Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to be re-elected, and I am very grateful to the residents of Richmond East—Steveston for placing their trust in me once again to serve as their voice in the House.
I dedicate this statement to the memory of a childhood friend, Sukhi Bahia, who sadly passed during the election.
One election issue raised in our community was the urgent need for mental wellness and wraparound supports. May is Mental Health Awareness Month in Canada, and policy-makers ought to be aware of the challenges Canadians face. According to the Canadian Mental Health Association, the rate of suicide for Canadian men is three times higher than for women. However, women are hospitalized for self-harm twice as often as men.
As the 45th Parliament begins its work, I call on all levels of government to come together and invest in mental health as a cornerstone of building healthy, resilient and thriving communities for all Canadians.