Federal Election Communication 

CMHA North and West Vancouver welcomes the federal election results and calls for urgent action on mental health equity, supporting the critical need for accessible, community-based mental health and substance use services. 

With the conclusion of Canada’s 45th federal election, the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), North and West Vancouver (NWV), congratulates Prime Minister Mark Carney and all elected Members of Parliament. We look forward to collaborating with leaders across all parties to ensure mental health and substance use care are prioritized in the coming years. 
 
While we acknowledge the progress made, we join CMHA National in urging all parties to unite in addressing Canada’s growing mental health and substance use crisis. As a local branch serving the North Shore and surrounding areas, we witness every day how our community is impacted by housing insecurity, long waitlists, and a lack of accessible mental health services.  

Too many people in our community are slipping through the cracks. We call on our federal leaders to work together to ensure mental health is treated as healthcare and to invest in community-based care at the local level — including promoting and creating programs that respond to the gaps in our system and services.” 

– Talayeh Jamshidi, Executive Director of CMHA North and West Vancouver. 

We support the call for bold federal action — not only on system-wide healthcare investments but also on addressing the chronic underfunding of community mental health services. Community-based services like CRCL (formerly PACT), a Peer-Assisted Care Team model funded by the province of BC, play a vital role in reducing the burden on hospitals, emergency responders, and the justice system. We need to promote programs like CRCL and develop initiatives that address the gaps in our current system and services.

We strongly support these three main priorities outlined in CMHA National’s 2025 election platform, which include: 

• Equitable Federal Funding for Mental Health and Substance Use Care: Limit gambling advertisements, add warning labels to alcohol, and maintain local substance use treatment programs to support addiction initiatives. Maintain free tax clinics for low-income Canadians, increase the number of mobile crisis teams, and permanently fund crisis and suicide helplines. 
• Help the Vulnerable Canadians Stay Housed: Increase the number of supportive housing units with integrated social and health services for those struggling with addiction and mental health issues. Using unused funds, construct 100,000 units while coordinating activities at all governmental levels. 
• Drive Better Mental Health Outcomes: Under Canada’s universal healthcare system, provide complete coverage for mental health, addiction, and drug use treatment. Through amended legislation, mandate provinces to invest and increase funding to 12% of the healthcare budget.  

As we move forward with a new government, CMHA North and West Vancouver urges swift, meaningful action. Mental health is not a luxury — it is a right.  
Too many Canadians, especially in our local community, are being left behind. Now is the time to invest in accessible, community-based care that meets the needs of all individuals in need of support at all levels.

About CMHA North and West Vancouver Branch 
Founded in 1958, the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), North and West Vancouver (NWV) branch is a not-for-profit, charitable organization.  

We provide a wide range of innovative services and support tailored to and in partnership with the communities of North and West Vancouver, Bowen Island, Sunshine Coast, and the Sea-to-Sky Corridor. 

For more information or inquiries, email us at info@cmhanorthshore.ca