Representatives from Prairie Harm Reduction in Saskatoon and Regina’s Friendship Centre visited the Legislature today (Thurs) to urge for provincial funding of their Harm Reduction sites. NDP Social Services Critic, Meara Conway, said in Question Period, We know that safe injection sites save lives. We also know that unless the government comes to the table and invests in this type of work, many in Saskatchewan will continue to struggle with mental health and addictions.” She notes that every sector dealing with this crisis is in agreement – from first responders to health care providers who came to the Legislature earlier this week – that harm reduction is effective and saves lives and taxpayers’ money.

Mental Health and Addictions Minister Everett Hindley responded that the government continues to make record investments in the area of addictions, prevention, treatment and harm reduction, and have invested $92-million since 2018 across the province. He adds that they provide some funding to Prairie Harm Reduction and have for a number of years, and the Friendship Centre in Regina is operating as an overdose prevention site with a federal exemption until September, and they also provide some supplies to both facilities.

Conway says there were nearly 450 overdose deaths last year, which is a rise of almost a third from 2020.