Western Standard - UCP Plan to Improve Community Safety and Well-being

00:00:00.000 .

00:00:30.000 .

00:01:00.000 .

00:01:30.000 .

00:02:00.000 .

00:02:30.000 .

00:03:00.000 .

00:03:30.000 .

00:04:00.000 .

00:04:30.000 .

00:05:00.000 .

00:05:30.000 .

00:06:00.000 .

00:06:30.000 .

00:07:00.000 .

00:07:30.000 .

00:08:00.000 .

00:08:30.000 .

00:09:00.000 .

00:09:30.000 .

00:10:00.000 Just waiting for a thumbs up.

00:10:30.000 Hello and welcome, everyone.

00:10:36.720 Before we begin, I'd like to acknowledge that we are here today

00:10:40.920 on traditional Treaty 7 territory, and we are honoured

00:10:44.860 to be joined by First Nations leaders from across Alberta.

00:10:48.380 With us today is Chief Roy Whitney of the Satina Nation,

00:10:52.660 Chief Ory Crowfoot of the Siksika Nation,

00:10:54.920 Councillor Martin Heavyhead of the Kainai Nation,

00:10:58.020 who is also the chairperson of the Blood Tribe Department of Health and Charles Weaselhead,

00:11:03.060 former Kainai Chief and Treaty 7 Grand Chief and Vice Chairperson of the Blood Tribe Department

00:11:09.060 of Health. Thank you all for coming and joining us here to talk about the important issues of mental

00:11:15.140 health and addiction. Also here today is our United Conservative Party leader Danielle Smith

00:11:20.900 and lastly we are joined by several family members and young people who have experienced life

00:11:26.100 and addiction. We will have the privilege of hearing some of their stories shortly.

00:11:31.060 This election is about choosing the Alberta we want moving forward. Albertans have an opportunity

00:11:36.660 to choose to continue on a path of hope, wellness and recovery with the United Conservative Party or

00:11:43.220 to return to the multiple failed policies of the past with the NDP. Right now there are far too

00:11:49.540 many Albertans suffering the consequences of untreated addiction and mental health issues

00:11:54.260 and the death and destruction these challenges bring.

00:11:58.460 And at the same time, because these issues have been left untreated for too long,

00:12:03.580 our communities are suffering from the social and public safety consequences they bring.

00:12:08.700 From our large urban communities in Calgary and Edmonton to our smallest villages and towns,

00:12:15.780 there isn't anywhere that has been left untouched by the chaos of addiction

00:12:21.420 and the impact of untreated mental illness.

00:12:25.380 Our United Conservative Party has a strong vision for the future.

00:12:29.600 A re-elected, united Conservative government will take a fair, firm, and compassionate approach to these issues.

00:12:36.540 Fair to the communities, families, and businesses suffering the consequences of addiction, drug use, and untreated mental illness.

00:12:43.960 firm with the need to focus on public safety

00:12:47.960 and compassionate to those struggling with the challenges

00:12:51.260 who need treatment and support to save their lives and recover.

00:12:56.000 I'd like to invite United Conservative leader Danielle Smith

00:12:59.420 forward now to share the next steps of our plan

00:13:02.320 to improve public safety by addressing the challenges

00:13:05.500 of mental health and addiction.

00:13:11.380 Thank you.

00:13:12.080 I see one of our friends in the media was having trouble with audio.

00:13:14.940 You good?

00:13:15.700 All right.

00:13:22.180 Well, thank you, Nick, for that introduction.

00:13:26.180 Albertans have been blessed that this province has been able to emerge out of the pandemic

00:13:30.720 with the strongest job growth in the country.

00:13:33.180 But the sad reality is that despite the opportunity created by a booming economy,

00:13:38.200 Alberta is also grappling with the effects of untreated mental health issues and the ongoing addiction crisis that jurisdictions are experiencing all over North America.

00:13:50.860 Addiction touches almost everyone.

00:13:53.420 People struggling with addiction are on our streets and no family is being spared.

00:13:58.920 Each and every one is someone's son, daughter, husband, wife, mother, or father.

00:14:05.060 They are our fellow Albertans who are caught in the grips of a deadly and destructive illness that is destroying their potential and endangering their lives.

00:14:15.600 They all deserve the chance to change their lives for the better.

00:14:20.220 Far too often this addiction crisis has led to social disorder and out-of-control violence that has seemed to have gotten worse.

00:14:28.580 It is the number one job of a government to ensure that people are safe when they walk down the street.

00:14:33.200 They shouldn't have to look over their shoulders in their own communities.

00:14:37.060 People have a right not to be randomly grabbed, punched, kicked, or spit upon, or heaven forbid, stabbed.

00:14:44.960 Nobody taking public transit should fear getting thrown onto the tracks.

00:14:49.620 And kids should be able to go to school without being exposed to the secondhand smoke of deadly and dangerous hard drugs.

00:14:56.520 People laying on the streets, a danger to themselves and others who just happen to be walking by.

00:15:02.400 Albertans want and deserve safety

00:15:04.940 and they want members of their communities

00:15:06.900 to be well.

00:15:09.400 Last week I announced the United Conservative Party

00:15:11.860 Safe Streets Action Plan

00:15:13.360 and a number of measures to improve public safety.

00:15:16.180 Part of that is more police.

00:15:17.880 Part of that is preventing the illegal drug

00:15:20.000 and gun trades.

00:15:21.320 Part of that is enabling better tracking

00:15:23.340 of those out on bail.

00:15:25.280 But we also have to ensure that we give people

00:15:27.420 who are caught in the throes of addiction

00:15:29.300 the opportunity to get treatment

00:15:31.780 and support so they can achieve their potential

00:15:35.280 and so what's happening on the streets doesn't continue.

00:15:38.760 When we look at what's happening in our communities

00:15:40.700 with addiction and the crime and social disorder it's causes,

00:15:43.880 it's sad, it's heartbreaking.

00:15:46.300 We need to have an honest conversation

00:15:47.880 about how to help people who suffer from mental illness

00:15:51.180 and addiction, especially when it crosses the line

00:15:54.120 and impacts other people's right to be safe in our province.

00:15:57.800 United Conservatives have a clear plan to address these challenges and we will put the resources in place to deal with it.

