Speaking in support of better measures to help individuals with addictions and to prevent deaths from overdoses

March 4, I had the opportunity to speak on a bill dealing with making sure there is regular reporting of death from overdoses from drugs like opioids.  My comments, from Hansard, are below.

 

Bill 217–The Fatality Inquiries Amendment Act
(Overdose Death Reporting)

Hon. Jon Gerrard (River Heights): Madam Speaker, first I want to express my con­dol­ences to the member for Point Douglas (Mrs. Smith) about the loss of her father. It was tragic, and it speaks clearly to the point of this bill. I ap­pre­ciate the passion of the MLA for Point Douglas for getting improved addiction–help and treatment for addictions. It's a passion which I share. We need to much better recog­nize and prevent overdoses and much better treat addictions in Manitoba.

      We need–it is actually astonishing that the gov­ern­ment, elected first in 2016, not being accountable, has worked so hard for almost six years to block account­ability and reporting of essential infor­ma­tion. If you have data, regularly report it monthly. You're able to move and react more quickly. You can adjust and improve. A gov­ern­ment which does not report regularly–monthly, in this case–is not sufficiently interested in improving. You can't fix what you don't measure is a mantra which is often raised. A gov­ern­ment which is not interested in reporting is not interested in fixing.

      There are, and have been for decades, deficiencies in addictions help and care in Manitoba. Our gov­ern­ments have tinkered rather than solved problems. We need to do much better.

      There will be an inquest soon on Lee Earnshaw, who died June 14th, 2021. It is a very sad story of a com­mercial fisherman who was loved by his family, who tried many times to get help, including three times at rapid access clinic. The story has exposed major deficiencies in addictions care in Manitoba.

      In summary, Madam Speaker, we support this legis­lation. It's badly needed, and I thank the MLA for Point Douglas for bringing it forward.