Evidence of meeting #147 for Health in the 44th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was communities.
A video is available from Parliament.
NDP
Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC
Thank you.
Minister, in 2021, a motion to create a national perinatal mental health strategy received unanimous consent in the House of Commons. The Canadian Perinatal Mental Health Collaborative estimates that treating perinatal mental health disorders costs an average of $2 billion per year in Canada. Maternal mental health is also an important determinant for a child's health outcomes over their lifetime.
If we're looking at making upstream investments in mental health, investing in perinatal mental health is perhaps as upstream as you can go. The Canadian Perinatal Mental Health Collaborative is calling on the government to invest $2 million over two years to develop a perinatal mental health strategy, which has the support of all parties. However, yesterday's fall economic statement didn't include new funding for perinatal mental health. I know you've set clinical guidelines and spent $800,000 on that, but that's not a strategy.
Minister, can you please provide us with an update on what the government is doing to develop a perinatal mental health strategy?
Liberal
Ya'ara Saks Liberal York Centre, ON
Through you, Chair, I'd actually like to take a moment, if I may, to thank Dr. Simone Vigod, whom I have met on many occasions, from the Canadian Perinatal Mental Health Collaborative for the work that she has been doing with all of our partners to develop national standards that are really the foundational base for the perinatal mental health strategy.
The work is ongoing. We are very close to the finish line on it. It has really been informed by the advice of experts and people with lived and living experience.
I'll certainly say, as the Associate Minister of Health and as a woman and a mother, that oftentimes women get lost in the shuffle when it comes to child care and the journey of pregnancy. This is why this work is so critical and something that I, as well as the government, are certainly committed to. Perinatal mental health is a critical part of the mental health services we are supporting and working on collaboratively.
NDP
Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC
I still didn't get an answer, Minister, but I'll ask a very short question on decriminalization.
You say that you support evidence and facts. Since decriminalization was implemented, my understanding is that the toxic overdose deaths in British Columbia have actually dropped. Can you confirm that?
Liberal
Ya'ara Saks Liberal York Centre, ON
Thank you for the question.
We are seeing from the first dataset of this year an approximate decrease of 8% across the country in overdose deaths in Canada. Is it enough? No, it's not. We need to do more.
When it comes to decriminalization, as I said before, only the Conservatives seem to be polarizing this debate. Jurisdictions like Switzerland, Germany, Portugal and other places in the world understand that, to help those who struggle with substance use, we cannot stigmatize and criminalize them. We must find avenues to get them to trust and enter health care systems. We know that we have a holistic system of health care.
Liberal
Conservative
Todd Doherty Conservative Cariboo—Prince George, BC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Minister, why is there no funding for a national suicide prevention strategy in the fall economic update?
Liberal
Ya'ara Saks Liberal York Centre, ON
The national suicide framework was launched in May, and the work is ongoing.
Conservative
Todd Doherty Conservative Cariboo—Prince George, BC
Minister, I just asked a question.
Why is there no funding mentioned for a national suicide prevention strategy in the fall economic update?
There's no funding.
Liberal
Ya'ara Saks Liberal York Centre, ON
As I mentioned, there are resources and work that is being done that is ongoing.
Conservative
Liberal
Ya'ara Saks Liberal York Centre, ON
It is the same mandate letter I've had since entering my office and position in 2023.
Conservative
Liberal
Ya'ara Saks Liberal York Centre, ON
Chair, I do believe that my mandate letter is public and that he can reference it there. If he wishes to have it tabled to the committee, we can do that.
Conservative
Todd Doherty Conservative Cariboo—Prince George, BC
Minister, is part of your mandate letter to establish a permanent ongoing mental health transfer?
Liberal
Ya'ara Saks Liberal York Centre, ON
Again, Chair, I'm here to answer questions on the supplementary estimates (B). If that is a relevant question, I'm happy to answer it.
Conservative
Todd Doherty Conservative Cariboo—Prince George, BC
Minister, is part of your mandate letter also to sustain improved access to virtual mental health services with Wellness Together Canada?
Liberal
Ya'ara Saks Liberal York Centre, ON
Wellness Together was a program that was established during COVID to meet the needs of Canadians during the crisis.
Conservative
Liberal
Ya'ara Saks Liberal York Centre, ON
Again, Chair, is this relevant to the supplementary estimates (B)?
Liberal
Conservative
Todd Doherty Conservative Cariboo—Prince George, BC
It all deals with government spending, Mr. Chair. If it's not mentioned in the fall economics statement, then I believe it's something that the minister should report on.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sean Casey
It's fair game for Mr. Doherty to ask you why something isn't in the supplementaries and get you to respond to that, so if you can answer the question, please do.