00:16:05.900 When the UCP government arrived in office, the publicly funded addiction care system was capable of treating 19,000 people a year.

00:16:16.680 We added 10,000 additional fully funded treatment spaces.

00:16:21.020 The NDP was charging user fees of $40 per day for people to access our publicly funded addiction treatment system.

00:16:30.120 The United Conservative government eliminated that fee.

00:16:33.940 This means that Alberta's addiction treatment system now provides detox treatment and recovery services for up to 29,000 Albertans every year, fully funded and free of charge.

00:16:46.220 While our drive to build a world-class addiction care system is recognized around the world,

00:16:51.320 it's being called the Alberta model.

00:16:53.160 We're nowhere near done.

00:16:54.780 We must assertively drive forward with these plans.

00:16:58.480 And that's why a re-elected United Conservative government will build over 700 new publicly funded

00:17:04.380 addiction treatment beds across Alberta with 11 new treatment centers.

00:17:08.640 We call these centers recovery communities with free admission to any Albertan who needs it.

00:17:14.140 The first of these recovery communities

00:17:16.800 opens this week in Red Deer

00:17:19.620 with one opening in Lethbridge this summer

00:17:22.240 with more to come in communities

00:17:24.320 like Calgary, Edmonton and Grand Prairie.

00:17:26.820 Too many

00:17:37.660 First Nations governments are struggling

00:17:39.600 with addiction crisis as well.

00:17:41.840 Too many of our First Nations friends are suffering and I will not stand idly by while the federal government does little to help.

00:17:48.580 I want to be a strong advocate and you have my commitment that we will be there for each other and we will walk this road together.

00:17:55.800 We are also proud that a re-elected United Conservative government will build four of these recovery communities in partnership with First Nations, including the Kainai Nation, the Enoch Cree Nation, the Siksika Nation, and the Soutina Nation.

00:18:11.040 These partnerships are an essential step forward in our shared journey of reconciliation.

00:18:18.020 We are counting on you to show us the way in using trauma-informed and land-based healing.

00:18:24.340 Together we can be an example of real healing and reconciliation for all nations in all of Canada to witness.

00:18:31.360 First Nations governments are struggling as I mentioned as well.

00:18:33.960 I want to thank Chief Crowfoot,

00:18:36.120 Chief Thomas, former Treaty 7 Grand

00:18:38.760 Chief, Weaselhead and Councillor

00:18:40.760 Heavyhand for your partnership and

00:18:42.460 leadership.

00:18:43.740 Too many of your members are

00:18:45.580 suffering.

00:18:46.700 And I will not stand idly by

00:18:49.080 while the federal government does

00:18:50.580 little to help.

00:18:51.880 Thank you very much.

00:19:03.960 More must also be done for mental health and that's why a re-elected united conservative government will address the lack of inpatient support for mental illness in Alberta by building five new 75 bed mental wellness centres that will provide a total of 375 new inpatient mental health beds.

00:19:28.080 Like recovery communities for addiction,

00:19:30.280 mental wellness centres will provide

00:19:32.920 long-term treatment programs that address

00:19:34.960 mental illness and provide mental health

00:19:37.160 support for those pursuing recovery from

00:19:39.160 mental health challenges.

00:19:40.600 Because United Conservatives know

00:19:42.160 the importance of providing supports

00:19:43.700 for those struggling with both their

00:19:45.440 mental health and their addiction.

00:19:47.100 It's why we have increased the funding

00:19:49.040 and priority of both over the past four

00:19:51.240 years and especially this last year.

00:19:53.140 The UCP has created many opportunities

00:19:55.540 for those who are unwell to seek voluntary

00:19:58.080 And voluntary treatment will always remain our top priority.

00:20:01.120 On the other hand, when people commit crimes,

00:20:04.120 they should be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.

00:20:07.120 Having an illness does not absolve anyone of their criminal responsibility.

00:20:11.100 But there are people who are suffering.

00:20:13.100 People who are an imminent danger to themselves and others.

00:20:16.100 Who need a more assertive intervention to ensure they get better,

00:20:20.100 to save their life and to keep our communities safe.

00:20:28.080 I just need to pause a moment.

00:20:58.080 Thank you.

00:21:28.080 Thank you so much for joining us today.

00:21:50.100 A re-elected United Conservative government

00:21:52.100 will develop and pass the compassionate

00:21:54.100 intervention act to ensure those gripped

00:21:56.080 addiction, get healthy and have the opportunity to have a new life.

00:22:00.860 The act would allow for a family member, doctor, psychologist or police officer

00:22:04.720 to make a petition to a specially appointed non-criminal judge to issue a treatment order.

00:22:10.280 The court would be able to divert an addict who is in imminent danger to themselves or

00:22:14.480 others to treatment instead of jail. This step would be a last resort in order to save lives

00:22:19.700 and to prevent the overdose deaths, assaults and attacks happening in Alberta as a result of drug use.

00:22:25.060 If someone is an imminent danger to themselves or others, we will do whatever we can to save their life and help them get better.

00:22:32.680 And that begins with getting them out of harm's way.

00:22:35.680 We need to ensure Albertans don't have to worry about random acts of violence when they're walking down the street or taking transit.

00:22:42.140 This is about saving lives and keeping our communities safe.

00:22:46.180 The Compassionate Intervention Act will allow us to save the lives of addicts who are at risk of dying from an overdose

00:22:52.140 and to protect those who are at risk of being randomly attacked in our communities.

00:22:56.820 This is actual compassion.

00:22:58.640 It's not looking the other way and hoping for the best.

00:23:01.840 Rather, it is, and it's not about hiding the issue.

00:23:04.520 Rather, it's addressing the challenges and confronting the problem head-on.

00:23:08.640 Our United Conservative Party has a bold vision and plan to address the mental health and addiction

00:23:13.220 challenges that we face.

00:23:15.920 We stand for safe, effective, and accessible treatment for all.

00:23:19.520 We stand for helping those who are struggling to achieve recovery.

00:23:23.160 We stand for achieving life-saving services on demand when they are needed.

00:23:26.880 We stand for partnerships with First Nations and walking this journey together.

00:23:30.480 We stand for a parent's right to save the life of their child.

00:23:33.440 We stand for safe streets and accountability.

