UPDATE NOVEMBER 19, 2023:
My credo for life was written by William J. Bennett. It states: "WE ARE HERE TO HELP ONE ANOTHER ALONG LIFE'S JOURNEY."
I have always strived to help others, whether it be in my Service Canada professional career as an Employment and Insurance Officer or in my many years of volunteer work.
My main interests have been medical issues and programs to help children, and youth. Some of these programs included Baby Think It Over, Wrap of Love, Wigs for Women, Friends of the Food Bank, Food for Thought, Joseph A. Ghiz Memorial Park and four children's storybooks with medical themes.
I successfully lobbied for a Q.E. H. mammogram machine and linear accelerator, as I had breast cancer twice. I have now added mental health awareness to the list.
Our son, Andrew has been seriously ill for six years. We are thankful that the Minister of Health and Wellness, Mark McLane, authorized a rare Ministerial Order to have Andrew transferred back home to P.E.I., as he was homeless on the streets in Toronto, with winter approaching.
I have courageously stepped out and expressed my concern for the recently legislated Community Treatment Order. I would never tarnish my reputation, my family's reputation, Order of P.E.I. or UPEI Honourary Doctorate Degree, by giving misleading or false information.
The P.E.I. Government should have legislated a Gold Standard, Best in Canada CTO based on the New Brunswick CTO model. But that unfortunately, did not happen.
The PC Government chose to legislate a very restrictive CTO that many mentally ill people on P.E.I. will not receive, as they will not qualify. Our son, Andrew will not qualify.
We were told that this decision was based on a consultation with psychiatrists and others. Peter Bevan-Baker, Green Party asked the Minister of Health and Wellness, Mark McLane, for the list that were involved in the Mental Health Act consultation process. To Peter Bevan-Baker's surprise the Minister of Health, Mark McLane, refused to give the list. According to Peter Bevan-Baker he has never seen this happen before in his long political career. Why do you suppose this list was withheld?
Also, prior to the Community Treatment Order being legislated, I was consulting with Dr. Richard O'Reilly, psychiatrist, emeritus professor of psychiatry at Western University, London, Ontario. In addition, Dr. John Gray, lead author of mental health law and policy from Vancouver, B.C. contacted me. These are two leading specialists in Community Treatment Orders in Canada.
They offered to assist the P.E.I. Government to implement the CTO with no financial compensation! They authored a document titled EVOLUTION AND COMPARISONS, where they demonstrated that the proposed P.E.I. CTO was very restrictive verses the N.B. CTO model which was in their opinion the BEST IN CANADA. Their opinion was ignored and according to The Guardian, a flawed P.E.I. CTO was legislated.
Why do you suppose the PC Government refused to listen to Dr. Richard O'Reilly and Dr. John Gray's professional opinions, and then legislated a flawed CTO? This does not make sense!
I have courageously stepped out and challenged the P.E.I. Government to do the right thing. I want them to revoke the 3rd Reading of the CTO Bill before Royal Assent and replace it with a CTO that will be more inclusive and less restrictive based on the N.B. CTO model.
I believe that Islanders need and deserve the best possible Community Treatment Order available in Canada. However, I am only one person! I am trying to make a difference, but I can not do this alone. I need your voice and support.
Are you willing to write e-mails or Letters to the Editor of the Guardian newspaper? letters@theguardian.pe.ca or The Guardian, Box 760 Charlottetown, PE C1A 4R7.
Or perhaps contact CBC Radio Talkback 18006801898 or Maritime Noon 18005655463 Or send e-mails to the Minister of Health, Mark McLane, mamclaneminister@gov.pe.ca or send an email to Premier Dennis King, premier@gov.pe.ca or personally speak to your MLA about this serious mental health issue.
Please also contact Zach Bell, Charlottetown - Winsloe District. He is the GOVERNMENT WHIP. zhbellmla@assembly.pe.ca or phone 902-368-4360.
A whip is an official of a political party whose task is to ensure party discipline in a legislature. This means ensuring that members of the party vote according to the party platform, rather than according to their own individual ideology or the will of their donors or constituents. Whips are the party's "enforcers". They work to ensure that their fellow political party legislators attend voting sessions and vote according to their party's official policy. Members who vote against party policy may "lose the whip", being effectively expelled from the party.
It is not only the mentally ill that have been affected by this substandard CTO, it also includes the loved ones who are caring for them. There are so many road blocks to getting mental health assistance. The CTO would help keep the mentally ill well in the community and out of the hospital system.
VISIT WITH ANDREW NOVEMBER 19, 2023:
We visited Andrew this afternoon. He was really pleased to see us. He told us that he loves us. Andrew asked if we would come and pick him up tomorrow, as he has a two hour pass. We invited Andrew for supper and will make him his favourite dinner and dessert as a welcome home gift. We took him long sleeve shirts and a jacket today. He was really happy with them.
We want Andrew to continue his progress in and outside the hospital. We don't know if we will achieve this because Andrew DOES NOT QUALIFY for a COMMUNITY TREATMENT ORDER. It may be difficult to keep Andrew on his medications after he is discharged from the Hillsborough Hospital. This will put undue stress on us, as parents again!
Will you help by sending your Community Treatment Order feedback to decision makers? Every ballot counts at the poll and every opinion matters!
I have dubbed myself MAMA BEAR because I care about the mentally ill. If you want things to change, then you need to step up to the plate.
I believe that God will make a way! Here is the link for God Will Make A Way: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zo3fJYtS-o
PLEASE WATCH FOR A VERY SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT TOMORROW!
MAMA BEAR WILL NEVER GIVE UP!