On Parliament Hill Wednesday, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh discussed his party’s plan to make mental health care more affordable. Singh held a news conference to mark Mental Illness Awareness Week in Canada.
“We’re calling on this government to stop delaying their promise to deliver $4.5 billion for mental health services. We want to see that happen. That is a transfer of funds that will make a big difference in people’s lives to be able to access mental health care,” he said.
Singh is also calling for support for his party’s Motion 67.
“And that’s calling for parity to acknowledge that mental health should be treated just as important as our overall physical health,” he explained.
Singh also wants to see the GST removed from the price of mental health treatment, to acknowledge those treatments are essential services.
NDP MP Gord Johns, the party’s critic for mental health and harm reduction, added it’s time to make mental health care more available and affordable.
“We know right now that when people need help, they’re ending up in overcrowded emergency rooms. They’re ending up at their doctor’s office, who aren’t either trained, or don’t have the capacity to deal with it. We know five million Canadians can’t even access a doctor,” said Johns.
“Eighty organizations have been supporting our call for the transfer to be delivered immediately, and for the government to create a parity act between mental and physical health,” Johns added.
