Thank you for the opportunity to appear before the Committee today for the first time as Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health. I am here today with my colleague, Jean‑Yves Duclos.
I would like to begin by acknowledging this meeting is taking place on the traditional territory of the Algonquin people.
I'm pleased to share with you our resourcing plans for 2022-23.
We all know that COVID-19 and the protective public health measures associated with it continue to adversely affect the mental health of individuals and families across the country. It's no surprise that many people are reporting an increase in stress, anxiety, depression and loneliness. The pandemic has also led to an even more uncertain and dangerous illegal drug supply, resulting in significant increases in overdose-related deaths.
Our government is committed to being there for Canadians, particularly in these exceptionally difficult times.
As the Government of Canada's first Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, I have been mandated with ensuring that mental health is treated as a full and equal part of our universal health care system. I'm working collaboratively with provinces and territories, experts, community leaders and those with lived and living experience to develop and implement a comprehensive, evidence-based plan to support the mental health of Canadians.
Early in the pandemic, we launched the Wellness Together Canada online portal to provide free, 24-7 mental health and substance use services and resources to people in need across Canada, including one-on-one counselling. In January, the digital access to this platform was enhanced with the companion app called PocketWell, to ensure that Canadians have access to the mental health and substance use services they need, no matter where they live.
Last week, I announced that we will be moving forward in partnership with the Standards Council of Canada, as well as other stakeholders and partners, to develop national standards to address the needs of Canadians related to mental health and substance use. This work on national standards is supported by $45 million from budget 2021. We are committed to ensuring that all Canadians have access to high-quality, safe and equitable mental health and substance use services.
Our hearts go out to all of the loved ones and communities of those we have lost to the worsening toxic drug supply and opioid overdose crisis. We are working closely with our provincial, territorial and municipal partners—along with other key stakeholders like the impressive Moms Stop the Harm—with over $700 million to reduce harms, save lives and get people the evidence-based supports they need.
We know the provision of a safer supply of drugs is essential to help prevent overdoses, and a safer supply is a vital part of our comprehensive approach to combat this crisis. We have invested over $60 million to expand access to a regulated supply of prescription opioids and are committed to doing more. We firmly believe that this is a health issue, and we're working to divert people who use drugs away from the criminal justice system and toward supportive and trusted relationships in health and social services. Our government will use every tool at our disposal to end this national public health crisis.
Our commitment to these and other key priorities is reflected in the health portfolio’s main estimates and supplementary estimates (C), which we are here to discuss with you today. These include $82.4 million requested by the Public Health Agency of Canada to support the mental health of those most affected by COVID-19, and $14.3 million requested by Health Canada for the Mental Health Commission of Canada. Health Canada is also seeking an additional $65.1 million for its work to address the opioid overdose crisis, and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research is requesting $2.25 million for two catalyst grant funding opportunities to support the development of national mental health and substance use standards.
Thank you for this opportunity to discuss my new mandate and the health portfolio’s estimates. I look forward to expanding on my remarks through your thoughtful questions.