Question Period (27 March 2024)

From Hansard (27 March 2024)

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 Overdose Deaths and Treatment for Addictions

Ms. Bowes: — Mr. Speaker, 476 lives were lost to overdose last year. In Saskatoon alone, 85 families lost a loved one to this crisis. But this overdose crisis isn’t only happening in our urban areas, Mr. Speaker. It’s also happening, changing the lives of people in rural areas like Yorkton, Wynyard, Stoughton, Preeceville, Nipawin, Punnichy, and the list goes on. Nearly every community has been impacted by this crisis in one way or another.

Will the minister finally admit that his plan isn’t working and commit to providing evidence-based supports to save lives today?

Hon. Mr. T. McLeod: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And certainly our government is well aware that challenges of addictions aren’t only isolated to our large cities. They extend across our province, across the country, and certainly across the world, Mr. Speaker. And that’s why, with the 500 addictions treatment spaces that we are adding, we’re seeing those added across the province, Mr. Speaker. We’ve added spaces in Lloydminster. We’ve added spaces in Regina, North Battleford, Estevan. We’ve added virtual spaces, Mr. Speaker, that individuals across the province can access. In fact one of the spaces that we added, Mr. Speaker, is in North Battleford at Poundmaker’s Lodge.

And I would like to thank the member from Saskatoon Centre for her support on that, Mr. Speaker. Here’s a quote that she gave CBC [Canadian Broadcasting Corporation] when she said:

This treatment centre is from an Indigenous perspective, and as the critic for First Nations and Métis Relations, it’s important for me to show support for programming that is being developed here in Saskatchewan. Saskatchewan definitely needs this.

Mr. Speaker, we agree.

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