Evidence of meeting #112 for Agriculture and Agri-Food in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was family.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Bob Guest  Chairman, Canadian Farmers with Disabilities Registry
Jonas Johnson  Canadian Farmers with Disabilities Registry
Nicholas Carleton  Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Regina
Amber Fletcher  Associate Professor, Department of Sociology, University of Regina
Bev Shipley  Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, CPC
John McFadyen  Executive Director, Mobile Crisis Services
Katy Kamkar  Clinical Psychologist and Director, Badge of Life Canada, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

10:40 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Pat Finnigan

Thank you, Dr. Kamkar.

Unfortunately we are out of time.

10:40 a.m.

Liberal

TJ Harvey Liberal Tobique—Mactaquac, NB

Thank you very much.

10:40 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Pat Finnigan

We have about two minutes left. Mr. Breton, you may ask a question.

10:40 a.m.

Liberal

Pierre Breton Liberal Shefford, QC

Okay. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I thank the witnesses for their expertise and their interest in this issue.

Mr. McFadyen, you talked earlier about better access to services for farmers. Don't you sometimes feel that those services already exist to various degrees? Farmers are proud people. They are their own boss and their family's primary wage earner. A farmer knows very well that, if they consult a medical professional, there is a good chance they will be removed from their workplace so they can rest.

Do entrepreneurs have that fear? I called them “farmers”, but they also entrepreneurs. They are among the main employees of the business and probably the most important ones.

10:40 a.m.

Executive Director, Mobile Crisis Services

John McFadyen

Certainly I think that's part of reducing the stigma about accessing services. Farmers are proud. When they're having issues, they tend to keep it inside. They don't seek help. They're resilient, but some people just don't have that ability.

With mental health, things can turn chronic if they're not addressed in certain situations.

10:40 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Pat Finnigan

Thank you, Mr. McFadyen.

We're out of time, unfortunately.

I want to thank both you and Dr. Kamkar for taking the time today to address this committee. It will certainly help us in our study, and hopefully help the farmers in the long term.

This is all for today. I think we have a vote forthcoming.

The meeting is adjourned.