Minister of Mental Health and Addictions pocket book
July 2023
Table of contents
- A. Health Portfolio overview highlights
- B. Ministerial responsibilities
- C. The Portfolio
- D. Key messages
- E. Key messages on priority issues
- F. Key contacts
A. Health Portfolio overview highlights
Portfolio organizations
- Health Canada (HC)
- Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC)
- Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)
- Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
- Patented Medicine Prices Review Board (PMPRB)
Deputy Minister and agency heads
- Dr. Stephen Lucas, DM – HC
- Heather Jeffrey, President – PHAC
- Dr. Theresa Tam, Chief Public Health Officer - PHAC
- Dr. Harpreet Kochhar, President - CFIA
- Catherine MacLeod, A/President – CIHR
- Thomas J. Digby, Chair – PMPRB
2023-24 Budget and Full-Time Equivalents (FTEs)
- HC: $4,100,226,285 / 8,813 FTEs
- PHAC: $4,216,773,473 / 3,338 FTEs
- CFIA: $842,083,472 / 6,287 FTEs
- CIHR: $1,351,640,781 / 625 FTEs
- PMPRB: $17,093,674 / 81 FTEs
Mental health and substance use in Canada
- Significant progress has been made to improve access by Canadians to publicly funded mental health services, mental health equity and a holistic approach to substance use services but large challenges remain.
- Positive self-rated mental health has been declining among Canadians, with a more dramatic decline through the COVID-19 pandemic. While positive self-rated mental health has declined, the percentage of Canadians diagnosed with anxiety or mood disorders has increased. 18% of Canadians report needing mental health care in the previous 12 months, and more than 20% of these individuals report not knowing where or how to get help.
- The overall rate of suicide mortality has not decreased since 2006 despite efforts. Between 2017 and 2019, there were approximately 4,500 deaths by suicide/year in Canada. This is equivalent to 12 suicide deaths every day. Rates of suicide are affected by socioeconomic determinants as well as upstream risk factors such as childhood trauma, mental health, and substance use.
- Commonly used substances include: alcohol, tobacco, vaping products, cannabis, and opioids. A smaller portion of Canadians access illegal street drugs, such as fentanyl, cocaine or crack; ecstasy; methamphetamines or speed; hallucinogens; or heroin.
- Most Canadians access controlled substances through legal distribution channels (retail) and for valid commercial, medical and scientific activities.
- Most people who use substances do so without causing significant harm to their health or that of others. But deaths from substances remain a significant cause of death in Canada: In 2022, there were 7,328 apparent opioid toxicity deaths; in 2020, 46,366 Canadians died from a tobacco-related disease and approximately 17,100 people died from alcohol related deaths. Every day, 500 Canadians are hospitalized because of harm from alcohol or drugs, more than for heart attacks and strokes combined.
- Significant harms are also caused by some of the policies introduced to address substance use and related issues. For instance, there are harms caused by taking a criminal approach rather than a public health approach (i.e. through the policing and criminal prosecution of low-level offences like simple possession).
- The Health Portfolio is building on emerging success of 2017 Common Statement of Principles on Shared Health Priorities and investments in mental health and addictions related to integrated youth services, with hubs in many PTs, national data framework in development and shared FPT interests in growing model further.
- The February 7, 2023 announcement of federal investments in health care improvement of close to $200B set out that mental health and substance use to be integrated within or addressed through the shared health priorities in new bilateral agreements with PTs, supported by $25 billion/10 years of federal funding. These agreements are currently in negotiation.
- Implementation of Budget 2021 funding commitments has also focused on addressing mental health equity gaps. Projects are supporting the mental health of those most impacted by COVID-19 (e.g. youth, seniors, First Nations, Inuit, Métis, Black and other racialized Canadians) and are also building provider capacity to deliver programming in safe, effective and trauma-informed ways.
- Budget 2023 has also supported suicide prevention (988 crisis line) and tobacco cost recovery efforts that will see key milestones met in 2023-24.
B. Ministerial responsibilities
The Health Portfolio is mandated to help Canadians maintain and improve their health. Portfolio's main activities, include:
- Strengthening our universal health care system;
- Enabling access to safe, high-quality health and food products;
- Responding to public health emergencies, including the COVID-19 pandemic;
- Engaging people to adopt behaviours and make changes to reduce risk of developing chronic disease, and promote health and well-being;
- Managing risks to health; and,
- Supporting health research and science, data collection and surveillance capacity.
