Health committee  Indeed, social determinants are key to the response. Many of our programs and our experience during COVID-19 show that communities from different backgrounds experienced the pandemic and the mental health impacts very differently. For that reason, we've emphasized the importance

Health committee  Especially in light of the COVID pandemic, virtual health care services have become even more important, especially when people haven't been able to receive them in person. Wellness Together Canada was one of the government's responses to that need. Through an investment of $270

Health committee  One of the things we've discovered is that it's really important that services respond to the most local needs, and that different communities are facing different challenges and services need to be provided in an accessible way. We saw this throughout the COVID response, when Ca

Health committee  As we were saying, it really takes a very broad tool kit to respond to all the different dimensions of mental health needs. It requires a full suite of wraparound services, including working with law enforcement and others who are dealing with people who have multiple needs acros

Health committee  The Public Health Agency is indeed conducting modelling, and I will pass the floor to my colleague, Candice St-Aubin, to speak to the data.

Health committee  For the perinatal mental health strategy, I will refer to our colleague Eric Bélair, who is from mental health.

Health committee  Yes. Thank you, Mr. Chair. As already discussed, the mental health of Canadians definitely has been adversely impacted by the strain of the pandemic. Health Canada is providing core funding to the Mental Health Commission of Canada to establish national standards for the menta

Health committee  I'll turn to my colleague, Candice St-Aubin. The Public Health Agency administers that fund.

Health committee  Indeed, the standard on integrated youth services and the work that is being done from coast to coast to coast in this country on integrated youth services is extremely promising. It isn't enough just to provide addiction supports. We also need other kinds of public health supp

Health committee  In regard to Bill C-5, this is a Justice-led bill. It's not really within our purview. What I can say from a public health perspective is that we certainly support an approach that takes a public health approach to addictions as a public health challenge and not as a criminal o

Health committee  In our discussions on decriminalization, specifically on the section 56 exemption in B.C., certainly one of the views expressed by law enforcement colleagues at those consultation tables is that decriminalization of small amounts for personal possession allows law enforcement to

Health committee  The 2.5-gram exemption is what law enforcement has indicated is a majority level of drugs seized. Around 85% of drug seizures are at a level below 2.5 grams. Most of those drugs are mixed. As the minister indicated, pure fentanyl in those quantities is not a substance that would

Health committee  The proposal from British Columbia was the result of consultations at a table that involved all stakeholders, including law enforcement. The—

Health committee  Health Canada considers the exemption proposal that is presented to it by the provinces. We evaluate it from a public safety and public health approach, according to our responsibilities under the act.

Health committee  There's a period of coming into force. The exemption will not come into force until the end of January 2023. The intervening period is a period of intensive work. We'll be accompanying the Province of B.C. in this process. One of the main areas of work is provision of guidance an