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House Hansard - 18

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
December 15, 2021 02:00PM
Context: House Hansard - 18 - Dec/15/21
Mrs. Élisabeth Brière (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health, Lib.)
  • Dec/15/21 6:44:24 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for Edmonton—Wetaskiwin for his important question. I would first like to say that our thoughts are with the families and communities that have lost loved ones to suicide. Our government is committed to implementing and fully funding a three-digit mental health crisis and suicide prevention hotline. The CRTC launched a regulatory proceeding on June 3, 2021, to consult on the proposed three-digit hotline, and the initial public consultation closed on September 1. The 247 interventions from stakeholders and members of the public are available online. The parties were able to respond to these interventions before October 1. Following a petition from stakeholders representing persons with disabilities, the CRTC reopened the consultations to allow for new interventions in accessible formats, such as video. The public consultations will remain open until January 31, 2022, and these interventions and replies will become part of the public record that the CRTC will examine to make its determinations. We understand that this crisis line is urgently needed and we are going to make sure it is done right. This includes making sure that the crisis line is able to connect people to the most appropriate service in the most appropriate way. Canadians must have access to suicide prevention services when they need them. Our government is committed to expanding the capacity and providing virtual services. The implementation of a three-digit suicide prevention number will build upon our current support of a pan-Canadian suicide prevention service. Budget 2019 provided $21 million over five years to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health to develop, implement, expand and sustain a fully operational pan-Canadian suicide prevention service. Through this initiative, by 2023, people across Canada will have access to crisis support in English and French when they need it and through the platform of their choice, including telephone, text messaging or chat. Through the 2020 fall economic statement, our government invested a further $50 million to bolster the capacity of distress centres. The Public Health Agency of Canada is currently overseeing a first round of funding for 57 distress centres for the fall and winter of 2021-22. A second round of funding, which closed on October 6, targets recipients with new or unmet needs, as well as organizations excluded from the first round of funding. Funding applications are now under review. In addition, $2 million of this funding will support the development of resources to assist distress centres in meeting the needs of diverse and vulnerable populations. The pandemic and lockdowns exacerbated many people's social isolation and distress and made it harder to access health care, which is why it is so important for us to work with our partners to introduce this national mental health support line. We are there for Canadians when they need us most.
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Context: House Hansard - 18 - Dec/15/21
Mrs. Élisabeth Brière
  • Dec/15/21 6:49:28 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I assure the member opposite that I share his concern. Our government is 100% committed to fully funding this three-digit mental health crisis and suicide prevention hotline. The ongoing consultations by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission will help identify barriers and, should any be identified, determine how best to address them. We look forward to the outcome of this proceeding. The CRTC process will also inform our understanding of the resources necessary to implement a three-digit number. In the meantime, the Canada Suicide Prevention Service will continue to make direct and immediate suicide prevention support available to people across Canada. Anyone can talk to a trained responder in French or English 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
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