Health committee  Thank you for the question. To be clear, what the minister described the department doing right now is systematically taking stock of the evidence in the situation primarily on the ground with the projects that we are funding. We have not made any determination at this point on whether the harms are occurring.

Health committee  Perhaps, with your permission.... Dr. Weiss is spearheading a comprehensive study of the projects. Maybe, Sam, you could speak a little bit about that work.

Health committee  Thank you very much for the question, Mr. Chair. I'll do my best in this brief moment to explain the full strategy in concrete terms. As the minister said in her remarks, the focus of the government's response to the crisis over several years now has been to try to be as comprehensive as possible.

Health committee  It is the exemption under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act that would allow for the possession of small amounts of drugs in British Columbia.

Health committee  Thank you for the question. If I may, I will answer in English; it's easier for me. Strictly speaking, I'll be able to give you a brief answer on the extent to which law enforcement agencies throughout the Canadian government are looking to reduce the size of the illegal drug market.

Health committee  My job, and our job as public servants, is to execute the policy of the government. The policy, as I understand it, is not to pursue legalization or decriminalization of other substances beyond what is currently in place.

Health committee  Well, as a public servant, I don't know that my own personal view features too prominently in this, but—

Health committee  My professional view would be to add to the minister's response. In response to the B.C. request last summer to amend the exemption to exclude playgrounds and other places, the minister signed off on that exemption. We provided an amended exemption that excluded playgrounds and other public places.

Health committee  We supported the minister; we had no cause to brief other than in support of B.C.'s request to make that amendment to exclude playgrounds and other public places.

Health committee  No.

Health committee  Thank you for that question. My response to that, just through observing the conversation that has happened so far this morning, is this: I can say unequivocally that the department, right now, is taking into full account all the evidence that's being brought to bear, whether it's published evidence—some of which has been referred to—or data that we're collecting from our own sites, in order to ensure we have a full, clear-eyed and systematic view of the situation.

Health committee  I couldn't give you a date.

Health committee  Thank you for the question, Chair. We've spoken to the minister at length about the crisis writ large and about developments in British Columbia. With respect to the prescription guideline that you're describing, we've made the minister aware that based on our conversations with the B.C. government, the latest information we have is that while the guidance has been enacted, no prescriptions have in fact been provided to anyone under the age of 19.

Health committee  I honestly couldn't say on the spot here.

Health committee  Sure. Absolutely.