You will be supported by five science-based organizations:
- Health Canada (HC);
- Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC);
- Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA);
- Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR); and
- The quasi-judicial Patented Medicine Prices Review Board (PMPRB).
C. The Portfolio
Health Canada (HC)
- Supports universally accessible, publicly funded health care for Canadians through administration of the Canada Health Act, leadership on emerging issues, and cooperation with PTs on system improvements.
- Enables access to safe and effective health products by assessing and regulating health products, such as drugs and medical devices.
- Pandemic response: Since January 2020, Health Canada has played a key role in contributing to the pandemic response. For example, Health Canada approved COVID-19 vaccines, which were then rolled out across the country.
- Supports Canadians in making safe and healthy choices through public education and awareness campaigns to communicate health and safety information.
- Manages the health risks of harmful substances, cannabis, consumer products, chemicals and pesticides and reduces environmental health risks such as climate change.
The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC)
- Pandemic and infectious disease response: Responsible for emergency preparedness and response, providing key services in the federal response including: coordinating with PTs, providing epidemiological and modelling information to support good decision making, financing and rolling out vaccines and supporting a public health focused border posture.
- Protects the health of Canadians by providing national leadership in anticipating, preparing for and responding to public health events and emergencies, and providing timely public health information to prevent disease and issues of concern.
- Promotes the well-being of Canadians by preventing the spread of infectious diseases, chronic disease and injury.
- Supports Canadians in making healthy choices by promoting healthy behaviour and practices, and addressing the root causes of health inequalities.
- Collaborates with a wide range of partners and stakeholders including provinces and territories, Indigenous and international partners, on shared health priorities.
- Supports public health action through surveillance, evidence and public education, and promotes the use of evidence by public health practitioners and policy makers.
Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)
- Safeguards Canada's food supply to keep Canadians safe and healthy.
- Protects Canada's plant and animal resources from pests and diseases.
- Supports Canadian food businesses as they compete, innovate and grow in domestic and global markets.
- Reports through the Minister of Health except in agriculturally focused areas, where the agency reports through the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food.
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
- Mandated to support research and innovation, CIHR uses the power of research to improve the health of Canadians, solve health challenges and make our health care system more efficient and effective.
- Invests over a billion dollars annually to support over 15,000 world-class researchers and trainees, supporting biomedical, clinical, health systems services, and population health research pillars.
- Prioritizes activities that: advance research excellence in all its diversity; strengthen Canadian health research capacity; accelerate the self-determination of Indigenous peoples in health research; pursue health equity through research; and integrate evidence in health decisions; all while committing to organizational excellence.
- Supports Canada's research enterprise by working closely with other federal granting agencies (the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council), and with other domestic and international partners.
- Composed of 13 "virtual" institutes focusing on a specific area of research. Each institute is led by an internationally renowned scientist and works on a broad spectrum of topic areas.
Patented Medicine Prices Review Board (PMPRB)
- Mandated to protect Canadian consumers from excessive drug pricing and report on drug trends and research and development (R&D) spending by patentees.
- Patented Medicine Prices Review Board (PMPRB) is an independent, quasi-judicial consumer protection agency at arm's length from the Minister of Health.
- PMPRB's Executive Director is responsible for the day-to-day administration and oversight of its public service staff.
- The Minister of Health has responsibility for the PMPRB. Under the authority of the Patent Act (s. 90), the Minister may also direct the PMPRB to inquire into any matter regarding patented medicine prices and report its findings.
D. Key messages
- I am honoured to be appointed Minister of Mental Health and Addictions.
- I look forward to being briefed by officials from my Health Portfolio on the pressing issues affecting the mental health and well-being of Canadians.
- I also look forward to working collaboratively with my federal counterparts, provinces, territories, and Indigenous partners.
If pressed on specific Health Portfolio issues:
- Thank you for your question. That is certainly something on my radar, and an issue I look forward to learning much more about.
- As mentioned, I will soon be meeting with officials from the Health Portfolio. I welcome the opportunity to speak to you in more depth on this issue in the weeks to come.
