Question Period (4 May 2026)

From Hansard (4 May 2026)

To view this section on video, click here and start play at 2:32:00 PM.

Measures to Prevent Children’s Exposure to Drugs

Nicole Sarauer: — Mr. Speaker, 13 children died of exposure to drugs in recent years. The majority of the children who died were less than a year old when they were exposed to toxic, illicit drugs. They were innocent, and many more of them are still at risk. The government needs to take this seriously, and sadly we have seen no evidence yet that they do.

Will the Minister of Justice join with this side of the House, stand up for these children, and order a public inquest?

Hon. Tim McLeod: — Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. And I’ll begin by extending my sincere condolences to the families of any lost child. Mr. Speaker, the loss of a child is an unimaginable tragedy under any circumstances, and so our condolences go out to those families.

Mr. Speaker, our government will always look at all options when it comes to preventing the deaths of children. And that’s why I will be meeting with the Chief Coroner for Saskatchewan to discuss what options he believes are most appropriate moving forward; what is going to result in the most meaningful and appropriate response to a tragedy like this, Mr. Speaker.

But I will say, Mr. Speaker, that what the government can do and what we have been doing is taking these poisonous substances out of our communities. That’s why we introduced the street weapons legislation that takes needles and crack pipes and fentanyl and methamphetamine off of the streets. Because these children should never be exposed to those substances, Mr. Speaker. That’s why these children need to be protected. We need to keep these dangerous items out of our parks, out of our playgrounds, and out of our communities.

. . .

Nicole Sarauer: — A lot of words, Mr. Speaker, but no answer to the question.

Again: 13 babies died under this Premier’s watch. They died after toxic drug exposures, and seven of them died directly because of these exposures. If this government won’t treat this crisis with the seriousness it requires, they should support those that will.

This child death review committee was recommended to this government by the former coroner, a very well-respected man, nearly a decade ago. This is long overdue. Will the minister commit to creating it today?

Hon. Tim McLeod: — As I already said, Mr. Speaker, I will be meeting with the Chief Coroner to see what this coroner today believes is the most meaningful and the most appropriate response. That’s what we will be doing moving forward.

But, Mr. Speaker, what we are already doing in this space: as I said, we have the street weapons legislation that removes these poisonous substances from our communities so that children are not exposed to the drugs and to the paraphernalia that can cause them harm. And we’re taking a step further, Mr. Speaker. We have The Response to Illicit Drugs Act before the Assembly right now. That legislation allows the families who have suffered harm to go after the perpetrators of that harm, Mr. Speaker, to sue the people who are manufacturing and trafficking these poisonous substances in our communities.

And, Mr. Speaker, on the flip side of that, this government is showing compassion to individuals who are battling addiction. We’re adding more than 500 addiction treatment spaces to help those individuals get into treatment, lead healthy lives in recovery. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---

Back to 2025/2026 Session