April 25, 2005
SURREY – The very same NDP that announced a Mental Health Plan in government and then failed to fund it, is now promising to do it again.
“Does Carole James have no shame? It was her NDP that announced a Mental Health Plan and then provided no money to fund it,” said Brenda Locke, Minister of State for Mental Health and Addictions Services. “It was Carole James’ NDP that ignored and short-changed mental health for a decade.”
In 1998, the NDP announced a $125 million, seven-year Mental Health Plan. Two years later NDP Health Minister Penny Priddy admitted, “While it was announced, it was never in a budget. There wasn’t budget approval.” (Source: Vancouver Sun, 1 Apr 2000)
Locke, who is the BC Liberal candidate for Surrey-Green Timbers, pointed out that the BC Liberal government has:
- Appointed Canada’s first cabinet minister dedicated to mental health and addictions.
- Spent over $1 billion annually in mental health and addiction services across B.C.’s health system, an increase of $188 million since 2000/01.
- Fully funded the $125 million Mental Health Plan and implemented a $138 million plan to build new facilities in Kamloops, Prince George, Saanich, and Terrace.
- Established the Premier’s Task Force on Homelessness, Mental Illness, and Addiction Services, to develop a strategy and allocate $84 million for transitional housing and support for those in need.
Locke also pointed out that BC is the only province in western Canada with dedicated youth detox beds, and that BC established an addictions treatment program for women and their newborns in 2003 – the first program of its kind in Canada.
“The NDP has a disgraceful record on mental health – why should anyone believe them now?” said Locke.
