House of Commons

Thank you, Chair. Before I ask a couple of questions, I'd like to put a motion on notice for the committee. It reads: That, given that: homelessness, addiction and mental health challenges continue to have significant impacts on individuals, families and communities across Canada; communities across the country continue to experience rising homelessness, ongoing substance use harms and increasing pressure on frontline services; the current approaches have not delivered the outcomes Canadians deserve; Canadians are demanding a renewed focus on prevention, early intervention, treatment, recovery, housing stability and community reintegration, with measurable outcomes that help individuals achieve long-term health, stability and independence; and it is important that federal investments support measurable outcomes, accountability and access to services that help Canadians achieve long-term recovery, stability and independence; the committee report to the House its recommendation that the Government of Canada: evaluate whether current approaches are achieving their intended outcomes and prioritize investments that demonstrate measurable results in treatment, recovery, housing stability, and long-term independence; and administer existing federal initiatives and funding commitments in a way that prioritizes: stronger access to treatment, recovery and mental health supports; expanded access to stable housing options, including transitional and supportive housing where appropriate; prevention and early interventions that reduce the risk of homelessness and substance use harms; measurable outcomes, accountability and long-term support for individuals seeking stability, recovery and independence; and collaboration among federal, provincial, territorial, municipal, indigenous and community partners to improve outcomes for Canadians affected by homelessness, addiction and related social challenges. Thank you, Chair.