The Select Committee on Mental Health and Addictions’ report was adopted by the legislatur  unanimously 169 days ago, but the McGuinty government has refused to present a plan to implement its recommendations.

“We decided to stop waiting for the government to act – they needed to be reminded that Mental Health and Addiction treatment is a priority in today’s Ontario,” Bailey said. “Ontario families are facing a crisis regarding access to mental health and addictions treatment. In my own riding of Sarnia-Lambton, we had 14 suicide deaths between January and October in 2010. We need to act now to provide Ontarians with the care and treatment that they need to live healthy lives.”

The report offered 23 recommendations that, if followed, would quickly and drastically improve the delivery of mental health and addictions services in Ontario. A major recommendation of the Committee’s report calls on the province to create an umbrella agency, to spearhead a provincial strategy and ensure equitable access to mental health services across Ontario.

All parties voted in favour of the PC motion, which will require the McGuinty government to bring forward an action plan this spring.

MPP Bailey has presented a number of petitions regarding mental health and suicide prevention to the Legislative Assembly. Last November he hosted Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley at Queen’s Park, where Bailey arranged a meeting with Sylvia Jones, PC Critic of Community and Social Services to speak about mental health services and the need for a suicide prevention strategy. Bailey has also called on the Ontario Ministry of Health to provide long-term funding to the St. Clair Centre for Child and Youth Services which has seen a rapid increase in caseload.