By CHAT News Today

Swann hoping for emergency debate on opioid crisis

Mar 6, 2017 | 8:47 AM

EDMONTON — Alberta’s opposition parties are expected to call on the government to hold an emergency debate about the opioid crisis affecting the province.

Liberal Leader David Swann is expected to table a motion for the emergency debate following Question Period on Monday, according to Global News.

Last year, more than 400 people in Alberta were killed as a result of opioid overdoses, with 111 deaths coming in the last three months of 2016, more than twice as many deaths in the same period in 2015.

In December, the province announced a provincial response to the opioid epidemic after carfentanil, which is described as being 100 times more powerful than fentanyl, was linked to 14 deaths in three months.

The province has invested $3 million over three years for an opioid dependency treatment (ODT) expansion project and $240,000 in “proceeds of crime” grants has been given to police and community partners to raise awareness of the dangers of fentanyl and “other illicit drugs.”

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Swann is hoping all MLAs will put partisanship aside and take action on the issue.

-With Files from Global News .