OTTAWA – The Green Party of Canada is proud to announce the appointment of Chris Markevich to the Green Shadow Cabinet as the Critic for Mental Health and Addictions. Markevich, the nominated Green candidate for the riding of Courtenay-Alberni, brings invaluable lived experience and a passionate commitment to addressing the critical issues surrounding mental health and addiction in Canada.
"Chris brings a wealth of knowledge to this critical role,“ said Leader Elizabeth May. His commitment to evidence-based policies and his passion for supporting vulnerable populations make him an invaluable addition to our Shadow Cabinet. Together, we will work towards a compassionate and effective approach to mental health and addiction in Canada."
"I’m honored to be named to the Shadow Cabinet of the Green Party as the Critic for Mental Health and Addictions. I know intimately the pathways that lead to substance use, addiction, and to recovery," said Chris Markevich. "I also know that I am immensely privileged to have had a supportive, loving family and network of friends and colleagues who stepped in to help me when I needed it the most. Sadly, for many drug users, this is far from the case."
Markevich highlights the failures of the current social safety net, which has abandoned vulnerable populations in various ways, from keeping people with disabilities in legislated poverty to short-changing seniors and pushing poor people onto the streets. "Drug users are people and are members of the community. We cannot just toss them aside or force them into for-profit recovery centers when the evidence clearly shows that forced treatment does not have favorable outcomes," he added.
Emphasizing the need to follow scientific evidence and listen to medical professionals, Markevich expressed his commitment to working with the medical and harm reduction communities to provide the best policies that will help rather than harm people. He outlined five major policy commitments that will ensure harm reduction, recovery, and community building go hand in hand:
- Legalize and regulate the safe drug supply
- Regulate the recovery industry
- Guaranteed livable income
- Affordable housing for all
- Make pharmacare and mental healthcare part of Canada's universal healthcare system
"By implementing these five policy commitments, we can stop the deaths and eliminate the toxic drug supply, ensuring that anyone seeking recovery can do so in a safe environment that is barrier-free," added Markevich.
The Green Party of Canada recognizes the importance of evidence-based approaches for everyone, ensuring that both patient-centered treatment options and harm reduction strategies are available to those who need them. We believe in a compassionate, person-centered approach that respects the diverse needs and preferences of individuals, whether they seek treatment or thrive best with harm reduction methods. By prioritizing these inclusive, science-driven policies, we aim to build a healthier, more supportive society for all.
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Ms. May will attend the special Green event in Courtenay-Alberni to support Chris Markevich, who has been nominated as the Green Party candidate for Courtenay-Alberni in the upcoming federal election.
WHEN: 05:00 PM — 09:00 PM (Pacific Time)
WHERE: Fallen Alders Community Hall, 3595 Royston Road, Courtenay
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For more information or to arrange an interview :
Fabrice Lachance Nové
Press secretary
514-463-0021