As President Donald Trump declares the opioid crisis a national public health emergency in the U.S., the NDP is pushing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government to do the same in this country. "We would be encouraged by the federal government escalating their response to this national public health crisis," the statement said. Preliminary data gathered by the Public Health Agency of Canada shows there were more than 2,800 opioid-related deaths in 2016. Davies said declaring the opioid crisis a public health emergency would allow government to get money out the door quicker. Declaring a "national public health emergency" does not on its own release additional funds to fight an opioid crisis that killed roughy 64,000 Americans in 2016.

Source: CBC News October 27, 2017 09:00 UTC