Mr. Speaker, I rise today to draw attention to the seventh annual Champions of Mental Health Awards, which took place on October 7 as part of Mental Illness Awareness Week. These awards celebrated individuals and organizations that have made outstanding contributions to the advancement of mental health issues in Canada.
Lieutenant Colonel Stéphane Grenier, Chief of Defence Staff General Walt Natynczyk and our own Minister of National Defence received awards. I was proud to be with friends and colleagues who recognized the action taken by members of our government and the Canadian Forces. Under their leadership, we are eliminating the negative stigma associated with mental illness and operational stress injuries.
The “Be the Difference” awareness campaign and the operational stress injury social support program show that this government is working with the Canadian Forces to improve the care available to the brave men and women who serve our country. They do so much for Canada and the world that we must do everything we can for them.
Our government continues to invest in this important issue that affects our soldiers, our families, our colleagues and our country.