NDP MP Gord Johns pushes for audit of government’s response to toxic drug crisis

OTTAWA – On Tuesday, the parliamentary health committee passed an NDP motion moved by NDP critic for Mental Health and Harm Reduction Gord Johns (Courtenay—Alberni) to recommend the Auditor General conduct an audit of the federal government’s response to the toxic drug crisis.

Between January 2016 and March 2024, 47,162 Canadians have died due to drug poisoning. While the government claims to have committed more than $1 billion since 2017 to address this crisis, opioid-related deaths have risen from an average of eight per day to 21 since national surveillance began.

“Families and communities continue to be devastated by the toxic drug poisoning crisis and it’s time for transparency and accountability on the government’s response. We’ve had numerous audits look at the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, but we’ve yet to have one on a crisis that’s taken thousands of Canadian lives,” said Johns. “Canadians deserve a clear picture on how the government is managing its response to this tragic crisis, including whether it’s delivering supports to Canadians in an equitable way.”

Gord pointed to the latest round of grants under the Substance Use and Addictions program that raises serious concern about geographic disparities in the government’s distribution of funding—First Nations and vulnerable populations are skipped and left behind without services in the communities where they live.

“It’s clear we need to do more to turn the tide on this crisis, and I hope an audit on the response to date will be initiated to help inform the path forward so we can save lives. Canadians depend on it,” added Johns.