Doing What's Right - Harper puts new Focus on Mental Health

[Keepitsimple]

As far as I can tell, this story did not get much media attention, appearing on Page 15 of Saturday's Star. Announcements like these are significant - they deal with substance - as opposed to the day-to-day blather about the environment and Afghanistan. Intitiatives such as this along with pursuing Human Rights for First Nations are substantive issues that help to make Canada a better country. Of particular note is that Harper announced that Michael Kirby. a retired Liberal senator, would lead the newly formed Mental Health Commission of Canada. It's nice to see that Harper has chosen the best man for the job, regardless of party affiliation.

Link: http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/252281

In front of an audience of international mental-health experts, Prime Minister Stephen Harper yesterday named 17 people to the board of the Mental Health Commission of Canada, an arm's length agency the Conservatives created and funded in the 2007 budget to the tune of $55 million over the next five years.

Calling it the cornerstone of his government's strategy to deal with mental-health issues, Harper described those appointed, including Kirby, as "the best minds in Canada's mental-health field today" and gave them tall marching orders.

"They will lead a national campaign to erase the stigma attached to mental illness," said Harper. "They will also serve as a national clearing house for information on the best medical practices for dealing with it."

Kirby co-chaired, along with former senator Dr. Wilbert Keon, a Senate committee that in 2006 reported on mental illness and mental-health services in Canada.

"This is the most significant national policy initiative around mental health since the post-war federal grants that were designed to improve conditions in provincial asylums," Charbonneau said.

[geoffrey]

While the move is nice, it's a provincial jurisdiction the Feds are already way too involved in. Back off Ottawa.

[Posit]

Harper is not only the owner of the new mental health policy but he is also their first client!

[geoffrey]

Harper is not only the owner of the new mental health policy but he is also their first client!

Let's just insure that this can't be editted. You contribute nothing to the discussion.

[Posit]

Let's just insure that this can't be editted. You contribute nothing to the discussion.

Your inane follow-up contributes nothing either. I least I was being a little humourous. Being anal about these types of things seems to be your forte......

[jennie]

While the move is nice, it's a provincial jurisdiction the Feds are already way too involved in. Back off Ottawa.

That's just silly.

All help welcomed. Education and national resources are very helpful.

[Higgly]

Harper is not only the owner of the new mental health policy but he is also their first client!

Har har. I like the way you think, Posit.

[Shakeyhands]

obviously playing to his base!

Its a good move really, though I can see Geoffreys point as well.

[geoffrey]

Its a good move really, though I can see Geoffreys point as well.

If this was a Liberal move, I'd say bravo. But Harper was elected on returning to the provinces some areas of their traditional control. Further stepping into health care isn't a good thing. Ottawa really shouldn't have anything to do with health care. Or at least the provinces should be able to choose not to have anything to do with Ottawa's health care, without financial penalty.

[Shakeyhands]

If this was a Liberal move, I'd say bravo. But Harper was elected on returning to the provinces some areas of their traditional control. Further stepping into health care isn't a good thing. Ottawa really shouldn't have anything to do with health care. Or at least the provinces should be able to choose not to have anything to do with Ottawa's health care, without financial penalty.

ergo, you vaunted multi tiered health system.... it will never fly.

[Keepitsimple]

If this was a Liberal move, I'd say bravo. But Harper was elected on returning to the provinces some areas of their traditional control. Further stepping into health care isn't a good thing. Ottawa really shouldn't have anything to do with health care. Or at least the provinces should be able to choose not to have anything to do with Ottawa's health care, without financial penalty.

I share your concern about Provincial jurisdiction but there are some areas of Healthcare that can benefit from an informational clearinghouse approach in conjunction with some sort of National awareness campaign. Helping to develop best practices and encouraging provincial program integration can also help. Having said that, there is often a fine line between "helping" and "intruding" - usually measured by offering or withholding funding or direct aid to a patient. Let's see how it unfolds but at first blush, it seems to be gratefully accepted by the medical community. Quebec is the province who hollers loudest on intrusion so I'll be curious to see their response.

[geoffrey]

ergo, you vaunted multi tiered health system.... it will never fly.

Unfortunately, this is one of the few areas where the SCC has agreed with me. They require the government to change the law to allow private insurance for publically funded procedures. Beyond that, it's quite clear in the Constitution that provinces have completely authority over health care... but for some reason Health Canada is one of the biggest chunks of cash in Ottawa?

It may not fly political yet, but like all those other rights things that have come along in the last few years (gay marriage, ect.), eventually the law will win out and the Federal government will get their Tommy Douglas system kicked to the curb in a hurry.

Quebec is the province who hollers loudest on intrusion so I'll be curious to see their response.

Not true, at least when they are getting a cheque. They'll whine later.

Good points though.

[Topaz]

The truth is, Harper does have Mental Health problems himself. Doesn't anyone remember the press reporting shortly after becoming the PM, he had to go to the hospital and it was saids he needed panic attack medication or anti-depression medication???? Thats part of the reason he's gaining so much weight, the medication puts weight on you!

[Keepitsimple]

The real point of why I started this topic was that the Conservatives started what appears to be something worthy and substantial by appointing a Liberal to lead it - Michael Kirby. That's why I titled it "Doing What's Right" - Kirby was arguably the best person for the job and it didn't matter that he was a Liberal - albeit retired.

There's patronage and then there is blatant patronage. Career politicians and public servants - who are often (but not always) best qualified for a position - are pretty well guaranteed to be affiliated with the Liberals or Conservatives. That's just the way it is. The issue is always whether they are a good choice for the position.

[geoffrey]

The truth is, Harper does have Mental Health problems himself. Doesn't anyone remember the press reporting shortly after becoming the PM, he had to go to the hospital and it was saids he needed panic attack medication or anti-depression medication???? Thats part of the reason he's gaining so much weight, the medication puts weight on you!

That's definitely venturing into libel. It was an asthma attack. You really ought to stop making stuff up. If anyone else maybe shared that view, then maayybe. But I can't find any media or otherwise that describe it as such. Sad.

Edited September 5, 2007 by geoffrey