Liberal MPs delayed a vote on a motion in a House of Commons committee that would demand information from the federal government on contracts for “safer supply” drugs, saying the motion could waste time because such contracts may not exist.
The motion before the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates (OGGO) calls for the committee to audit all federal contracts and agreements on the purchase, acquisition, or transfer of safer supply drugs like hydromorphone since January 1, 2016.
Liberal MP Majid Jowari said, though, that the federal government does not sign contracts with manufacturers of safer supply drugs, but instead works with medical professionals who may prescribe the drugs.
He said the government funds the Public Health Agency Of Canada (PHAC), which does support doctors who prescribe safer-supply drugs, but the amount of drugs bought and prescribed by the doctors was “probably a very small size.”
“To the best of my knowledge, the Government of Canada to PHAC do not sign any contract with any manufacturer for major for bulk purchase, or distribution of the safe supplies to any jurisdiction, or to any organization that’s doing this,” he said.
Mr. Jowari said he opposed the motion because, if no such contracts exist, it would waste the time of the committee and the departments questioned on the issue.
“I think we should go back and look at it and say our objective is to get an understanding of the source of safe supply and how it’s being procured, which is different than going and saying give us all the contracts,” he said.
Conservative MP Garnett Genuis accused the Liberals of trying to filibuster, and called for an immediate vote. Liberal MP Irek Kusmierczyk, however, continued to speak on the motion, and proposed an amendment to exclude all documents involving a third party.
Mr. Genuis claimed the amendment “exposed” the Liberals. He said that, while Mr. Jowari stated no contracts likely existed between large pharmaceutical companies and the federal government regarding the safe supply program, the amendment greatly narrowed the scope of the motion.
“I can’t imagine a contract that would that would have no implications for or reference to other third parties,” Mr. Genuis said and added, “The government is trying to use weasel words, to ensure that no contracts are in fact released to this committee.”
The motion was not voted on before the committee session was adjourned.
The safer supply program refers to the government’s providing of prescription pharmaceutical opioids to people who are at high risk of overdose as a “safer” alternative to the illegal street drug supply.
They said that government-funded opioids like hydromorphone were harming communities by “increasing the total amount of opioids on the streets and providing essentially unlimited amounts of opioids to vulnerable people with addiction.” The doctors said hydromorphone was four times more powerful than morphine when taken orally and seven times more powerful when directly injected.
