Late Wednesday night, Health Minister Michelle Thompson called out Liberals for delaying passage of a law that will hold the makers of deadly opioid drugs to account.
The @LiberalPartyNS are playing political games to block legislation that would hold opioid companies accountable for the damage they've done to our communities. Enough is enough.https://t.co/BK10LPv7bw#nspoli pic.twitter.com/v8BEDUanJ2
— Nova Scotia PC Party (@nspc) October 26, 2023
The law will give the government options to recover healthcare costs due to opioid-related diseases and injuries and put that money towards addictions services.
Zach Churchill’s Liberal Party delayed passage of the Opioid Damages Recovery Act for five hours without engaging in debate or uttering a single word.
“Talk about the people in your community who have died. Talk about the people who have lost loved ones,” an impassioned Thompson implored the Churchill Liberals in the Legislature.
Nova Scotia Health data indicates 35 Nova Scotians have died from opioid overdoses so far this year. Sixty-three Nova Scotians lost their lives to opioids last year.
“It is very concerning to me that the Liberals put partisan games and tactics ahead of a law focused on the hundreds of Nova Scotians who are dealing with opioid-use disorder,” Thompson said. “It says a lot about Liberal priorities.”