00:23:35.840 We stand for safe and drug-free transit.

00:23:38.120 And we stand for a functioning justice system.

00:23:42.020 Now, the NDP has a plan also.

00:23:45.120 But they don't want to talk about their plan during this election.

00:23:48.660 They don't want to talk about their plan to distribute and supply drugs to addicts, just like in Vancouver, at taxpayer expense.

00:23:58.400 They don't want to talk about their plan to put supervised consumption sites in communities all around Alberta.

00:24:03.740 They don't want to talk about their time in government when they charge people $40 per day user fees to access care.

00:24:11.280 They don't want to talk about their candidates wanting to defund the police.

00:24:14.700 They don't want to talk about decriminalizing

00:24:17.240 all hard drugs like we're seeing in British Columbia.

00:24:20.580 That's why they are on the record

00:24:22.780 for supporting and that's what they will do.

00:24:26.580 They do not want to talk about it right now.

00:24:28.240 So I challenge all of you to ask them.

00:24:31.520 The answer to addiction and public safety

00:24:33.660 is not more drugs or ignorance

00:24:35.920 or looking the other way and hoping for the best.

00:24:37.960 It's stepping forward with compassion,

00:24:40.220 intervention, treatment and recovery

00:24:43.120 The choice couldn't be clearer.

00:24:45.160 The United Conservative Party believes people

00:24:47.160 can change.

00:24:49.160 We believe some people just need an opportunity

00:24:51.160 and a hand up to have a new life.

00:24:53.160 Some people need a change to turn their lives

00:24:55.140 around.

00:24:56.140 We believe Albertans should be safe on their

00:24:58.140 streets, in their communities, in their

00:25:00.140 homes and when riding transit.

00:25:02.140 The United Conservative Party has a plan for

00:25:05.140 mental health and addictions and public

00:25:07.140 safety that is fair, firm and compassionate.

00:25:10.140 We will focus on prevention, in-person

00:25:13.120 treatment and recovery, and will do whatever it takes to keep Albertans safe.

00:25:19.120 Thank you.

00:25:20.120 I'd now like to ask if any of our chiefs would like to say a word.

00:25:24.120 Chief Cooper.

00:25:30.120 I'd like to thank the Premier for her words.

00:25:36.120 I've met the Premier and I've worked with the Premier, and I will say they have a good action plan.

00:25:43.080 You know, we're working with the province of Alberta to make Sixi Gai safe.

00:25:48.880 This is not an indigenous issue.

00:25:51.160 It's not a Sixi Gai issue. 0.52

00:25:53.320 Looking on the stage, this is an Alberta worldwide pandemic.

00:25:57.840 And, you know, every day we have people from Sixi Gai and other First Nations that are passing away.

00:26:05.440 People from Calgary, Red Deer, every city in Alberta are passing away every day.

00:26:10.180 so we cannot idly sit by as the premier mentioned and just hope this goes away we have to meet this

00:26:18.580 head on and we know we're in we're in collaboration as we speak now of um trying to develop

00:26:24.420 partnerships where we can work together not just for the benefit of 60 guy but the benefit of all

00:26:29.140 alberta so i just wanted to say thank you premier for uh you and your team and the work you've done

00:26:35.220 to help make Alberta a safer place.

00:26:38.860 So thank you.

00:26:46.200 Premier, I'd like to thank you for your forward thinking

00:26:50.800 that your government is talking about here today.

00:26:54.040 We all struggle in our own communities,

00:26:56.660 no matter where we're from in Alberta,

00:26:58.960 with mental health and with addictions.

00:27:01.820 And now is the time that this government

00:27:03.680 has the foresight in leading other provinces

00:27:07.520 in Canada, other governments in North America

00:27:11.880 and demonstrating that they really truly want

00:27:15.520 to be engaged in supporting and helping the parents,

00:27:20.140 the siblings of people who have addictions,

00:27:22.540 as well as ensuring that it's a safe place for us all to live.

00:27:27.600 So with that, Premier, and your government,

00:27:30.640 I truly appreciate your announcement here today

00:27:34.480 and thank you very much.

00:27:38.840 Thanks, Chief Whitney.

00:27:40.280 I don't know, Chief Weaselhead, if you wanted to add now

00:27:42.200 or I might call on you a little bit later.

00:27:49.180 Martin Heavyhead here for Chief Roy Fox

00:27:52.280 of the Blood Reserve.

00:27:54.860 So on behalf of Chief Roy Fox,

00:27:59.800 the Blood Reserve, the Blood Tribe Department of Health.

00:28:03.940 I want to say that this is, I think this is the third time

00:28:08.220 we've declared a state of local emergency in regard to drugs.

00:28:15.280 Back in 2018, we declared a state of local emergency.

00:28:21.160 again in 2020 and again in 2023 and it's an ongoing problem that had been put onto the

00:28:36.000 back burner because of the pandemic, the COVID pandemic. But now we have to deal with it again

00:28:44.860 and we're trying to deal with it as best as we can.

00:28:49.440 The government of Alberta had come to us some time ago

00:28:54.300 and we've been working with them for quite a while now.

00:28:58.620 And we have a detox centre that's doing well.

00:29:03.120 Some numbers are in the last six months,

00:29:05.340 I think we had 186 people come in

00:29:08.260 and about 100 of those people have gone out

00:29:11.700 and they've passed the detox requirements.

00:29:19.360 Some of them are on to other drugs like suboxone.

00:29:25.980 And something is being done.

00:29:28.040 You know, there's always hope.

00:29:30.540 And I think we're fully behind the recovery method

00:29:34.500 rather than the harm reduction thing.

00:29:40.220 and so we're doing our best.

00:29:43.880 We're trying to get as much funding as possible

00:29:47.700 to continue the fight against these drugs.

00:29:51.240 It's a really big problem for us,

00:29:55.100 but we're trying to meet it head on.

00:29:56.960 Thank you very much.

00:30:10.220 I want to acknowledge our premier.

00:30:13.260 We appreciate the support that she has given

00:30:17.260 to our community, the Kainai community,

00:30:20.260 and invest in a recovery community for us.

00:30:24.240 I think what the chiefs have said earlier,

00:30:28.240 we cannot wait any further at this moment.

00:30:31.240 With the tribe, the design phase is completed

00:30:35.240 for us.

