Alberta premier’s office says she was unaware of new opioid data before election

The office of Alberta Prime Minister Daniel Smith has denied opposition claims that the Alberta government hid the latest data on opioid-related deaths until after the election.

Prime Minister’s spokesman Sam Brackett said Smith was briefed on the data after the May 29 vote.

State data released on Monday showed 179 drug-related deaths in April, the highest in a single month.

The NDP accused the United Conservative government of hiding information.

The Office of Minister for Mental Health and Addiction Dan Williams said it usually takes about two months to update such data.

Williams was also briefed on the new numbers shortly after taking the oath of office on June 9, according to the newspaper.

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‘Tired of losing loved ones’: Advocates call for expanded support for harm reduction

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