NDP mental health ministry PMB passes crucial vote

Today, an NDP bill that would create a ministry devoted to mental health and addictions passed a critical vote in the legislature. Every Wynne Liberal present voted against the improvement for mental health and addictions -- but several left the house before the vote, allowing those in favour to outnumber the Liberals.  “By voting against this important legislation, Kathleen Wynne’s Liberals are showing Ontarians exactly where their priorities lie,” said Ontario New Democrat Leader Andrea Horwath. “Across this province, people living with addiction and mental health issues are struggling to access the care and resources they need. People requiring urgent care are left languishing on waiting lists, or are simply being left to fend for themselves where no programs exist at all. “Mental health and addiction services should be more than an afterthought, but with programs spread across multiple ministries, it hasn’t had the attention or focus it needs. Creating a separate ministry would put in place the coordination, dedicated resources and attention currently missing in Ontario – and that would move us forward, towards better health for those living with mental health challenges or addiction.” The legislation, introduced by NDP Health critic France Gélinas, would create a new ministry tasked with – amongst other things –  “[leading] the transformation of Ontario’s mental health and addictions services; … [ensuring] that all Ontario residents have timely and equitable access to an integrated system of mental health and addictions care; … and [ensuring] that all Ontarians can seamlessly navigate mental health and addictions supports.” The last Conservative government gutted Ontario’s health care system, laying off thousands of front line staff – including 6,000 nurses – and closing dozens of hospitals. This Liberal government has only made things worse by freezing hospital budgets and leaving our health care staff without the resources they need to do their jobs. “Creating a ministry to focus on mental health and addictions will set us up to deliver better health to Ontario people. I look forward to working with my fellow New Democrats to keep pushing this legislation until we get the job done, and taking the next step to help Ontario families living with mental health and addiction issues,” said Gélinas.  “For mental health and addiction services, we can do so much better. Creating a ministry to focus on mental health and addictions will set us up to deliver better health to Ontario people.”