00:30:37.220 is completed for us, our construction manager has been appointed. And so we are moving forward

00:30:45.740 as quickly as we can. As we speak, our young people and our people that are inflicted with

00:30:52.920 addictions are dying left and right. Being one of the largest communities in Canada, we have a large

00:31:01.100 number of our young people

00:31:02.880 that are in

00:31:05.060 addiction and that need to help

00:31:07.360 and support of our

00:31:09.360 people, our community.

00:31:11.340 I really want to thank

00:31:12.660 the government of today

00:31:14.800 and the premier for helping

00:31:17.320 us come together

00:31:20.020 with a plan that's going to work

00:31:22.320 for our people.

00:31:23.640 Again, thank you very much for the support

00:31:25.980 that's been awarded to us

00:31:28.020 and also to the First Nations

00:31:29.960 communities in treaties 6, 7, and 8.

00:31:33.260 Thank you.

00:31:37.400 All right.

00:31:38.080 We're now going to hear some remarks from parents

00:31:40.980 as well as those who are in recovery.

00:31:44.080 Let's go to Sierra Brady first.

00:31:49.480 Good morning, everyone.

00:31:51.360 I am the mom of someone who struggles with addiction.

00:31:55.120 My son is alive today due to assertive intervention

00:31:57.960 when he could no longer make decisions to keep himself safe.

00:32:02.300 By the age of 17, he had been admitted to mental health boards 14 times,

00:32:08.240 stayed at six group homes and a court-ordered stay at the safe house.

00:32:12.700 He had overdosed multiple times as addiction took control of his and our lives.

00:32:18.940 In the two weeks prior to attending treatment,

00:32:22.680 our hearts said goodbye to him twice as he was resuscitated and placed on life support.

00:32:28.840 the pain was unbearable his addiction made him a danger to himself

00:32:35.640 despite everyone's best efforts his struggles were beyond treatment and he was sicker than

00:32:41.080 the system could handle after seven terrifying years of consuming worry for us his loving family

00:32:48.520 not knowing daily if he was alive or dead intervention was our only option it is hard

00:32:54.760 to understand the anguish of this journey until you love somebody who struggles with addiction

00:33:00.760 it took its toll on all of our family it should never have come to this

00:33:07.000 ours is just one of many stories that these families behind me have suffered through

00:33:12.760 for all of us and many more our community many more in our community intervention was the solution

00:33:20.120 we are the lucky ones with access to assertive intervention and the carer provided

00:33:26.680 it gave our family hope in a way that we never thought possible on the desperate days of this

00:33:32.120 journey when we did not know our next steps it has without question saved our son it has provided a

00:33:40.360 space where it was safe for him to be vulnerable with his pain and in turn to recover from his

00:33:46.680 addiction with dignity something i believe everyone deserves today we proudly watch him

00:33:53.720 become the healthiest version of himself living in recovery intervening with the right treatment

00:34:00.520 not only saved him it saved our family because we never would have recovered from losing him

00:34:06.920 i share our story today for anyone that has been touched by addiction i want you to know that there

00:34:13.320 can be a solution from the dark days of watching loved ones suffer the success rate of recovery

00:34:19.800 based on compassion is astounding it has given our families opportunities that we never thought

00:34:25.800 were possible and we are truly grateful today i stand here with the village because our children

00:34:33.000 deserve the power of our unity our backgrounds and stories may be different but each of our

00:34:39.480 loved ones is equally deserving of a full life family should not have to suffer like this and

00:34:45.800 feel ashamed while already dealing with heartbreak it's time for loved ones to have a say and for

00:34:52.440 those struggling to be given the dignity to find their true selves again it's time to restore our

00:34:58.040 our communities to sanity.

00:35:00.460 It's time for change.

00:35:01.900 Thank you.

00:35:08.780 We'll now hear from Desiree Pressing.

00:35:19.560 I'm here today to share my family's story also.

00:35:23.380 It's a story of hope, resilience,

00:35:25.340 and the transformative power of intervention

00:35:28.140 and long-term drug treatment.

00:35:30.480 It is a story that hits close to home.

00:35:32.760 It involves my two daughters, one of which is here today.

00:35:37.400 They've triumphed over addiction

00:35:38.820 and emerged as shining examples of courage and strength.

00:35:42.360 Addiction is a merciless adversary,

00:35:44.360 and it doesn't discriminate.

00:35:45.600 It can happen to anyone.

00:35:47.520 And it tears apart families and it shatters dreams.

00:35:50.840 When my daughters fell into the grip of addiction,

00:35:53.660 our lives were consumed by fear and despair.

00:35:56.540 I witnessed the devastating effects it had

00:35:58.580 on their physical and mental health,

00:36:00.600 their relationships, their dreams for their future.

00:36:03.340 I felt absolutely terrified and lost

00:36:05.380 while navigating the mental health system.

00:36:08.060 The Band-Aid short-term quick fix solutions

00:36:11.500 only aggravated the situation.

00:36:13.920 My daughters were literally dying in front of my eyes.

00:36:18.100 No matter how dark it got,

00:36:20.660 including a suicide attempt and multiple overdoses,

00:36:24.260 my girls were still convinced 1.00

00:36:26.260 that they were in control of their drug use 1.00

00:36:28.140 and simply weren't ready to stop yet.

00:36:30.560 The disease of addiction had completely hijacked their minds.

00:36:34.640 I felt absolutely desperate for a solution

00:36:36.620 and I knew that I had to intervene.

00:36:39.220 Every morning that I opened their bedroom doors,

00:36:42.560 I was braced for the very real possibility

00:36:44.720 that they might have overdosed.

00:36:47.280 I know that my daughters would not be alive today

00:36:49.900 if it wasn't for a judge granting me an emergency order

00:36:53.340 to place my child into treatment.

00:36:57.700 Today, I'm proud to say that my daughters have emerged

00:37:01.520 from the depths of addiction as resilient warriors.

00:37:04.860 They are living proof that intervention

00:37:06.920 and long-term drug treatment can lead

00:37:08.640 to incredible personal growth and lasting recovery.

