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OPSEU backs bill introduced in Ontario legislature by NDP Leader Andrea Horwath to declare May 7 as Child and Youth Mental Health Awareness Day.
Toronto (4 May 2010) - The Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/NUPGE) has endorsed a private member's bill in the Ontario legislature that would declare May 7 as Child and Youth Mental Health Awareness Day.
The endorsement was announced Monday by OPSEU president Warren (Smokey) Thomas to mark the start of Children’s Mental Health Week in the province.
He spoke at a rally at Queen’s Park organized by Parents for Children’s Mental Health (PCMH). The bill was introduced in the legislature Monday by NDP Leader Andrea Horwath. Also taking part in the rally along with Thomas and Horwath was Sarah Cannon, executive director of PCMH.
“I fully support the move to designate May 7 as a provincial day for children’s mental health,” said Thomas. “However, the McGuinty government can’t speak out of both sides of its mouth. Either they put forward a plan to provide for long-term sustainable funding or they just admit that children with mental health issues just aren’t a priority for them.”
A network of parent groups across the country is working to have the day recognized both provincially and nationally.
NUPGE
The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE