HALIFAX -- Nova Scotia's minister for addictions and mental health says he has not reached out to the First Nation community that said this week it would declare an emergency over a crisis of illicit drugs and addiction.
Brian Comer told reporters after a cabinet meeting his department does everything it can to support folks living with addiction and mental health issues, but says he's not had direct contact with Sipekne'katik First Nation.
Comer says the First Nation has not reached out to the province, but the door is always open.
After Comer's remarks, the Addictions and Mental Health Department said in an email that Sipekne'katik had requested help from one of the department's partner organizations for basic first aid and naloxone -- which reverses the effects of opioid overdoses.
Earlier this week, Sipekne'katik First Nation said its council had moved to begin the process of declaring a state of emergency as the community deals with too many overdoses and tragedies.
The chief of Sipekne'katik First Nation did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
This report by was first published Feb. 12, 2026.