I think these are really good questions that you're asking. How do we make this money really count and actually change the system?
We have some insight on that because we've been working with multiple provinces to create joint ventures to really transform the system for child and youth mental health care.
You see, the problem for them is that they have a very complex system and so many priorities, and it's very hard for them to change the system. If you can come along and help provide some extra money to them, and show them how it can be done, and sort of make it easy for them, then you can do it, and I don't think having a very prescriptive approach is really going to work, because at the end of the day, the provinces have to run the system and they have to own it.
I urge you to look at some of the joint ventures we have. British Columbia is the leader in this and they've started to create integrated youth service hubs in various communities across the province, and they've created a branded service that is called Foundry. You can look it up. This really brings service providers in the community and gets them to think of how they can create a stepped care model, so we can do what Patrick and Kim have talked about, have the light services for those who only need that, and clear pathways to care for the more specialized services.
With things like this, health transfers, there's always a rush to get money out the door, but I think if the federal government is really motivated, and it brings its various organizations that do things in mental health to bear on this, you really can influence the system.
All of the provinces for years and years have stated they want to do a much better job at mental health care. They want to be more patient oriented. Usually it doesn't happen, but I think the federal government can do a much better job of coordinating and really making it easy for them. That's the key.