Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you to our witnesses this morning.
MP Yurdiga, you've done a great job on this motion.
I'll just give you a 30-second glimpse into my past. In my twenties, which wasn't yesterday, I suffered from anxiety. It was a terrible time for me. It was probably a three-, four-, five-year period during which I was almost paralyzed with anxiety. I remember how it was a chore to go to work each day. I would have it mapped out what I would do when I got to work, but there were times when the anxiety got so bad, I had to go home. I just couldn't deal with it.
I look back and thank God that I had an accepting, supportive employer to help me through that, but I see so many instances—whether it's with mental health, epilepsy, chronic pain, what have you—where there is that stigma attached. Although some employers understand, many just don't. They say, “Oh, there he goes again” or “There she goes again”.
Anyone in the panel can jump in on my question. What can government do to work with partners to address that stigma? What's the first step we should take?
Ms. MacKinnon.