Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly, Monday 29 April 2024
Question Period focused heavily on the escalating mental health and addictions crisis in Newfoundland and Labrador, with Opposition Members pressing the government on rising overdose deaths (51 in 2023, a 143% increase since 2019), lack of data collection on non-fatal overdoses, inadequate treatment capacity, and the slow progress of an all-party committee. Additional questions addressed drug-related crime, incarceration of individuals with untreated mental health conditions, and public safety concerns in St. John's neighbourhoods. Ministers acknowledged the severity of the crisis and cited budget investments in mobile crisis teams, naloxone distribution, and facility expansions, while attributing delays to recruitment challenges and budget approval timelines.
Question Period
Overdose deaths in 2023 and government response
Asked by T. Wakeham · Answered by A. Furey
The Premier acknowledged the crisis affects every family and stated government is implementing policies to support mental health and addictions, including increased availability of Narcan kits and integrating strategies across departments, but did not provide the specific death toll.
Collection of non-fatal overdose data
Asked by T. Wakeham · Answered by A. Furey
The Premier committed that if non-fatal overdose data is not being collected, the government is happy to change that and will do anything to prevent increased deaths.
Engagement with families seeking addiction treatment information
Asked by T. Wakeham · Answered by T. Osborne
The Minister stated the all-party committee has not concluded its work and there is a plan to meet with community stakeholders and those with lived experience as part of the committee's mandate.
Status of six-bed mental health unit in Labrador
Asked by T. Wakeham · Answered by T. Osborne
The Minister confirmed the unit had human resource challenges and was temporarily closed, but the provincial health authority anticipates reopening it this spring.
Allocation of $15 million mental health budget to Labrador
Asked by T. Wakeham · Answered by T. Osborne
The Minister noted significant increases in mental health spending over five years with much going to Labrador, but did not provide a specific dollar amount for the region from the $15 million allocation.
Timeline for mobile crisis teams in seven communities
Asked by T. Wakeham · Answered by T. Osborne
The Minister expressed hope the seven new mobile crisis response teams will be operational before year-end, pending budget passage, and indicated recruitment has started.
Recruitment status for mobile crisis team positions
Asked by T. Wakeham · Answered by T. Osborne
The Minister stated recruitment is underway and will happen in earnest, contrasting government's focus on increasing positions with the Opposition Leader's record of reducing positions when he was CEO of Lab-Grenfell.
Housing options for individuals in recovery at comfort inn facility
Asked by T. Wakeham · Answered by F. Hutton
The Minister explained that placement at the transitional supportive living facility at 106 Airport Road is determined by the Coordinated Access table of community partners, and it is possible some individuals in recovery will be housed there.
Frequency of all-party committee meetings
Asked by B. Petten · Answered by T. Osborne
The Minister stated the committee has met three times, with additional meetings attempted but cancelled because members could not attend, and noted that committee members requested meetings during House sessions.
Timeline for consulting individuals with lived experience
Asked by B. Petten · Answered by T. Osborne
The Minister reiterated that meetings with individuals with lived experience and stakeholders will occur, and blamed Opposition members for cancelling scheduled meetings, while noting increased naloxone distribution sites as evidence of progress.
Commitment to meaningful all-party committee work
Asked by B. Petten · Answered by T. Osborne
The Minister offered to arrange another committee meeting this week and challenged the Opposition member to attend, while defending the committee's work and accusing Opposition of politicizing a non-partisan process.
Acknowledgment of worsening drug crisis based on RNC data
Asked by H. Conway Ottenheimer · Answered by J. Hogan
The Justice Minister acknowledged the drug problem is getting worse, cited a joint RNC-RCMP task force on the West Coast as a successful response, and praised both police forces for their serious approach to combating drug and gun crimes.
Treating addictions as a health crisis rather than criminal matter
Asked by H. Conway Ottenheimer · Answered by T. Osborne
The Health Minister confirmed it is a health issue and emphasized that health professionals work collaboratively with law enforcement and other agencies, with training in place for responding to mental health crises.
Number of incarcerated individuals with untreated mental health conditions
Asked by H. Conway Ottenheimer · Answered by J. Hogan
The Justice Minister did not have the number but highlighted $15 million budgeted for HMP expansion and Labrador Correctional Centre improvements to provide addiction, trauma-centric, and Indigenous-centric programming for rehabilitation.
Preventing individuals from falling through cracks and committing crimes
Asked by L. Parrott · Answered by J. Hogan
The Justice Minister emphasized efforts to provide proper treatment programs in correctional facilities, noted the transfer of health services from Justice to Health, and expressed support for making facilities more health-intensive rather than punishment-focused.
Response to family whose son was arrested after failing to access mental health services
Asked by L. Parrott · Answered by T. Osborne
The Health Minister acknowledged the need to do better, cited budget investments in mobile crisis units, enhanced addiction centres, and a step-down facility in St. John's, and stated government is building on the Towards Recovery foundation.
Failure of mental health system for individual who tried multiple avenues for help
Asked by L. Parrott · Answered by T. Osborne
The Minister stated he cannot speak to individual cases but emphasized that most mobile crisis units are for rural areas, and cited FACT teams, expanded narcotic addiction sites, alcohol addiction plans, and suicide prevention plans as evidence of action.
Wraparound supports for 14-year-old struggling with addictions
Asked by P. Dinn · Answered by T. Osborne
The Minister explained wraparound supports come from the 54 recommendations and the new all-party committee, but government is not waiting and is acting with budget funding for mobile crisis teams and other services, acknowledging more is needed.
Wait times for teenage son to see psychiatrist
Asked by P. Dinn · Answered by T. Osborne
The Minister acknowledged the importance of psychology and psychiatry access, stated government continues to recruit despite challenges faced nationally and globally due to health professional shortages, and emphasized recruitment efforts are ongoing.
Access to appropriate mental health care in Torngat Mountains district
Asked by L. Evans · Answered by T. Osborne
The Minister stated services in place are helping but not enough, acknowledged significant investment in Labrador but admitted it is not nearly enough, and committed to continuing to build on existing services.
Ensuring psychiatrists and psychologists available in Torngat Mountains
Asked by L. Evans · Answered by T. Osborne
The Minister committed to ensuring services are available but emphasized recruitment challenges for health professionals across Canada and globally, and noted the health authority has a dedicated recruitment office working full-time on hiring.
Proactive steps for safe neighbourhood following Livingstone Street incident
Asked by J. Dinn · Answered by J. Hogan
The Justice Minister described receiving emails before and after the incident, noted RNC planning and response, and stated he has a meeting scheduled with Thrive about establishing a community centre and is engaged with residents on creative solutions.
Tangible supports for people with complex needs in affected neighbourhood
Asked by J. Dinn · Answered by J. Hogan
The Justice Minister reiterated government commitment to the area, cited RNC measures including regular meetings and increased police presence, and mentioned exploring options such as public safety funding available through the City of St. John's.
This is Tabled's summary of the sitting, written from the official record; Hansard is only ever quoted at the link above. Search Newfoundland and Labrador Hansard for the words themselves, or read this sitting in the archive.