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House Hansard - 190

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
May 3, 2023 02:00PM
Context: House Hansard - 190 - May/3/23
Mr. Brendan Hanley (Yukon, Lib.)
  • May/3/23 2:15:31 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, two weeks ago, four more Yukoners in three different communities died from toxic drug overdose. Old Crow is the latest remote Yukon community to declare a substance use emergency. Families and communities everywhere in Canada are grieving, and chances are that everyone is part of at least one. In recent years, we have made progress and saved lives, but we are not where we should be. Our approach is incremental; the epidemic is a tidal wave. In the pandemic, we made bold decisions based on the best available evidence. We took risks because we had to. All parties and all levels of government worked together. This toxic drug crisis requires no less of us. We must end the criminalization of those who use drugs. We need investments in prevention, treatment, social supports, and yes, accessible safe supply for those who need it. Every drug death is another toll of a dark bell that tells us there is more we can do. I know my colleagues will stand with me as we contemplate all options to overcome this terrible crisis. As we showed in the pandemic, by working together, we can overcome. We can and will do better.
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