Health Committee on June 17th, 2024

[Stephen Ellis, Conservative, Cumberland—Colchester, NS]

Okay, well, whatever.... Sunshine Earth Labs, a Canadian-based biosciences company, announced in March 2023 that it “received an amendment to its Controlled Drug and Substances Dealer's License to legally possess, produce, sell and distribute Opium and Morphine and” heroin on January 12, 2023. It received a similar amendment for the sale of cocaine in November 2022. Is that true?

[Ya'ara Saks, Liberal, York Centre, ON]

I would have to refer to our officials on that, but I will emphasize that any company in this country that has a licence has it for medical use and research purposes.

[Stephen Ellis, Conservative, Cumberland—Colchester, NS]

Minister, that's fine. If you don't know the answer, just please get someone. You know that we have a short time. Just find someone who can answer.

[Ya'ara Saks, Liberal, York Centre, ON]

I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Yes, go ahead, Minister.

[Ya'ara Saks, Liberal, York Centre, ON]

I think the framing of what companies do when they have licences to import controlled substances.... This is important for the record—

[Stephen Ellis, Conservative, Cumberland—Colchester, NS]

Oh, come on....

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

I tend to agree with you, but the time for this exchange is complete. I expect that perhaps one of the other questioners will allow you to come back to that topic.

Go ahead, Dr. Ellis.

[Ya'ara Saks, Liberal, York Centre, ON]

Then I will defer to the experts to answer Dr. Ellis's question.

[Stephen Ellis, Conservative, Cumberland—Colchester, NS]

Thanks very much.

You know, I guess it's.... All we get in this committee from the ministers is non-answers. If there's nobody down there who can answer a question, why do they even agree to come?

[Ya'ara Saks, Liberal, York Centre, ON]

I will defer to one of our health committee officials to answer the specific question on that licence.

[Stephen Ellis, Conservative, Cumberland—Colchester, NS]

I asked you a very specific question. Anybody down there can answer it.

[Eric Costen, Acting Deputy Minister, Department of Health]

I think we would have to get back to the member on his question with respect to the specific company information that he's looking for. We don't have it on hand.

[Stephen Ellis, Conservative, Cumberland—Colchester, NS]

Certainly. Table it with the committee. We'd appreciate that.

Is it also true that the Safe Supply Streaming Company announced on January 30, 2024, that they underwent an official inspection by Health Canada for the acquisition of a dealer's licence, yes or no?

[Ya'ara Saks, Liberal, York Centre, ON]

I defer to officials who met with them.

[Stephen Ellis, Conservative, Cumberland—Colchester, NS]

Minister, are you confirming that your officials have met with this company that has a dealer licence for opium, morphine, heroin and cocaine?

[Ya'ara Saks, Liberal, York Centre, ON]

No, but I will confirm that they will answer your question.

[Stephen Ellis, Conservative, Cumberland—Colchester, NS]

Have they met with this company?

[Eric Costen]

Again, Mr. Chair, I think that with respect to specific meetings with specific companies, we'd be happy to get back to the member with the details, but we don't have them on hand.

[Stephen Ellis, Conservative, Cumberland—Colchester, NS]

It's interesting that the website of Safe Supply Streaming Company talks about a market of $360 billion in legal narcotics, including cocaine.

Minister, it seems interesting that now we have companies in Canada getting licences to, as I said, possess, produce, sell and distribute opium, morphine, heroin and cocaine, all under your Liberal government's idea of legalization. Is that true?

[Ya'ara Saks, Liberal, York Centre, ON]

Mr. Chair, all of the narcotics listed by Dr. Ellis are legal and restricted and are under strict regulations. They're also used for medical purposes in hospitals and in research settings.

[Stephen Ellis, Conservative, Cumberland—Colchester, NS]

That's interesting. What I said specifically, Minister, is that they can legally possess, produce, sell and distribute these drugs. Is that true?

[Ya'ara Saks, Liberal, York Centre, ON]

Clearly, Dr. Ellis isn't interested in the importance of research science and medical treatment use of these highly regulated narcotics.

[Stephen Ellis, Conservative, Cumberland—Colchester, NS]

That's excellent. What you're telling me is that these drugs will never be legal to be used outside of research settings in our country. Is that true?

[Ya'ara Saks, Liberal, York Centre, ON]

That is correct.