QUESTION PERIOD — Ministry of Health
Mental Health Services
March 25, 2026
Minister, welcome and thank you for being with us today.
Your Departmental Plan prioritizes improving access to mental health services. It also seeks to address our country’s illegal drug crisis, substance abuse and addiction by expanding access to comprehensive programs and reducing these harms. However, Statistics Canada released startling data last week showing a significant decline in the functional health of Canadian adults, driven, in large part, by worsening emotional health, especially among young adults. Your Departmental Plan echoes those alarming numbers. Access to mental health care remains out of reach for many Canadians.
Minister, given the funding cuts facing your department, announced in the Departmental Plans, can you assure us here in this chamber today that mental health services will not be cut?
Thank you, senator, for your question. I will tell you that I only have three priorities, on which I decided at the beginning of my mandate. In January, I reflected on them again, and I still have three. Mental health is one of the key ones, so I will always fight for it, because when I’m on the ground, I see the need and I see the challenges. If I’m bringing forward this men’s and boys’ mental health consultation, it’s because of what I see on the ground. The need is there, and we need to at least try to work together to make sure that we are improving Canadians’ health and mental health. Because, as you know, right now, we cannot talk about only health. Mental health is health. This is the reality. Now, in 2026, we need to speak about holistic health.
Thank you, minister, for that. I understand that you’re saying we’re not going to reduce mental health services in Canada.
Minister, according to your own departmental result indicators, these unmet mental health needs have risen from 24% in 2022 to 28%. Yet, your target for 2027 is 22%. That’s a six-point gap, minister. How do you intend to bridge this six-point gap in one year?
I think what you need to understand is that, yes, we had to do some slimming — I don’t like to use the term “cuts” — but we’re looking at the department differently. Of course, some programs are sunsetting, but we have others that are still going on or that are going to answer the same challenges that the previous ones which don’t work anymore were addressing.
I’m not too concerned. What I want you to understand is, yes, mental health is one of the priorities, and we will get funding for it.
