Yes, Mr. Chairman. I move that clause 43 be amended by adding after line 22 on page 26 the following:
to receive treatment for mental health issues or attend a mental health treatment program approved by the Attorney General; or
In a word, Mr. Chairman, the purpose of this amendment is that upon conviction of an offence for which a minimum punishment is prescribed, the court may, when satisfied that a person requires mental health care, delay sentencing to enable the person to receive treatment or participate in a mental health program approved by the Attorney General. It's very analogous to the drug treatment, except the subject matter here has to do with mental health issues. I want to say, Mr. Chair, that it is utterly not only underrepresented but not represented in this bill.
When we had the debate on the need for a national suicide prevention strategy, we noted that 90% of the people there had some form of mental illness. Similarly, Mr. Chair, this legislation has no reference to the mental health component. I'm offering this provision so that, in the same way in terms of drug treatment, in an analogous fashion, the court can, when satisfied that a person requires mental health care, delay sentencing, etc.