E. Key messages on priority issues
Mental health
Issue:
- Budget 2023 announced close to $200 billion over 10 years, including $46.2 billion in new funding for provinces/territories to improve health care services for Canadians. Part of this funding will be dedicated to improving access for Canadians to timely, equitable and quality mental health, substance use and addictions services to support their well-being.
Proposed Response:
- My predecessor has said – and I agree – there is no health without mental health.
- The Government of Canada is committed to supporting the mental health and well-being of people across Canada, and working with partners on improving access to health and substance use services.
- I look forward to working with my provincial and territorial colleagues to support a system of care that will integrate mental health and substance use health across our shared health priorities.
Opioid crisis
Issue:
- The toxic drug supply and overdose crisis is an unprecedented and complex health and social issue that requires innovative actions. According to the most recent data published by the Public Health Agency of Canada, between January and December 2022, an average of 20 lives were lost and approximately 14 people were hospitalized each day for opioid-related poisoning.
Proposed Response:
- The overdose crisis is driven by a toxic and unpredictable drug supply. This unprecedented crisis is heartbreaking and has taken a tragic toll on the families, loved ones, and communities.
- I have been proud to see our Government take a comprehensive approach to address the overdose crisis that includes prevention, treatment, harm reduction, and enforcement.
- I am anxious to drive efforts on this important work that saves lives in collaboration with my provincial and territorial partners.
B.C. decriminalization
Issue:
- On May 31, 2022, at the request of the province of B.C., the Federal Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health announced the granting of a time-limited exemption for three years under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) so that people 18 and older in the province will not be subject to criminal charges for personal possession of small amounts of certain illegal drugs. The exemption is in effect from January 31, 2023 to January 31, 2026.
Proposed Response:
- I am looking forward to learning more about the progress British Columbia has made since the coming into force of the exemption earlier this year.
- This exemption is one additional tool that the federal government is providing to B.C. to help them address substance use harms and overdose deaths in its jurisdiction.
- I am committed to continue working closely with the Province of B.C. to ensure the exemption is working in the best interest of all British Columbians.
9-8-8 and suicide prevention
Issue:
- In August 2022, the Government of Canada welcomed the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission's (CRTC) decision to adopt 9-8-8 as the three-digit number to dial or text to access suicide prevention and crisis support. The 9-8-8: Suicide Crisis Helpline will launch on November 30th, 2023.
Proposed Response:
- The Government of Canada recognizes the importance of everyone in Canada having access to critical mental health and substance use resources, including suicide prevention services, and is pleased to be working with provinces and territories on this important issue.
- As of November 30, 2023, the 9-8-8: Suicide Crisis Helpline will be available in English and French, 24 hours a day and seven days a week, to everyone in Canada.
- While work is underway to implement 9-8-8, I encourage Canadians in need to access existing supports such as Talk Suicide Canada, Hope for Wellness and Kids Help Phone.
F. Key contacts
Prime Minister's office switchboard
Tel: 613-992-4211
Minister's Office Reception
Tel: 613-957-0200
Health Canada
Dr. Stephen Lucas
Deputy Minister
Tel: 613-957-0212
[REDACT]
Email: stephen.lucas@hc-sc.gc.ca
Eric Costen
Associate Deputy Minister
Tel: 613-948-4542
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Email: eric.costen@hc-sc.gc.ca
Public Health Agency of Canada
Heather Jeffrey
President
Tel: 613-946-3498
[REDACT]
Email: heather.jeffrey@phac-aspc.gc.ca
Dr. Theresa Tam
Chief Public Health Officer Tel: 613-954-8524
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Email: theresa.tam@phac-aspc.gc.ca
Nancy Hamzawi
Executive Vice-President
[REDACT]
Email: nancy.hamzawi@phac-aspc.gc.ca
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Dr. Harpreet Kochhar
President
Tel: 613-773-6000
[REDACT]
Email: harpreet.kochhar@inspection.gc.ca
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Catherine MacLeod
A/President
Tel: 613-954-1808
[REDACT]
Email: catherine.macleod@cihr-irsc.gc.ca
Patented Medicine Prices Review Board
Thomas J. Digby
Chair
Tel: 613-288-9665
[REDACT]
Email: thomas.digby@pmprb-cepmb.gc.ca
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