August 22, 2021
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
New Westminster, BC - Today, the Hon. Erin O’Toole, Leader of Canada’s Conservatives, introduced his plan to address the opioid crisis as a national emergency and help Canadians struggling with addiction.
Every day, 17 Canadians die from opioid-related deaths. Since the onset of COVID-19, opioid-related deaths have almost doubled.
“Families across this country are mourning lost children, lost parents, lost partners,” said Erin O’Toole. “As Prime Minister, I will treat the opioid epidemic as the urgent health crisis that it is.”
To help those struggling with addiction and save lives, Canada’s Recovery Plan will:
- Invest $325 million over the next three year to create 1,000 residential drug treatment beds and build 50 recovery community centres across the country.
- Enhance the delivery of culturally appropriate addiction treatment and prevention services in First Nations communities with high needs.
- Provide $1 billion over five years to boost funding for Indigenous mental health and drug treatment programs.
- Partner with the provinces to ensure that Naloxone kits are available for free across Canada.
- Reorient the Canadian Drugs and Substances Strategy towards ensuring that every person struggling with addiction has the opportunity to recover.
“As a country, we must recognize that mental health is health,” O’Toole concluded. “Only Canada’s Conservatives have a plan to make historic investments in mental health and addiction.”
-30-
For more information:
Conservative Party of Canada