00:37:12.840 They spend much of their time giving back to their community

00:37:15.640 and Amelie now works as an addiction counselor

00:37:18.460 youth in treatment their journey has taught us invaluable lessons it has shown us the importance

00:37:23.740 of understanding acceptance and unwavering support in the face of addiction it has reminded us that

00:37:29.340 recovery is not an individual effort but a collective endeavor that requires love and

00:37:34.380 dedication and a community willing to step into someone's addiction as i look at my daughters now

00:37:40.940 i see two strong vibrant young women who have reclaimed their lives their journey continues as

00:37:46.860 they embrace each new day with gratitude purpose and a profound appreciation for the second chance

00:37:52.060 that they have been given we've all come to know that addiction is not a moral failure it is an

00:37:58.140 illness and my girls just need it to be helped long enough to remember who they really were again

00:38:05.500 i'd like i'd like to acknowledge that we are sharing the stage with these chiefs and elders

00:38:11.260 I recognize your long-standing history with what it means to bring the suffering members of your

00:38:18.720 community into a circle of wellness so that they can remember who they are again because of your

00:38:26.180 compassion. It's not about a quick fix. It's about the long game and it's the courageous and fiercely

00:38:32.920 loving thing to do. Thank you for going first and helping us to remember the ancient wisdom of your

00:38:38.480 I am not so special, and our windfall of being granted an order for long-term treatment shouldn't be either.

00:38:50.260 Every parent out there deserves to have the ability to save their child's life, no matter what it takes.

00:39:08.480 If anyone has some Kleenex, I think there's a few of us up here who might need it.

00:39:30.340 Now let's talk to Abbey Plessa.

00:39:38.480 Good morning everyone. My name is Abby and I'm an addict living in recovery. I stand before you

00:39:50.460 today as a living testament to the power and the importance of a family's intervention.

00:39:55.920 My family saved my life and I am forever grateful for it. Before my parents intervened, I was

00:40:02.780 struggling with addiction for a total of six years. It had started with the use of marijuana

00:40:07.440 at 12 years old and quickly progressed to using methamphetamines and opioids at the age of 14.

00:40:13.500 I was lost, alone, and hopeless. I experienced multiple overdoses, suicide attempts, trips to

00:40:20.980 the police station, and psych ward. These visits were short and provided only a temporary solution.

00:40:28.260 I had hit rock bottom and I didn't know how to get back up. I truly believed I wasn't going to

00:40:34.600 make it past 16 years of age. I hated anyone or anything that stood between myself and my drug use

00:40:40.600 and I was a danger to myself and others living in a world of darkness without a way out.

00:40:46.400 Then something miraculous happened. At the age of 16 my family or my family finally experienced

00:40:52.980 enough pain and had the courage to step into my addiction and get a court order that placed me

00:40:57.760 into detox before entering a long-term treatment program. My parents were scared for my life and

00:41:03.480 had no other choice. I made multiple stops in the road before this, and this final intervention

00:41:09.220 saved my life. It allowed them to show me the love and support I needed to overcome my addiction

00:41:14.740 and gave both them and myself the tools and the support to recover. I'm proud to say that I'm now

00:41:22.020 19 years old with three years of sobriety, attending school and working towards a degree in nursing.

00:41:28.260 I have a great relationship with my family and friends, and I can now live life on life's terms

00:41:33.240 without the use of drugs and alcohol without them making the decision to intervene i believe i would

00:41:39.000 be dead i'm here today sharing a bit of my story because i know that there's plenty of people out

00:41:44.440 there that are struggling hopeless praying for a solution i am living hope and i am so grateful

00:41:51.080 for the opportunity that was given to me because of their actions and because of the hope that

00:41:56.360 others had for me i am here today standing before you forever grateful and alive thank you

00:42:07.080 and we'll now hear from amelie pressi

00:42:17.080 good morning everyone my name is amelie and i have the disease of addiction

00:42:22.280 i'm here today to be an example of the impact that co-ordered intervention can

00:42:25.880 have on a life growing up my home life was incredibly chaotic to escape it at the age of

00:42:32.440 12 i started using drugs i quickly became addicted my grades began slipping and i found myself in

00:42:38.280 legal trouble the addiction had taken over my life to the point where i was on the brink of death

00:42:43.560 by the time i was 15 i was overdosing every other week and had no regard for my own life

00:42:50.440 thankfully my mother intervened and got a court order for me to be sent to detox

00:42:54.840 i then went into a treatment program focused on abstinence which ultimately saved my life

00:43:00.760 without this intervention i'm certain that i would be dead

00:43:04.600 today i am full of gratitude that my family was able to step in the way of my disease

00:43:09.160 i live an incredibly rewarding life that would not be possible without this court-ordered

00:43:13.080 And we will now hear finally, this will be

00:43:15.720 the last speaker, from Earl Thieson.

00:43:19.980 If you want a quick window into recovery,

00:43:22.560 all you have to do is look behind me.

00:43:25.100 I'm pleased to be here today to support

00:43:27.920 this announcement by the UCP

00:43:29.700 to take serious steps to address

00:43:31.340 mental health and addiction.

00:43:32.760 I'm pleased to be here today

00:43:34.440 to support this announcement by the

00:43:35.940 UCP to take serious steps

00:43:37.440 to address mental health and addiction.

00:43:39.100 I'm pleased to be here today

00:43:40.440 to support this announcement

00:43:41.600 to address mental health and addiction.

00:43:44.160 I've been in long-term recovery for 15 years

00:43:47.100 after I spent seven years homeless on the streets

00:43:49.780 of Calgary and 20 in addiction.

00:43:52.380 I would not be here today if it were not for

00:43:55.040 the intervention and support of a provincial

00:43:56.980 court judge.

00:43:58.560 For me this compassionate intervention act

00:44:00.860 means hope.

00:44:02.220 Hope for families and communities

00:44:04.060 bearing the impact of addiction.

00:44:07.420 My wife and I are now raising my sister-in-law's

00:44:09.900 after she lost her life to a fatal

00:44:11.940 overdose.

00:44:12.940 I'm a dad again,

00:44:14.940 in a way nobody should expect to be.

00:44:16.940 She left behind a one-year-old baby

00:44:18.940 and a teenage son.

00:44:19.940 We knew she was in trouble with 0.57

00:44:21.920 addiction and we had no way to

00:44:23.920 intervene.

