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.
Liberal
Arielle Kayabaga Liberal London West, ON
Thank you, Chair.
I don't understand where his question is going. He's talking about his mother. He's talking about a trip. He's talking about shaking hands with people. This has nothing to do with the estimates.
Either we stick to the estimates or we call it a day.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sean Casey
I want to hear Mr. Doherty's question.
On the question that he has asked about the shaking of hands, I think there was a valid point of order raised. I asked him to tie it to the estimates. I think he's trying to do that.
Mr. Doherty, please go head.
Conservative
Todd Doherty Conservative Cariboo—Prince George, BC
The point is, Mr. Chair, that the minister has sat here for the last 45 minutes and has made a number of assertions against the Conservative government, without knowing any background or perhaps without caring about the background. I think it is relevant when we have a minister of the Crown travelling on taxpayers' funds and have somebody who is a proud Jewish member of the cabinet, whose daughter she introduced, who served.... She has also referenced, throughout her testimony, that she is a mother. She's brought that into her testimony.
Through you, Mr. Chair, I will ask her.... I can't imagine that it was a proud moment or an easy moment—
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sean Casey
Mr. Doherty, the question is out of order and you are out of time.
I recognize Dr. Hanley for the next five minutes.
Conservative
Liberal
Liberal
Arielle Kayabaga Liberal London West, ON
I called a point of order on the outrageous comment our colleague just made. It's borderline offensive to our minister, and I hope he can apologize.
Conservative
Liberal
Liberal
Brendan Hanley Liberal Yukon, YT
Thank you, Minister, for being here.
Thank you to all the officials, as well, for persevering.
Minister, I also recognize that you referred to yourself with pride as a mother. My question is going to be very different, though. It relates to some of the challenges that teenagers face today. You and I are both parents of teenagers, and we know it's a challenging time.
One of my specific questions is about post-secondary students and how our government has made investments to support wraparound services for post-secondary students, particularly postpandemic, when there are so many extra stresses.
Liberal
Ya'ara Saks Liberal York Centre, ON
Through you, Chair, I thank the member for the question.
This is why the youth mental health fund is so important in the scope of the applications we are receiving. It also includes university services working in collaboration with community services.
We know that students coming out of the pandemic were facing tremendous challenges in adjusting to life on campus, to new pressures and to a different learning environment from the one they experienced in the pandemic. It is a key time to establish milestones and good social habits, whether for study, work or work-life balance. This is why we wanted to ensure that the youth mental health fund was also accessible for universities to apply for.
That being said, we also know that students on campus are part of community life, and bolstering both community services and campus services is a key component of the fund.
Liberal
Brendan Hanley Liberal Yukon, YT
Thank you.
You and I were together in the Yukon. You came to visit the Yukon a few months ago and we travelled to Dawson City together. We met with many community groups and first nations leaders. We met some wonderful youth and youth leaders in the Yukon.
Specifically, you were talking about the youth mental health fund, which you referred to, but also about the emergency treatment fund. I want to take time for you to elaborate on the emergency treatment fund. I think it's not always intuitive what this fund actually intends to address for communities. You talked about this a bit in your opening statement, but when I think about some of our more remote and first nations communities....
Can you explain, with a more pragmatic lens, what this actually means and can mean for communities that are ready to apply for this fund?
Liberal
Ya'ara Saks Liberal York Centre, ON
Thank you.
This is really a unique opportunity, through the emergency treatment fund, to be on the ground in municipalities and indigenous communities across the country to address their urgent needs in relation to the public health crisis we are seeing with the illicit toxic drug supply and its impacts on overdose.
This fund was intended to provide short-term support so that communities can rapidly mobilize and build capacity, because we know communities are different. Some need enhanced supports that are culturally appropriate. We all know that oftentimes a trauma-informed lens in delivering these services is needed and there needs to be training. We also wanted to enable evidence-based substance use treatment, harm reduction and integrated services to be scaled up in real time.
In some communities, it could be ensuring that there are more outreach teams on the ground, distributing naloxone kits and referring folks to care. In other communities, it may be on-the-land healing programs that are underfunded that really need to address the needs in the community.
We heard from communities across the country that they needed a rapid response to meet immediate crisis needs, and this is exactly why we designed the fund this way, as opposed to transfers to the provinces.
Liberal
Brendan Hanley Liberal Yukon, YT
Thank you.
I think I have 20 seconds. I'll give a plug to Planet Youth. You can take the last 20 seconds to describe what's important about Planet Youth and our investments in Planet Youth.
Liberal
Ya'ara Saks Liberal York Centre, ON
Planet Youth is a unique program that addresses youth in rural and remote communities by bringing together families and communities from a prevention lens but also empowering young people to make healthier choices while being active in their communities and in their families. It's a really positive investment, and it's forward thinking in investing in our generation of young people.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sean Casey
Thank you, Minister and Dr. Hanley.
Minister, that takes us to the end of the second round of questions and to the full hour, as promised, although I know you've been here for two. We appreciate your taking questions for the hour and for hanging in there, as always.
On behalf of the committee, allow me to wish you a happy Hanukkah and a restful holiday. I trust that you are going to be able to take some holidays.
Minister, you're welcome to stay, but you're free to leave. We have next up some time with officials, depending on the will of the committee, as we are approaching one o'clock.
I see that Dr. Powlowski is trying to get my attention. I wonder what he's looking for.
Thank you, Minister.
Go ahead, Dr. Powlowski.
Liberal
Marcus Powlowski Liberal Thunder Bay—Rainy River, ON
Given that Christmas is coming in the next couple of weeks, I'd like to spend the next few hours making merry and enjoying the coming Christmas.
I hope the Grinch-loving Conservatives agree with me, and I hope they will agree with me in moving to adjourn.
December 17th, 2024 / 12:55 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sean Casey
The motion to adjourn is not debatable, but we can go straight to a vote.
NDP
Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC
Mr. Chair, if we do, can I just make a really quick comment for the public servants?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sean Casey
No, a motion to adjourn is not debatable.
Is it the will of the committee to adjourn the meeting?
