| MACLEOD AND COLLEAGUES STAND UP FOR ONTARIO'S MOST VULNERABLE CHILDREN |
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| Tuesday, 20 March 2007 19:00 |
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Holds provincial government to account on Children's Mental Health QUEEN’S PARK, March 21, 2007 – Progressive Conservative Critic for Children and Youth Services Lisa MacLeod said today that the McGuinty Liberals continue to dump the mental health needs of Ontario’s children to the bottom of their priority list. In contrast, children’s mental health is at the forefront of the Ontario PC agenda for this new legislative session. The Official Opposition is ready to hold Dalton McGuinty and his government to account on behalf of Ontario’s most vulnerable children. Today in the Legislature MPP MacLeod challenged the government to provide the $40 million in funding that this sector needs. Other PC MPPs Jerry Ouellette (Oshawa), John O’Toole (Durham) and Christine Elliott (Whitby –Ajax) pointed out that Dalton McGuinty is cutting $3 million from children’s mental health services in Durham Region. John Yakabuski, PC MPP, spoke up yesterday on the issue of The Phoenix Centre in Pembroke, which the provincial government continues to deny adequate operating funds. “Mr. Speaker, about one in six children suffers from mental illness. If undetected and untreated early, it can develop into a chronic problem” said MacLeod in the legislature today, “Today; I call on the McGuinty Liberals to do the right thing. Follow the lead of the federal government and inject that money which is desperately needed across Ontario to help these kids.” - 30 - For more information, contact: Stephen Gilman, Executive Assistant Phone: 416-325-6351. Cell: 613-297-2051 |