IN THE NEWS- Gord asks when government will finally take action on overdose deaths

The State of Mental Health in Canada 2024 with CMHA Nationwide Leadership Team

Thanks to the Canadian Mental Health Association’s Nationwide Leadership Team for taking time to meet with me last week in Ottawa to discuss their new report “The State of Mental Health in Canada 2024”. Leaders from CMHAs across Canada shared trends they are observing, challenges they are facing, and promising practices. The report and discussion makes clear there remain significant barriers and inequities to mental healthcare access in Canada. I took the occasion to talk to the Team about my advocacy in Parliament for parity between mental and physical health and an evidence informed response to the toxic drug crisis. To see the report, go here: https://bit.ly/4icztvU

King Charles III Coronation Medal

Universal Children's Day

Today is Universal Children's Day. Yesterday, I rose in the House of Commons to recognize and celebrate children's rights in Canada and worldwide. On this day, we recognize the declaration of the rights of the child and the convention of children's rights.

These rights include the right to be protected from violence and discrimination, and the right to life, health and education.

I also took the opportunity to recognize the delegations from UNICEF visiting parliamentarians and to salute the work of UNICEF and all child-focused organizations who take the time to educate Parliamentarians about how to meaningfully improve children's lives.

Over the last several years we have seen absolute devastation for children worldwide in conflicts, including Ukraine, and Palestine, and Sudan, and now in Lebanon. In too many places today children's rights are under attack. International law and human rights are under attack. And children bear the brunt of these conflicts.

New Democrats will always stand for the rights of children, and will make space for children and young people to raise their voices on the issues that matter to them.

Happy Universal Children's day!