Question Period Notes
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In accordance with the Access to Information Act, the government proactively publishes the package of question period notes that were prepared by a government institution for the minister and that were in use on the last sitting day in June and December.
The question period notes may be partially or fully redacted in accordance with the legislation; for example, if the notes contain information related to national security or personal information. (Learn more about exemptions and exclusions.)
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Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is the leading known cause of preventable developmental disability in Canada. Caused by prenatal alcohol exposure, FASD has life-long impacts
Harm reduction measures are one critical part of a comprehensive public health approach to substance use. Harm reduction aims to save lives, and reduce the negative health, social and economic impacts of substance use on individuals, their families and communities, without requiring abstinence. Harm reduction services also help people who use substances to make connections with health and social services, including treatment and recovery.
Many mental health issues manifest before adulthood, and contribute to a disproportionately large percentage of hospitalizations due to these disorders, among children and youth.
The mental health of youth was in decline before the COVID-19 pandemic, which further exacerbated this trend. Through the pandemic, symptoms of depression and anxiety have also increased among this age group.
There is an opportunity to better address the mental health needs of children and youth by focusing on early intervention in community based settings.
Black Canadians experience multiple vulnerabilities related to their mental and physical health, largely due to underlying socio-economic conditions, including experiences of anti-Black racism.
The quality and accessibility of mental health and substance use health services varies across the country. Furthermore, inequities in access to quality services are greater for populations that face barriers to care, including Indigenous peoples.
British Columbia’s proposed class actions against opioid manufacturers, distributors and consultants seek damages for opioid-related health care costs on behalf of the provincial, territorial and federal governments.
Maternal stress, anxiety and depression are important public health issues, increasing the risk of poor mental and physical health outcomes for mothers along with potential impacts for children and families.
There is significant interest in the potential use of psychedelics, particularly psilocybin (“magic mushrooms”) and MDMA, for the treatment of a variety of serious mental health conditions, including major depressive disorder, treatment-resistant depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Sexual misconduct allegations related to MDMA clinical trials sponsored by the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) have drawn media attention
Rural and remote communities in Canada face unique challenges in accessing quality mental health services due to factors such as having to travel longer distances, workforce shortages, high turnover rates, and poor communication infrastructure.
Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of preventable disease and premature death in this country, killing approximately 46,000 Canadians each year. The Government has an ambitious target to reduce tobacco use to less than five percent by 2035.