00:44:24.920 If this act had been in place then,

00:44:26.920 she may still be alive today.

00:44:28.920 I spoke with my mother-in-law and I

00:44:30.920 asked her if I could speak about her

00:44:32.920 daughter just a few days ago.

00:44:34.920 I spoke with my mother-in-law and I

00:44:37.920 asked her if I could speak about her

00:44:39.900 She said, please do.

00:44:42.560 We agreed that if sharing our family story

00:44:45.000 helps one person choose to get their loved one

00:44:47.500 help and save a life, then it is worth the

00:44:49.880 pain our family has suffered.

00:44:52.340 Many people are so entrenched in their

00:44:54.440 addiction that they cannot consciously

00:44:56.320 decide to get help.

00:44:57.960 This act will provide a voice for the

00:45:00.160 families that their loved ones cannot use.

00:45:02.960 I am also thrilled that a re-elected

00:45:05.120 United Conservative government will build

00:45:07.300 new recovery communities in direct

00:45:09.000 direct partnership with Indigenous nations.

00:45:11.760 As an Indigenous person, I have been advocating

00:45:14.340 for over a decade for more Indigenous-led

00:45:16.740 treatment initiatives to provide healing and

00:45:18.580 recovery for Indigenous people in Alberta.

00:45:21.240 Overseeing Canada's largest peer and

00:45:23.340 culturally supported recovery housing

00:45:25.020 program and building Indigenous-led

00:45:27.060 recovery communities will help support the

00:45:28.980 full recovery-oriented system of care for

00:45:31.280 our people.

00:45:32.860 These initiatives will save lives.

00:45:35.400 And I am proud to be here to support them as

00:45:37.860 As a person in recovery and as a person who has lost far too many friends and family to the illness of addiction.

00:45:44.540 Thank you.

00:45:48.980 All right, I'll now pass it over to Becca and we'll do a question and answer.

00:45:52.700 Thanks, everybody.

00:45:53.260 Before we get to the Q&A, if anybody needs a rest and you have to exit the stage, feel free to do that.

00:45:59.280 I will ask the speakers to stick around because there might be some questions that go to you.

00:46:04.000 We'll head to Q&A.

00:46:05.020 We'll start with the floor.

00:46:05.900 One question.

00:46:06.600 and anybody that spoke today is available for questions.

00:46:10.560 Go ahead.

00:46:11.860 Sean Polzler, Western Standard.

00:46:13.740 Any thoughts on the constitutionality of the Compassionate Intervention Act

00:46:18.180 and alternatively the constitutionality of legalizing drugs in Lower East Hastings?

00:46:24.040 Well, I would tell you that we already have a pathway to get treatment orders.

00:46:30.280 As you can see, it applies to young people

00:46:33.580 and we would allow for this to apply to more.

00:46:36.980 We want to make sure that we have an appropriate process

00:46:39.860 so that it goes before a court

00:46:43.080 and has to have a very high bar

00:46:44.980 that if a person is causing harm to themselves or others

00:46:48.960 rather than go to jail, they'll go into a treatment path.

00:46:52.780 We think that this is exactly what we need to do

00:46:56.380 to protect the life, liberty and security of people

00:46:59.540 which is a charter value.

00:47:00.960 When it comes to what they call safe supply, I would just point you to a recent article by Adam Zeebo in the National Post where he has documented very clearly what the impact is of giving powerful opioids in Vancouver.

00:47:20.620 In Vancouver, the drug they're handing out, it's called hydromorphone, it's five times more powerful than heroin.

00:47:28.960 Addicts are crushing it up and injecting it into their arms.

00:47:32.380 We're getting major infections and some of them are dying.

00:47:34.960 And that is the alternative pathway.

00:47:37.120 Rachel Notley has gone on the record saying she supports safe supply.

00:47:40.480 That's what it means.

00:47:41.660 It means using taxpayer dollars to give hard drugs to individuals.

00:47:46.640 They will either inject them and hurt themselves

00:47:48.520 or they'll go out and sell them so that they can get fentanyl.

00:47:51.680 It increases the supply of unsafe, harmful, destructive,

00:47:56.580 And that's the choice people have to make.

00:47:58.620 Let's not sugarcoat it.

00:48:00.620 We either go down a pathway where we continue

00:48:02.620 the approach we've taken with the Alberta model

00:48:04.620 which is getting international attention

00:48:06.620 and it doesn't give up on people.

00:48:08.600 It gets people into recovery and on that pathway.

00:48:10.600 Or we go the dark path of what we're seeing

00:48:12.600 not only in Vancouver on the east side

00:48:14.600 but all down the west coast.

00:48:16.600 I know a choice I would make.

00:48:18.600 We can't go to that.

00:48:19.600 We've got to go forward.

00:48:20.600 Next question, please.

00:48:22.600 Adam Sose for rebel news.

00:48:24.600 First of all, thanks all of you for your

00:48:26.580 There are people whether in federal or

00:48:28.620 provincial politics who are happy to leave

00:48:30.620 these people within the throes of addiction

00:48:32.620 and they're no doubt going to categorize

00:48:34.620 what you're doing as sort of an attack on

00:48:36.620 personal freedoms or is not compassionate.

00:48:38.600 How do you respond to those allegations?

00:48:40.600 Just hearing the young girls here and their

00:48:43.600 parents talking about in our First Nations

00:48:45.600 leadership, when people lose individual

00:48:47.600 agency and they're not able to make decisions

00:48:50.600 in their own way, when people lose individual

00:48:52.600 agency and they're not able to make decisions

00:48:54.580 and they're not able to make decisions in their own interests

00:48:57.260 and they're only looking at the next fix

00:48:59.860 and they don't care whether they live or die,

00:49:02.120 we've got to restore individual agency.

00:49:04.380 We've got to restore the ability for them

00:49:06.440 to be able to make decisions in their own interests

00:49:08.760 to preserve their life.

00:49:10.180 That's what this is about.

00:49:11.620 And so I feel very confident that what we would be doing

00:49:14.720 would be fully compliant with the Charter of Rights and Freedoms

00:49:17.440 for life, liberty, and security of the person.

00:49:21.940 Sir.

00:49:24.580 So I'm Mike Ellis. I worked the streets for over a decade.

