Question Period (17 October 2023)

From Hansard (17 October 2023)

To view this section on video, click here and start play at 9:36:35 AM.

 Mental Health and Addictions Services for Youth

Ms. Mowat: — Mr. Speaker, he’s been clear; we’ve been clear. We do not support a federal carbon tax.

Mr. Speaker, yesterday I asked the Minister for Mental Health and Addictions what specific steps he was going to take to address the high rates of suicide for gender-diverse youth, high rates of suicide that will be made worse by this government’s legislation that goes against the basic rights of children. That’s why the Human Rights Commissioner Heather Kuttai said to the media yesterday . . . That’s what she said to the media yesterday, and that’s what Sarah Mackenzie came here to say last week.

This government talks about listening to parents. How about listening to the parents who are calling for this plan to be scrapped and for real supports to be put in place for genderdiverse youth?

Hon. Mr. T. McLeod: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And once again, our government does extend our condolences to the family for the loss of their loved one.

Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned yesterday, this government does have the mental health capacity building in schools which we are expanding in this year’s budget to a total of 10 schools across the province. That includes rural communities like Balgonie, La Ronge, Sandy Bay, Weyburn, Yorkton — urban communities — North Battleford, Prince Albert, Regina.

Mr. Speaker, our new action plan for mental health and addictions will further expand this initiative to an additional five schools in the next budget year with the goal of expanding to at least one school in all school divisions over the next five years. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Ms. Mowat: — Mr. Speaker, these people are crying out for help and seeking new actions from this government. Their latest attempt at a mental health and addictions action plan doesn’t even address a recommendation that we’ve seen appear in the 2014 recommendations, in Provincial Auditor’s reports, in child advocate reports, and what we’re hearing from kids and families who are trying to access care. Of course what I’m referring to, Mr. Speaker, is addressing wait times. Wait times for access to services and supports desperately need to be addressed. Why no mention of wait times in this crucial time, Mr. Speaker?

Hon. Mr. T. McLeod: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And of course, wait times is directly tied to staffing, and staffing and human resources is something that this government takes very seriously. And we’ve got an action plan in place to address that, to increase the staffing both in rural and remote communities and our urban communities, and now with the expansion of our mental health and addictions plan, building capacity in that regard, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

---

Back to 2022/2023 Session