The petition I have to read into the record today is entitled “Improve Ontario’s Child and Youth Mental Health Services”—and with everyone gathered on the front lawn, I think they would also agree that mental health is health.

This petition calls upon the government to invest more in mental health services. We know the wait-lists are incredibly long, sometimes up to two years, as pointed out in the petition.

So, this petition calls upon the government to urgently invest rather than cut and make sure that children have mental health services when and where they need them.

I fully support this petition, will affix my signature and deliver it with page Farhan to the Clerks.

My question is to the Premier. At pre-budget consultations, the executive director of the Children’s Aid Society of London and Middlesex told the committee that, as of October 2023, London had “six youth in care who were not otherwise in need of protection, but for lack of access to” mental health services.

Is this government aware that children are being placed into protection simply so they can access mental health services? And what can the Premier say to families who are living with the pain of surrendering a child because they need access to mental health services?