Press Release
From: Health Canada
March 15, 2023
Every day, families and communities across the Prairies, Northwest Territories and Yukon lose loved ones to overdoses from the increasingly toxic illegal drug supply. Collectively, through harm reduction and treatment services, as well as prevention efforts alongside all levels of government, the Government of Canada is working in tandem to try to reduce stigma, save lives, and ensure all people who use drugs have the life-saving substance use services and supports they need.
Today, the Honourable Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health, announced over $13 million in federal funding for 11 projects in the Prairies, Northwest Territories and Yukon through Health Canada’s Substance Use and Addictions Program (SUAP). The funding announced today will allow people living in the Prairies, Northwest Territories and Yukon to access greater prevention, harm reduction and treatment services including access to safer supply programs. This includes people disproportionately affected by problematic substance use or who face barriers accessing services such as youth, equity-deserving, and 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals.
Today’s investment builds on the historic announcement the Government of Canada made in February of $198.6 billion over 10 years to improve health care services for Canadians, reduce surgical backlogs, support health workers, and improve integrated mental health and substance use services. We will continue to work with all levels of government, partners, Indigenous communities, stakeholders, people with lived and living experience of addiction, and organizations across the country to improve health outcomes for all Canadians, save lives, and work towards an end to this national public health crisis.
Quotes
“Every day in the Prairies, Northwest Territories and Yukon, and across Canada, family members, friends, colleagues, and neighbors from all walks of life endure the unspeakable loss of losing a loved one to overdose. We are committed to working with community-based organizations in addressing the increasingly toxic illegal drug supply and overdose crisis. Today’s funding will help people in accessing the life-saving substance use resources they need. I thank all the organizations receiving funding for their life-saving work and dedication to reducing stigma.”
The Honourable Carolyn Bennett
Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health
Every day, people in Winnipeg are dying because of the toxic drug supply and a lack of access to harm reduction supports. These deaths are all preventable. Harm reduction supports in Winnipeg have been under-resourced and are badly overstretched. We are happy that the federal government is committing to funding harm reduction – it is a crucial, evidence-based part of addressing the toxic drug crisis, poverty crisis, and homelessness crisis our city is facing.
Kelly Frazer
Executive Director, West Broadway Community Organization
Quick facts
Related products
Associated links
Contacts
Maja Staka
Senior Communications Advisor and Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Carolyn Bennett
Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health
343-552-5568
Media Relations
Health Canada
613-957-2983
[email protected]
Public Inquiries:
613-957-2991
1-866-225-0709
IHT5