Skip to main content

More effort is needed to prevent suicides in Manitoba


The Advocate for Children and Youth in Manitoba has just released a report showing an alarming number of suicides in children and youth in Manitoba in the last year.   In Question Period today, I asked the Minister of Families what she is doing to prevent suicides in children and youth.    The Premier responded, but sadly did not answer my question.  You can see my question and the Premier's response below: 

Youth Suicide Prevention - Inclusion of Case Planning

Hon. Jon Gerrard (River Heights): Madam Speaker, it is of concern that the children's advocate reports 32 suicides in those up to age 20 last year. Indeed, the number of suicides in those up to age 18 has increased by 60 per cent in the last two years compared to the previous four years, as the data I tabled shows.
            I note the child death review shows a deficiency in 53 of 57 case plans. Problems in case planning have been highlighted many times in recent years.
            My question to the minister: What's her plan to prevent suicides? Will she ensure that the deficiencies in case planning are addressed and ensure suicide prevention is included in future case planning? 

Hon. Brian Pallister (Premier): Appreciate the member raising his concern. It's a concern for every member in this House.
            What should be also of utmost concern is the federal government's attempt, under Bill C-92, An Act Respecting First Nations, Inuit and Metis Children, Youth and Families, to proclaim–to move ahead with legislation on January 1st of 2020, legislation that is the most comprehensive change to child welfare in Canadian history, which has been put forward without any consultation whatsoever with any of the provincial agencies, with any of the provincial governments or ministers, legislation which no one seems to have any idea how it will work, including the federal members who are putting it forward from the Liberal Party.
            There is no plan for the implementation of this legislation, and so we face major challenges and we face them head-on in Manitoba, but the challenges of Bill C-92–premiers will be addressing this, and I understand in the unanimous way on the weekend. I would encourage my Liberal colleagues to do the same.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Comparison between Manitoba and South Dakota shows dramatic impact of Physical Distancing

Manitoba implemented physical distancing measures in mid-March.  South Dakota has still not made physical distancing mandatory.   The result is a dramatic difference in the incidence of covid-19 viral infections between the two jurisdictions.   This graph shows the number of people with Covid-19 infections from March 27 to April 14.  Manitoba ( red line )  started leveling off about April 4 and has seen only a small increase in Covid-19 infections since then.   South Dakota ( blue line )   has seen a dramatic increase in Covid-19 infections since April 4.  Those who are skeptical of the impact of physical distancing in Manitoba should look at this graph! Data are from the Johns Hopkins daily tabulations
18 comments
Read more

Pushing for safe consumption sites and safe supply to reduce overdose deaths

  On Monday June 20th, Thomas Linner of the Manitoba Health Coalition, Arlene Last-Kolb Regional Director of Moms Stop the Harm and Winnipeg City Councillor Sherri Rollins were at the Manitoba Legislature to advocate for better measures to reduce deaths from drug overdoses, most particularly for safe consumption sites and for a safe supply, measures which can reduce overdose deaths.  
Post a Comment
Read more

Manitoba Liberal accomplishments

  Examples of Manitoba Liberal accomplishments in the last three years Ensured that 2,000 Manitoba fishers were able to earn a living in 2020   (To see the full story click on this link ). Introduced a bill that includes retired teachers on the Pension Investment Board which governs their pension investments. Introduced amendments to ensure school aged children are included in childcare and early childhood education plans moving forward. Called for improvements in the management of the COVID pandemic: ·          We called for attention to personal care homes even before there was a single case in a personal care home. ·            We called for a rapid response team to address outbreaks in personal care homes months before the PCs acted.  ·          We called for a science-based approach to preparing schools to   improve ventilati...
Post a Comment
Read more