October 31st 2018 - Bill S-248, An Act respecting National Physicians' Day - Various Witnesses

Senator Poirier: Thank you, Dakota, for being here and sharing some of your experiences and knowledge with us. It’s greatly appreciated.

I know you touched on it a bit, but I’d like you to elaborate on the challenges that face individuals when they move to an urban centre. What kinds of programs and resources are available to assist them in that transition period?

Mr. Laliberte: Like within our Friendship Centres?

Senator Poirier: Yes.

Mr. Laliberte: Right now, my local Friendship Centre doesn’t have anything to help with that transition. I do believe that some Friendship Centres do help youth, transition into the urban centres.

I can definitely get back to you on that question. I don’t want to say something that is wrong.

Senator Poirier: The biggest challenge that the Friendship Centres are faced with is delivering culturally adequate services for mental health programs. Right now, what kind of help does the federal government offer the Friendship Centres across the country and is it sufficient? If not, what more could they do?

Mr. Laliberte: I don’t think it’s sufficient. There are a lot of youth all across Canada who don’t have a place to go, even rural communities. In urban centres, youth have movie theatres, pools, all that kind of stuff to go to. Indigenous youth have some places where they can go, but our Friendship Centres do not provide sufficient mental health services.

I believe, our whole council believes that we should have mental health services within our Friendship Centres, or even a youth coordinator to help these youth transitions — moving to the city or helping with things along those lines.

Senator Poirier: Do you get any type of help from the federal government for the Friendship Centres?

Mr. Laliberte: Any federal help?

Senator Poirier: Yes. Either by manpower, by money, in any way? Do you get any type of help at all?

Mr. Laliberte: I have to get back to you on that question. I could answer this: For my youth council there is this funding, I’m pretty sure it’s called — I’ll have to get back to you on that. Sorry about that.

Senator Poirier: That’s okay.

I want to know what the difference is in terms of services that you offer. In Ottawa, they have a Friendship Centre and the Aboriginal Health Access Centre. What’s the role and what’s the difference between the two? Do you know?

Mr. Laliberte: I’m unfamiliar with the Aboriginal one. With our Friendship Centre, we don’t fully offer those kinds of programs or services to Indigenous people.

Senator Poirier: What’s the main thing that your Friendship Centre is offering right now across the country? The ones in the urban centres, what’s the main thing that you’re offering when an individual comes into an urban centre and walks into your Friendship Centre?

Mr. Laliberte: I’m not sure what every Friendship Centre offers but there are programs such as community support worker, court workers. I’m unfamiliar with the other ones as well. We can definitely get back to you.

Senator Poirier: These workers, are they provided by the provincial governments or by the federal government, or are they volunteers?

Mr. Laliberte: I’m pretty sure court workers are provided by the provincial government. Community support workers, I’m pretty sure that one is the federal government. Yes.

Senator Poirier: Thank you.

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