QUESTION PERIOD — Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions
Warning Labels
March 21, 2024
Welcome, minister. My question has to do with alcohol when dealing with mental health. I have a lot of experience, unfortunately, with alcohol. I know a lot of the short- and medium-term effects. I know that, speaking for myself, it seriously contributed to my trying to commit suicide at one point. It breaks up families. It makes people turn to divorce. I also battled colon cancer.
In Canada, alcohol has been classified a Group 1 carcinogen, like tobacco and asbestos, since 1988. With everything we know — and with the science that your government has funded in terms of alcohol — why do the wealthy, powerful alcohol companies get a free pass on having warning labels on their products?
Thank you, senator. You have been a brave voice in this space when it comes to those who use substances, whether it is alcohol or other substances, to show that we need to have these conversations. It is not easy to do that, and I want to commend you for being a voice, not just in this place but in the national conversation that we need to have about the impacts of substance use on our youth, our families and our communities. I do not take that lightly, because to do that work and to stand in that space takes a lot of courage.
When it comes to alcohol, we do have data available through our Health Canada web page. We have done work with the CDSA on this. We continue to meet with stakeholders and engage with communities to ensure that accurate and updated information is available. There is more we can do to ensure that all Canadians are well informed and know the possible risks when choosing whether to use substances.
Thank you for that. I will remind you that the cannabis companies across the country weren’t even asked to put warning labels on their products but they willfully did so.
I will return to my question. It is the only important question. Why is it that the very powerful — and I dare say that the alcohol lobby is probably the most powerful in the world — but why is it that in Canada, these companies get a free pass despite the science and what we know? With the funds that your government has funded, our Canadian experts have come to the conclusion that alcohol causes seven fatal cancers. Why is it that in 2024, after alcohol was confirmed a Group 1 carcinogen in 1988, they get a free pass?
Thank you, Senator Brazeau, for your question and your advocacy. We’re continuing to invest in the work through the CDSA and other channels. I have not taken the question of how we move forward off the table. Just as with tobacco, vaping and other products, it is under consideration.
