Mr. Speaker, last week was Mental Health Week in Canada. As part of that week I had the opportunity to visit the Kitchener-Waterloo regional office for the Canadian Mental Health Association.
The federal government under the national strategy on community safety and crime prevention has provided $48,000 to the CMHA to run a project called the diversion protocol. This project will assist and support members of the Kitchener community who have mental health problems and who have been involved in the criminal justice system. The objective of the diversion protocol is to assist individuals and provide them with the necessary resources for managing their mental illness and ensure they do not become involved in a cycle of crime.
Mental health problems affect more Canadians than does any other illness. In Ontario approximately 1.5 million people have some form of mental illness. It is therefore important that this government continue to work in partnership with community organizations to ensure that Canadians with a mental illness have access to the programs and services they require.
I commend the CMHA of Waterloo region for its dedication and commitment to the community.