Evidence of meeting #131 for Health in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was mental.
A recording is available from Parliament.
As an Individual
It's pretty much broken. The system that is designed to be there to help her and guide her through life, especially when it comes to struggling with mental health, just isn't there.
Whenever we did approach doctors about change and about how to get her help, she was either too young for programs or there were no programs at all.
Conservative
Todd Doherty Conservative Cariboo—Prince George, BC
They allowed a 13-year-old to write her own safety release plans. Is that correct?
As an Individual
She wrote on that plan, and was a very manipulative little girl.
My question is, why was a child allowed to write her own safety release plan when doctors are supposed to be doing that? They are the adults. They are the ones deciding on how her safety is supposed to be—not a child, and not a child who's unwell.
Conservative
Todd Doherty Conservative Cariboo—Prince George, BC
From the time she ended up on the streets to her death, how long was that?
Conservative
Todd Doherty Conservative Cariboo—Prince George, BC
Her drugs of choice were Molly and fentanyl, correct?
As an Individual
They were Molly, fentanyl or anything she could get her hands on, really.
Conservative
Todd Doherty Conservative Cariboo—Prince George, BC
Are safe injection and safe consumption sites working?
As an Individual
No. They don't discriminate against age and they keep providing kits to these children. It's very easy access.
As an Individual
It's everywhere. You can't go anywhere without seeing it now. It used to be taboo to see a joint being smoked on the street. Now you can walk by people smoking crack. It's disgusting.
As an Individual
We once sat at an A&W having lunch. This was at 12 o'clock in the afternoon, in broad daylight. I had to tell my stepson to literally not look out the window, because six people were sitting there cooking down their heroin to be able to inject it. It was right outside the window where we were having lunch.
That's not acceptable. That's not what I call safe.
Conservative
Todd Doherty Conservative Cariboo—Prince George, BC
Have our communities become less safe in recent years?
As an Individual
Absolutely. I believe they're getting even more unsafe as the days pass.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sean Casey
Thank you, Mr. Doherty, and thank you, Mr. Charles.
Next is Ms. Brière for six minutes.
Liberal
Élisabeth Brière Liberal Sherbrooke, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Ms. MacDonald and Mr. Charles, you have my deepest sympathy. I share your pain. I salute your courage in sharing this heartbreaking story.
What do you think should be done to involve parents in prevention work to protect our Canadian youth?
As an Individual
We need more rights over our children. We need to be able to stand up for them and advocate for them—not for them to advocate for themselves when they're too young. We're supposed to be their legal guardians. We're supposed to take care of them. We need to do so. We need that authority back.
As an Individual
As it sits right now, we're just guardians of the government's children. They're not even ours.
Liberal