Thanks to Cari McIntyre, the Emergency Planning Coordinator of the Comox Valley Emergency Program for visiting me on Parliament Hill. I was pleased to give her a tour and as always, I was super impressed with her work, passion and commitment to emergency planning and response in the Comox Valley. We talked a lot about the opportunities for coordination between all levels of government in to mitigate the effects of climate change and to establish infrastructure and respond to climate disasters. Great to hear her commons sense solutions to being better prepared for the future.
Mood Disorders Society of Canada Meeting
It was a privilege to meet with representatives from Mood Disorders Society of Canada recently in Ottawa to discuss the important role of community organizations and peer support workers in helping Canadians with mental illnesses. They spoke about how the chronic underfunding of Canada’s mental health sector limits the ability of non-profit organizations to expand services and meet growing demand. We agreed that investing in community mental health organizations could reduce pressures on the healthcare system and help Canadians who are struggling. Finally, we talked about my Private Member’s Bill, C-414, which is pushing for parity between physical and mental health in our universal, public healthcare system. Canada is facing a mental health crisis and it’s clear we need systemic change so everyone can access care when they need it most.