Mr. Speaker, Canadians from all walks of life recently participated in activities in support of Mental Health Week.
As chair of the Liberal mental health caucus, I know that one in five Canadians copes with some form of mental illness. Among them are the elderly, indigenous people, youth, individuals in correctional institutions, and our veterans.
Addressing mental health illness requires more than a week. It needs a full-time commitment from all levels of government, health care professionals, and our communities.
That is why the federal government for its part is working to make a difference. Through budget 2017, the government has allocated $5 billion to support mental health initiatives throughout Canada. With a focus on youth, the funding will also help 500,000 young Canadians.
I urge all members in the House to continue working in their communities to ensure that Canadians needing mental health support receive it and will be able to live productive and healthy lives.