00:49:29.220 I look at the faces of some of these parents.

00:49:32.260 I was that police officer that attended their homes where they were crying, saying they didn't know what to do.

00:49:40.040 I've had mothers cry in my arms because they didn't know what to do with their children.

00:49:44.480 Are we going to condemn a 12-year-old to a life of palliative care?

00:49:50.560 And by giving them drugs, giving them a safe place to use these drugs, we have hope.

00:49:59.100 This is what this offers, hope.

00:50:01.360 Hope to these young kids, the kids that were back here.

00:50:04.620 Hope to these parents so that those children will have something more than the continual and perpetual state of abuse.

00:50:15.440 That's not a life, to be given drugs and then given a safe place to use them

00:50:21.300 and then given a naloxone kit and then sent on their way and then use the drugs again.

00:50:28.360 That's what they're doing in east side of Vancouver.

00:50:30.100 I know that.

00:50:30.560 I've been out there.

00:50:31.900 And let's talk about this.

00:50:33.400 These drugs are being diverted.

00:50:35.680 We never talked about that.

00:50:36.660 They're being diverted.

00:50:38.200 And yes, they're being diverted too.

00:50:39.860 The junior highs, the high schools, the post-secondaries.

00:50:44.920 The only people benefiting from this are the drug dealers.

00:50:49.160 The only people being disadvantaged by this is the rest of society and, quite frankly, the law enforcement community.

00:50:59.620 Thank you. Next question.

00:51:01.980 Rachel Emanuel with True North.

00:51:03.380 I wanted to actually ask one of the people in recovery a question, maybe Abby, if you wouldn't mind.

00:51:09.820 Thank you for sharing your testimony today.

00:51:11.300 uh premier smith has just spoken extensively about the constitutionality of this i'm wondering what

00:51:16.500 your response to be would be to someone who says that to force an addict into treatment is inhumane

00:51:25.860 yeah um i i think for myself um i i thought going into treatment not under obviously my own well

00:51:34.740 was inhumane um but to be quite frank and honest the only reason i thought that was

00:51:40.260 because i wanted to continue doing what i was doing um which was using drugs right i like i

00:51:45.780 said i didn't want anyone or anything to get in the way of me and my drug use and to be honest i

00:51:50.900 don't think any addict would want that right um because i mean in an addiction it's a disease

00:51:58.260 it's a brain disease um it's a it's a mental health mental health issue and i think for myself

00:52:05.940 and speaking for um some other people here in recovery i needed that intervention regardless

00:52:11.940 of in the moment if i thought it was inhumane or not because i know um afterwards after leaving

00:52:18.740 treatment after being recovered and becoming sane again um i was extremely grateful and i know

00:52:25.940 there's a lot of other people that were extremely grateful to be given that opportunity rather than

00:52:30.820 and saying they don't want the help

00:52:32.460 so we're not going to help them.

00:52:35.360 I don't think any addict necessarily

00:52:38.200 wants the help and that's even more

00:52:40.700 reason why we need to give it to them.

00:52:43.000 Thank you.

00:52:44.200 Next question.

00:52:45.900 Given that we are talking

00:52:48.880 about involuntary custody, will there

00:52:50.480 be a mechanism in the act for either

00:52:52.500 individuals or lawyers to challenge

00:52:54.380 the involuntary custody before they

00:52:56.020 are placed into a program?

00:52:57.680 Let's talk about the

00:52:59.920 the treatment order, the approach that we want to take would be that we would go before

00:53:04.500 a judge. So it would be a judicial order. There would, when you go before, sorry, it's

00:53:10.040 a non-criminal judge that would issue the treatment order and the court would have a choice

00:53:15.520 to be able to divert an addict who's an imminent danger to themselves or others to treatment

00:53:19.440 instead of jail. I think when a person gets to this point, there really is only a few

00:53:25.920 There is jail, there is treatment, and there is

00:53:29.920 continued addiction and possibly death.

00:53:32.920 I would say that because we are having this go

00:53:35.920 through an appropriate process, there is a

00:53:38.940 process that has already been established.

00:53:41.940 What I heard from the parents is why should they

00:53:44.940 be the few lucky ones that managed to get this?

00:53:47.940 Why shouldn't we, for all those who are facing a

00:53:50.940 situation where there are harm to themselves or

00:53:52.940 others, why wouldn't we have this option for

00:53:55.920 order to be issued by a court in all cases and that's what we'd be doing.

00:53:58.640 Tyson Fedora with CTV and thank you everyone for sharing your stories today.

00:54:04.480 Very moving. Leader Smith, a little off topic but a bit on topic as well.

00:54:08.880 As we know the Prime Minister is in the province today in Edmonton visiting with the military

00:54:12.960 in regards to the wildfire situation. I just wanted to know if you've had any direct

00:54:17.280 conversations with him, if you were maybe invited to meet with him while he's here in the province

00:54:21.920 speaking about the wildfires and potentially even speaking about this with him as well and see what

00:54:26.980 the federal government could potentially do. I have had a conversation with the prime minister

00:54:31.860 was a lengthy one at the beginning of the wildfire crisis and he offered we went through the letter

00:54:38.880 that we had written to him about all of the ways in which he'd be able to assist with that

00:54:42.380 and he's he's he's assisted us in everything that we've asked for so I suspect that he's arriving

00:54:49.760 just to be able to view things on the ground

00:54:51.840 because there are a number of things

00:54:53.700 that the federal government is going to have to be called to do.

00:54:55.880 Remember, our disaster recovery program

00:54:57.880 kicks in at about $16 million

00:54:59.840 worth of spending.

00:55:01.360 And we cost share with the municipalities

00:55:03.820 and we cost share with the federal government.

00:55:05.560 So I fully understand why he wants

00:55:07.980 to see here and assess the damage

00:55:09.860 and harm and get a sense of that himself.

00:55:11.820 In addition, in Alberta,

00:55:13.500 sadly, the most impacted communities

00:55:15.800 are First Nations communities.

00:55:16.940 So Little Red River Cree Nation has 3,500 people

00:55:20.980 evacuated, 108 homes lost, probably 1,000

00:55:22.980 families that were living in those, or 1,000

00:55:24.980 people living in those 108 homes that need to

00:55:26.980 be repaired.

