North Island-Powell River MP Rachel Blaney has called on the Liberal government to improve mental health support for veterans by investing in Burns Way, a nonprofit organization that works to make veterans' mental health services more accessible.
The Liberals refused to commit funding for this much-needed service for veterans, according to a media release from Blaney.
“There is a veterans mental health crisis, and for many who fought to protect this country, getting help is out of reach,” stated Blaney, who is the NDP’s veterans affairs critic. “By refusing to act today, the minister of veterans affairs is following in the footsteps of previous Conservative governments that cut nine veterans affairs offices, leaving thousands of veterans without services. Canada’s veterans deserve more than the Liberals’ attempts to defend their staffing shortages, service backlogs and inaccessible processes. Veterans deserve mental health support; lives depend on it.”
The release stated that New Democrats believe that organizations such as Burns Way, which provides help for veterans, should be supported by the federal government. Between 2010 and 2020, 191 veterans died by suicide, a stark and heartbreaking reality that shows help is often out of reach for veterans, the release stated.
Burns Way is an organization that tackles the veteran’s mental health crisis by anonymously connecting veterans in need with trained peer advocates.
“Canadian veterans shouldn’t have to fight this hard to get the support they need,” stated Blaney. “All we’re asking the government to do is work alongside Canadian veterans to build a system that delivers support. Veterans need more from their government than their attendance at photo ops and ceremonies, or the cuts to the services by Pierre Poilievre and his Conservatives.
“New Democrats want to see more trained peer-to-peer support for our brave veterans – and there’s no good reason for the Liberals to refuse to support these initiatives.”
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