NDP candidate Harmonie King looking to improve mental health resources

She believes the party’s dedication to implementing recommendations made by the United Nation’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC) will improve access to mental health and addictions resources in Indigenous communities.

King claimed the recommendations by the TRC bring forward resolutions that could address many issues affecting the north region of the riding.

“We have a lot of people that have experienced adverse childhood experiences that have been a result of colonization, residential schools and the Sixties Scoop,” she said.

“We have the highest rates of suicide. For anyone to any child to be impacted by that, it’s very difficult. It causes a lot of trauma, and it causes a lot of impact within the communities.”

King identified resolving the housing crisis in the North as another key item in her party’s platform. She stated the NDP is committed to tackling the growing housing crisis by creating 500,000 units of quality affordable housing.

She believes this move could jumpstart the economy, fast track economic recovery and create thousands of jobs.

Access to high speed internet throughout the riding remains an imperative focus in King’s campaign. She explained people travelling in the province often experience periods of poor or no internet connection as they pass through various areas of the province.

King explained that the NDP is committed to declaring high speed internet an essential service and plans to provide every Canadian with access to affordable, high speed broadband within four years.

Access to telecommunications is also an important issue that King wants to see improved in the North.

“Driving throughout the North, we have a lot of dead zones, and particularly in the wintertime, it becomes extremely dangerous when you’re traveling to and from the northern areas of the riding,” King said.

The federal election is scheduled to take place on Sept. 20.

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elliott.knopp@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @ElliottKnopp

by Elliott Knopp

NDP candidate Harmonie King looking to improve mental health resources

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