“Edmonton police have a new program that stops people from using drugs in public. Officers take them off the street to a centre for medical care and recovery support. This keeps communities safe while helping addicted people get better. I want other cities across Canada to use this model.”

“Mr. Speaker, this scene plays out nationwide: desperate, addicted people using drugs openly in public. It is not fair to our communities, and it is not fair to people struggling with addictions, yet for too long, it has been tolerated, until now. The Edmonton Police Service has pioneered a bold new program. It does not allow open drug use. Instead, police take people who are high on drugs off the street. They bring them to a stabilization centre. There, they get clean clothes, medical care and a chance at recovery. Our communities should not have to put up with open drug use, but we should not turn our backs on people struggling with addictions either. I believe this program could soon spread nationwide. I congratulate Chief Warren Driechel and the Edmonton Police Service for making safer streets and for saving lives, with real recovery.”