Mr. Speaker, clearly, we have to do everything in our power to save lives and reduce risks, while keeping communities safe and fighting drug trafficking and organized crime.
Our government is focused on supporting a full range of services and supports to address the diverse needs of people who use drugs, as well as enforcement efforts to protect our communities.
We are in the midst of a crisis where people are dying. This is not the time to be pitting harm reduction against treatment.
We need both at the same time, and the evidence clearly demonstrates that. People who need and are ready for treatment must have access to it when and where they need it. Those who are not ready or cannot access treatment need harm reduction options to stay alive. Without harm reduction services, more people will die.