00:55:29.020 Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation as well, 36 homes that

00:55:31.020 have been lost.

00:55:33.020 And there's additional evacuations that have

00:55:35.060 happened in the last 24 hours.

00:55:37.060 So I have already mentioned to the Prime

00:55:39.060 Minister that his help will be needed on the

00:55:40.960 rebuilding.

00:55:41.960 So I'm very happy to have a look at the

00:55:43.940 his help will be needed on the rebuilding so i'm glad he's here to to see the um uh to see the

00:55:49.940 situation for himself hi hi adam with global news um this announcement comes on the same day that the

00:55:58.980 city of calvary released their survey of voters what the issues that matter to them mental health

00:56:04.580 and addictions being one of them public safety especially in the downtown core another and

00:56:08.420 affordable housing all kind of part of this kind of nuanced situation so my question is how does this

00:56:14.020 fit into that continuum and to making sure folks have the help they need after um treatment affordable

00:56:19.940 housing and things along those lines uh in response to what calgarians say is on their minds in this

00:56:24.340 election it it absolutely is a continuum it's why we've invested for the last four years in this

00:56:29.460 recovery oriented system of care building recovery communities increasing our treatment capacity

00:56:34.740 having the virtual opioid dependency program

00:56:37.300 so people could get a replacement to hard drugs.

00:56:40.240 I think somebody mentioned subluxone.

00:56:42.240 I understand that's an injection

00:56:43.940 that works for 30 days,

00:56:45.660 gets people off of addiction.

00:56:47.920 We have a 2-1-1 counselling line.

00:56:49.580 These are the things that we have done.

00:56:51.660 But we have seen that it is not enough

00:56:53.420 to address the public safety issue.

00:56:55.620 I would say that one of the things

00:56:57.400 that we're observing

00:56:58.500 and Chief Dale McPhee in Edmonton

00:57:00.600 does a really good job

00:57:02.000 of talking about

00:57:03.300 the five different types of individuals that we're seeing on the streets. And there goes the

00:57:10.740 continuum to the guys who are committing the crime, who are involved in gang violence, who are

00:57:18.500 dealing and getting people addicted, who are causing harm, who are committing crimes, all the

00:57:23.540 way to the poor souls who are just suffering through addiction. And so we know we have to deal

00:57:28.260 We have to deal with both of those. 0.98

00:57:30.300 Those who are victims of organized crime

00:57:32.300 and gang activity and drug dealers,

00:57:34.300 we want to make sure that they get an

00:57:36.300 access point so that they can get in to get

00:57:38.300 the treatment, but those who are

00:57:40.280 committing harm against others,

00:57:42.280 who are clearly not able to take care of

00:57:44.280 themselves and causing harm to themselves,

00:57:46.280 and those who are engaged in serious

00:57:48.280 criminal activity, we have to take a

00:57:50.280 public safety approach to that.

00:57:52.280 We know as well that

00:57:55.280 you have to be able to

00:57:58.260 to build a person's recovery capacity,

00:58:00.560 their social capital.

00:58:02.300 This is what the recovery communities are all about.

00:58:05.040 Whether a person needs a month or six months

00:58:07.640 or a year in one of our recovery communities,

00:58:10.640 we have to reconnect them.

00:58:12.480 Get them clean from drugs,

00:58:13.800 get them onto some kind of replacement therapy,

00:58:16.180 get the mental health and serious therapy treatment

00:58:18.720 that they need, reconnect them to family and friends,

00:58:21.620 get job training skills so that not only are they

00:58:24.380 able to take care of themselves when they get an

00:58:26.160 They know how to grocery shop, they know how to cook

00:58:28.660 but they also are able to get a job

00:58:31.000 and then also have the wraparound supports at the end.

00:58:32.860 So I would say that when somebody has gotten to the point

00:58:35.940 where they're homeless, on the street,

00:58:38.640 in the throes of an addiction,

00:58:40.280 overdosing multiple times,

00:58:42.000 treatment is the first option.

00:58:44.040 And then as they're in recovery,

00:58:46.140 we start building the supports around them.

00:58:47.620 We need to do all of it.

00:58:48.480 Hi, Ms Smith.

00:58:51.320 Scott Dipple from CBC Calgary.

00:58:53.020 What would you say to Albertans

00:58:55.620 questions or be curious about why you think

00:58:57.660 there are members of law enforcement in

00:58:59.660 Alberta who should be arrested for enforcing

00:59:01.660 public health orders.

00:59:03.660 What I would say is that I know that

00:59:06.640 the NDP are going to constantly be bringing

00:59:08.640 up grainy videos of things that I have

00:59:11.640 said in the past or other candidates have

00:59:13.640 said and the reason they are doing that is

00:59:15.640 because Rachel Notley was the worst premier 1.00

00:59:17.640 this province has ever had.

00:59:19.640 They want to distract attention from the fact

00:59:21.640 that 183,000 jobs were lost.

00:59:23.620 183,000 jobs were lost during her four years in government.

00:59:27.940 People were leaving this province in droves.

00:59:30.480 Investment was leaving this province in droves.

00:59:33.180 Jobs were leaving this province in droves.

00:59:36.020 We saw a massive increase in the amount of drug addiction,

00:59:40.820 drug overdoses and disorder on our streets.

00:59:43.880 Our downtowns in both Calgary and Edmonton have been emptied out

00:59:47.340 causing major financial crises to our two cities.

00:59:50.320 And on top of that, she racked up more debt

00:59:53.560 than all previous Alberta premiers combined,

00:59:56.100 getting us to a point where we're spending $3

00:59:58.320 billion a year on finance charges,

01:00:01.100 which is preventing us from being able to use

01:00:03.960 those dollars for the things that we care about. 1.00

01:00:05.640 She's going to keep on doing this and we're

01:00:06.940 going to keep on talking about why we need to move

01:00:08.840 Alberta forward and why we can't go back.

01:00:11.100 Thanks, everybody.

01:00:12.600 That's all the time I have for today.

01:00:13.920 Anybody with questions can reach out to my office.

01:00:15.920 Thanks.

01:00:20.320 Thank you.

01:00:50.320 You

Western Standard - May 16, 2023

UCP Plan to Improve Community Safety and Well-being

Episode Stats

Summary

Transcript