Health committee  Thank you very much for the question. I think you're very much correct. I think Deputy Chief Wilson actually mentioned it. It is an all-encompassing approach. You mentioned things like why individuals aren't using the supervised injection sites. I think the role of a whole-of-community approach that includes health, justice and police is really to do that kind of assessment, not only to understand what you need in your community but what those individuals may want or need at a different time with whatever issue they are dealing with.

Health committee  I'm sorry. I didn't hear the beginning part of the question. Thank you for the question. I think there is a lot of value in having that expert task force reconvened. I think that now that we have had the experience of decriminalization in British Columbia, there are lots of things that the whole country can learn, and we need to learn from it.

Health committee  Thank you for the additional time. I think the only thing I would add is that the CACP special purpose committee on decriminalization has reconvened, and this is one of the issues that will be incorporated. We are taking another look at decriminalization, based on what we've learned in the last few years.

Health committee  Thank you for the question. It has had positive effects. That is what we're seeing with the numbers. There has been a significant decrease in criminalizing individuals for simple possession offences. It also gives police the opportunity to divert those individuals to those pathways of care to get them whatever support or additional resources they require from a community perspective.

Health committee  Thank you. Distinguished members of this committee, I'm pleased to have the opportunity to address you today on this very important issue. It's important to begin by noting that law enforcement agencies across the country acknowledge that the opioid crisis is a public health issue.

Justice committee  It's very much based on the fact we have been in an opioid crisis for the last four to five years. We are seeing a large number of deaths, and enforcement has not effectively addressed the issue. From the opioid crisis, we recognize that these individuals who are dying, who use drugs or have to be resuscitated using naloxone by police, need other opportunities to find the right pathway and the right kind of health care and support services they need.

Justice committee  I do think that would be acceptable. We've used it with regard to drug offences. Similar provisions could be provided for certain firearm offences—not necessarily all, but I think that is a discussion that should happen.

Justice committee  I'll have to ask my colleague to answer that question.

Justice committee  With regard to Bill C-5 and the drug piece, it's very much reflective, so that the aggravating factors that are associated to the mandatory minimum penalties actually align with the CACP's perspective, in that it allows both the police and the courts to focus on the more serious factors when it comes to trafficking, importing, exporting and production.

Justice committee  Good afternoon and thank you for the opportunity to address this committee on behalf of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police. The CACP applauds the government's effort to modernize Canadian legislation to help address the disproportionate representation of indigenous and racialized communities in Canada's justice system.