News
McGuinty Liberals Circumvent Their Own Mental Health Strategy
July 20, 2011For Immediate Release
July 20, 2008
News
QUEEN’S PARK – Today, Ontario PC Deputy Leader and Health Critic, MPP Christine Elliott, (Whitby-Oshawa), called out the McGuinty government for deviating from their own Mental Health and Addictions Strategy which was released less than a month ago.
On June 29th, the McGuinty Liberals advised a small group of stakeholders that the responsibility for the Psychiatric Patient Advocate Office (PPAO) would be transferred to the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA). Just one week earlier, with the announcement of Open Minds, Healthy Minds; Ontario’s Comprehensive Mental Health and Addictions Strategy, the government committed to establishing a task force to examine current Ontario legislation related to involuntary treatment, and sharing of health related information. A major part of the work done by the PPAO involves dealing with the issues of involuntary treatment and other complex patient concerns.
Without their task force having even been created, the McGuinty Liberals are now taking a step that can have a major impact on changing the balance within the mental health system.
Quotes
“To make this change without any consultation is worrisome. The McGuinty government is circumventing their own policy and strategy by unilaterally deciding to make this change without even establishing the task force they recognized was necessary to deal with this issue.”
– MPP Christine Elliott (Whitby-Oshawa), Ontario PC Deputy Leader and Health Critic
“The balancing of individual civil liberties against a right to be well, while also considering the welfare of the community is very complex and not to be taken lightly. This is why the Select Committee recommended a task force – and why the Liberals’ mental health and addictions strategy picked it up. Changing the PPAO’s reporting structure without the input of a task force, or indeed, any consultation whatsoever does a disservice to mental health consumers and their families.”
– MPP Christine Elliott (Whitby-Oshawa), Ontario PC Deputy Leader and Health Critic
Quick Facts
- The PPAO was created as an arm’s length program of the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, in 1983, to provide independent confidential advocacy services and rights advice to mental health consumers. This change was announced without consultation with service providers, mental health consumers, or their families.
- The PPAO advocates for over 3,400 clients every year and is also responsible for providing rights advice services in 71 of 74 “Schedule 1″ mental health hospitals across Ontario.
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Contact:
Christine Elliott | amanda.meek@pc.ola.org | 905-430-1141