Even as this podcast was being edited, Pierre Poilievre and members of the Conservative Party were raving and fearmongering in the House of Commons about efforts being made to save the lives of people using drugs.
On April 30, the Opposition leader needed to be reprimanded and ejected from the House of Commons like a child, and the rest of the Conservative caucus walked out of the chamber in protest.
Speaker Greg Fergus cautioned Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Poilievre during a spat-ridden question period to rephrase their comments to avoid making direct accusations about the character of another MP.
The tumultuous debate, which arguably was more akin to two groups of children sneering derogatory remarks at each other as Poilievre and the Conservatives attacked the Liberals for having allowed British Columbia to allow the decriminalization of hard drugs like heroin and fentanyl in public places. This attack has been ongoing since before the pilot program had a chance to prove itself, and Poilievre has not let up his fight against the facts that have proven harsh penalties against drug use to be ineffective at saving lives.
Trudeau avoided digging into the drug issue, which the Conservatives have raised ad nauseum over the past year, instead confronting Poilievre about videos circulated online last week showing the Conservative leader exiting a trailer belonging to a carbon-tax protester. The exterior of the trailer featured many images, including a symbol belonging to the far-right extremist group Diagolon and the rags popular amongst the uncouth Canadian right-wing malcontents that encourage sexual frolicking with Trudeau.
“Any leader that needs the support of a far-right white nationalist group to fundraise and get closer to power does not deserve elected office,” the Prime Minister said.
Poilievre countered that the Prime Minister’s reply was his “latest distraction” from his own “extremist policies.”
“When will we put an end to this wacko policy by this wacko prime minister?” He asked.
Fergus drew the line and asked Poilievre to withdraw his comments, saying they were unparliamentary.
Poilievre refused but said he would replace the word with “extremist” or “radical.”
Fergus rejected both.
Asked again to replace the word, the opposition leader stuck with using the word radical.
Fergus removed Poilievre from the question period. Much of the Conservative caucus exited simultaneously, and they all eventually left before the question period was over.
Poilievre continued trash-talking on Twitter, claiming he had been “censored” for calling Trudeau’s drug policies “wacko.”
Conservative politicians could have used the incident as a teachable moment to learn the meaning of the cliché “common sense” they overuse in their slogans when Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet, who was pleased by the events, thanked Fergus in French for showing “common sense” in the chamber.
Immigration Minister Marc Miller smoothly dismissed the notion that Poilievre was being silenced by stating, “I think it would be good if he shut his yap once in a while.”
So, as Poilievre and the rest of the opposition continue to throw misinformation and fear-inducing rhetoric at the inadequate drug reform and harm reduction the government is putting in place, more people die.
On this episode, Ruth Fox, Regional Director for Moms Stop the Harm, spoke to me about her experience losing her son, Trevor, who died from accidental drug poisoning in his home.
Trevor was 25 years old and had a full and promising life ahead of him in his community. He was a valued employee in a career he enjoyed and was adored by a supportive family and numerous friends.
Ruth became aware of Moms Stop the Harm shortly after Trevor’s death and has found the community of understanding, compassion and support the organization offers invaluable. Through the work the group does, she learned more about the harms caused by Canada’s failed drug policies and the way people who use drugs are treated.
The discussion on this episode starts with the work Moms Stop the Harm does but goes on to how the toxic drug supply is taking lives across a wide demographic, which includes people who are living full and productive lives. Trevor is an example of this. A singular focus on treatment excludes many people who are at risk, such as occasional users.
“Until we provide an alternative to the toxic street drugs, namely a legal, regulated supply of the drugs people need, the rate of harm and death will continue to rise, and, I believe, sharply,” said Fox.
“Harm reduction puts people who use drugs in the driver’s seat and includes strategies that are non-stigmatizing and that do not dehumanize. Emerging evidence shows that safer supply, one of many harm reduction strategies, saves lives and improves quality of life.”
The music played on this podcast is by Low Dead Space, a band featuring Garth Mullins, the host of the Crackdown Podcast. In my opinion, Crackdown covers the war on drugs far better than I do. It’s a podcast made by drug users, the people with lived experience and the most insight to help affect positive policy change. Nice people use drugs. Intelligent people use drugs.
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Moms Stop the Harm – https://www.momsstoptheharm.com/
Low Dead Space – https://lowdeadspace.bandcamp.com/album/die-in-vancouver-2
Crackdown Podcast – https://www.crackdownpod.com/
Woodstein Media Podcast episodes dealing with the drug poisoning epidemic.
Episode one: Joe Amero talks Harm Reduction
Episode Two: Raymond “Wendego” King on his sobriety and losing loved ones to overdose
Episode Three: Drug User Liberation Front co-founder Eris Nyx discusses the distribution of clean drugs
Garth Mullins talks overdose crisis, safe drug supply, defunding the police, starting drug activist groups, and more
Episode 22: StreetWorks director Talia Storm on harm reduction, supervised consumption, safer supply
Episodes that deal with related issues
Episode Nine: Sam Tecle discusses what the call to Defund the Police means
Episode 29: Leah den Bok on how her Humanizing the Homeless photography has affected her worldview
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