

Mr. Speaker, is the NDP-Liberal government looking to fund the so-called safe supply of heroin?

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

Mr. Speaker, all medications are regulated under the CDSA, and prescriber models, per province, are in place.

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

Mr. Speaker, is the NDP-Liberal government looking at allowing the so-called safe supply of heroin?

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

Mr. Speaker, prescribed alternatives are a relationship between the physician and their patient. There are strict regulations around it.

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

Mr. Speaker, could the minister explain to Canadians what the company called Fair Price Pharma is?

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

Mr. Speaker, to my knowledge, it is a private company in British Columbia.

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

Mr. Speaker, could the minister confirm or deny if this company, Fair Price Pharma, has a dealer's licence for heroin?

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

Mr. Speaker, to my knowledge, it does not at this time.

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

Mr. Speaker, could the minister confirm or deny that Fair Price Pharma has an importation licence for heroin?

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

Mr. Speaker, we will have to refer to officials to answer that question.

[The Speaker, Greg Fergus]

I would like to let hon. members know that, when there is time used for consultation, it is not taken away from the time of the member to pose their questions.

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

Mr. Speaker, can the minister tell Canadians how much heroin Fair Price Pharma has imported into Canada?

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

Mr. Speaker, that is a question to refer to officials.

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

Mr. Speaker, oddly enough, the answer is 15 kilograms. Can the minister tell Canadians when this 15 kilograms of heroin was imported into Canada?

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

Mr. Speaker, this is a question for officials.

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

Mr. Speaker, perhaps the minister would like to tell Canadians that it was in November 2021.

Could the minister tell us if the minister has ever met with someone named Perry Kendall?

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

Mr. Speaker, I have not.

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

Mr. Speaker, is the minister aware that Perry Kendall is the founder of Fair Price Pharma?

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

Mr. Speaker, I am not engaged with Fair Price Pharma, but to my knowledge, he is.

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

Mr. Speaker, does the minister believe heroin should be distributed via vending machines?

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

Mr. Speaker, no, I do not.

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

Mr. Speaker, does the minister believe the distribution of so-called safe supply via vending machines is indeed safe?