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House Hansard - 233

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
October 17, 2023 10:00AM
Context: House Hansard - 233 - Oct/17/23
Mr. Darren Fisher (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health, Lib.)
  • Oct/17/23 6:29:08 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, I want to thank the member for his passion on this topic. I have spoken to him several times already since I started in this role, and I can only learn from this member and continue to appreciate his passion and knowledge on this topic. This toxic drug and overdose crisis is having a tragic and unrelenting toll on Canadians, their families and communities, and the member knows this. There are four pillars recognized internationally that are necessary for a successful substance use strategy: prevention, harm reduction, treatment and enforcement. We are committed to a comprehensive approach that implements policies and supports in all four of these essential areas. The member opposite is a key ally in solving this crisis. Every person who overdoses is somebody who has a family and somebody who has people who care about them. I believe these deaths are, as the member said, preventable. Many of these individuals have perhaps hidden their drug use and feel unable or afraid to seek help. Many died alone. We must take urgent action to save lives and protect the health and safety of Canadians. We have committed more than $1 billion for a full range of evidence-based actions focused on prevention, harm reduction, treatment and enforcement. Sadly, this crisis is evolving and worsening. The drugs are getting more toxic. Substance use intersects with other issues like poverty, homelessness and mental health. We need to evolve our understanding of the crisis and continue to improve the government's work to save lives, and protect the health and safety of Canadians. Substance use is a health issue and health care is a shared responsibility across all levels of government. Most importantly, because I know some members in this House still disagree with this, harm reduction is health care. This is why we continue to support provinces, territories and indigenous communities to improve access to integrated, evidence-based substance use services and supports for all Canadians when and where they need it. Creating false narratives is not useful to anyone. I am happy that the member for Courtenay—Alberni agrees with us on this and is helping us fight misinformation. We are providing nearly $200 billion to the provinces and territories over the next 10 years to support health system reform across Canada, and $25 billion of that money is for shared health priorities such as improving access to mental health and substance use services. These historic investments will seek to integrate mental health and substance use care across the entire health system. This means that no matter where, when or how someone reaches out for help, there will be no wrong door, and I am optimistic we can get there. There is no one-size-fits-all solution to address this complex crisis. Each person's circumstance is unique. Solutions to the crisis must recognize that people use substances for different reasons and in different ways. Offering treatment alone is not enough. Providing a broad array of care options and wraparound supports allows people to access the right services at the right time to improve their overall health and well-being. We cannot end this crisis alone. It is our collective responsibility to work together as parliamentarians, with the member for Courtenay—Alberni, local communities, provinces and territories, as well as indigenous communities. We cannot be working in silos or through an approach that is not integrated.
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Context: House Hansard - 233 - Oct/17/23
Mr. Darren Fisher
  • Oct/17/23 6:34:13 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, I agree, and we do know that substance abuse is an extremely complex issue. Discrimination and trauma can place individuals at an increased risk for substance use harms. We are focused on improving the availability and accessibility of a range of services and supports as a means to address the overdose crisis. This complex issue calls for a comprehensive and integrated response, as I said and as the member acknowledged. People who are struggling need everyone at the table. They need everyone in the House of Commons, including the federal government, working with the provinces and territories on a system that includes health and mental health teams and services. This is a public health issue, not a criminal one, and it must be addressed that way alongside well-trained, monitored and resourced public safety components. I look forward to discussing the trip you took and learning a bit more about the model in Portugal.
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