A senior Health Canada official has confirmed that federal funding supports the purchase of crack pipes for drug users as part of Canada’s so-called harm reduction strategy.
During questioning at a House of Commons committee, Conservative MP Dan Mazier asked whether the government was buying crack pipes for addicts.
Kendal Weber, assistant deputy minister, replied, “Really appreciate the opportunity to clarify the funding that goes from Health Canada to harm reduction projects. So well, Health Canada does not directly purchase harm reduction supplies. Health Canada does provide funding to community organizations that do invest in prevention, harm reduction and treatment projects, and that funding can be used for harm reduction supplies to minimize (harm) including (crack) pipes.”
Harm reduction refers to policies and programs aimed at reducing the negative health, social and economic consequences of drug use without necessarily requiring abstinence.
"Health Canada reveals your tax dollars are funding crack pipes," wrote Mazier on X. "Just months ago, they said no public funds were spent on this. They lied. The Liberals continue to promote rampant drug use instead of recovery."
Harm reduction measures include supervised consumption sites, needle exchanges and, in some cases, providing safer smoking equipment to prevent the spread of infectious diseases and reduce overdose risks.
Critics argue harm reduction strategies have failed.
Canada's overdose crisis, fuelled by a toxic illicit drug supply laced with fentanyl and carfentanil, has claimed over 53,800 lives since 2016, with more than 18 daily deaths persisting into 2025.
Emergency responses surged to 252,580 opioid-related incidents by March 2025, disproportionately hitting Indigenous communities, youth, and urban/rural fringes amid polysubstance use.