Question Period (24 April 2024)

From Hansard (24 April 2024)

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 Overdose Deaths and Treatment for Addictions

Ms. Nippi-Albright: — Miigwech, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the overdose crisis continues to take lives in our province. We set a record for overdoses last year, and we’re on track to set another grim record this year. The vast majority of these deaths are Indigenous peoples, even though we are only 17 per cent of the population in this province.

We need more access to supports that incorporate Indigenous ceremonies and Indigenous world views to keep people alive. When will we see a plan from this government to offer those supports and expand them, like the supports at Poundmaker’s Lodge?

Hon. Mr. T. McLeod: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I’ve said many times in the House, the mental health and addiction action plan that we unveiled last October, one of the key pillars of the plan is to expand capacity by more than 500 treatment spaces across the province, Mr. Speaker, including in-patient treatment, including out-patient treatment. We have detox spaces. We’re going to have transitional or supportive living spaces, Mr. Speaker.

Five hundred additional spaces added to the province, to every corner of the province to address the needs of individuals who are battling addiction across the full continuum of care. Mr. Speaker, those spaces, some of which have already been announced at Poundmaker’s Lodge in North Battleford, offering an Indigenous perspective from addictions treatment, Mr. Speaker.

We are now making it easier for individuals to access those spaces and we are wrapping supports around individuals, meeting them where they’re at, Mr. Speaker, with a recovery-oriented system of care focused on treatment and recovery so that we can save lives, heal families, and strengthen communities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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