National emergency mental-health strategy

AI summary

Petitioners ask the Government of Canada to support Motion M-20 and develop a national strategy for emergency-related mental health. The government responds it is coordinating efforts, funding initiatives, and monitoring Motion M-20.

AI summaries describe petitioners’ requests and claims. Consult the official record for the full text.

Official petition

PETITION TO THE HOUSE OF COMMONS IN PARLIAMENT ASSEMBLED We, the undersigned residents of Canada, draw the attention of the House of Commons in Parliament Assembled to the following: Whereas The threat of wildfires, floods, and other natural disasters is on the rise as a result of climate change; Mass casualty events, including the 2018 Fredericton shooting and the Lac-Mégantic rail disaster, leave scars on their communities for years afterward; Evacuations, property loss, grief, and uncertainty resulting from emergencies have been shown to have lasting impacts on mental health and can exacerbate mental illnesses; In November 2025 a grizzly bear attack on a school field trip in Bella Coola, British Columbia severely injured three students and a staff member, leaving students, families, and the wider Nuxalk Nation community coping with ongoing trauma and highlighting the need for accessible mental health supports in remote communities; Indigenous communities make up approximately 40% of Canadian wildfire evacuations; Australia, New Zealand, and the United States have introduced federal frameworks for addressing mental health following large-scale emergencies; and The federal government is involved in emergency management, often in collaboration with provincial, territorial, and Indigenous governments. Therefore, we, the undersigned, citizens and residents of Canada call upon the Government of Canada to support Motion M-20 and work with provinces and territories, Indigenous peoples, labour unions, and other stakeholders to develop and implement a national strategy for addressing the mental health impacts of emergencies, including those arising from natural disasters and mass casualty events.

Government response

Response by the Minister of Health Signed by Maggie Chi Climate change is contributing to more frequent and severe emergencies and that events such as wildfires, floods, evacuations, and acts of mass violence can have serious and lasting psychosocial impacts on individuals, families, and communities. These impacts can persist well beyond the immediate emergency and may disproportionately affect certain populations, including Indigenous communities, children and youth, first responders, and people living in remote or rural areas. In Canada’s shared jurisdictional context, provinces and territories are primarily responsible for the delivery of health services, including mental health care. The federal government plays a complementary role by providing leadership, coordination, funding support, and evidence-informed guidance, while working collaboratively with provincial, territorial, municipal, and Indigenous partners, as well as non-governmental organizations. Emergency management in Canada is a shared responsibility, guided by the Emergency Management Strategy for Canada: Toward a Resilient 2030, and emphasizes prevention/mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. Canada employs a tiered, jurisdictional approach in which emergencies are typically managed first at the local level, and escalate to provincial, territorial or federal involvement when needed. The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) contributes to federal emergency preparedness and community resilience by promoting mental health and psychosocial wellbeing at the population level. PHAC’s role includes funding community-based initiatives, supporting surveillance and gathering evidence, convening partners, and mobilizing knowledge and tools that help communities plan for and respond to the mental health impacts of emergencies. PHAC does not deliver clinical mental health services, but works with partners to strengthen capacity and ensure that mental health and psychosocial considerations are integrated into emergency planning and recovery efforts, with attention to health equity and the needs of disproportionately affected populations. Addressing mental health and psychosocial needs during and after emergencies requires coordinated action across multiple sectors and partners. Public Safety Canada leads federal efforts related to emergency management, recovery, and resilience, including through the Canadian Centre for Recovery and Resilience, which supports communities with recovery planning, practical tools, and expertise to rebuild in ways that reduce future risk. Through the Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements, the federal government cost-shares eligible disaster recovery expenses with provinces and territories, including certain mental health and psychosocial supports provided during the recovery phase of large-scale natural disasters. Complementary initiatives administered by Indigenous Services Canada support First Nations and Inuit communities in addressing climate-related health impacts, including emergency preparedness and mental health considerations. Our government has also made targeted investments to support mental health and psychosocial supports in emergency contexts. In May 2026, PHAC announced $1.2 million to expand training, tools, and resources to help communities integrate psychosocial supports in emergency settings, supporting organizations such as the Canadian Red Cross, Jack.org, McMaster University Canadian Emergency Response Psychosocial Support Network (CanEMERG), and the Canadian Coalition for Seniors’ Mental Health. This investment builds on investments by the previous government, including PHAC provided $749,932 in funding to support the CanEMERG in June 2024. This funding helped develop evidence-based resources to help communities prepare for and respond to the psychosocial impacts of emergencies, informed by lessons learned from past emergencies and mass casualty events, including findings from the Mass Casualty Commission in Nova Scotia. Our government remains committed to working with provinces and territories, Indigenous partners, community organizations, and other stakeholders to strengthen Canada’s capacity to address the mental health and psychosocial impacts of emergencies, and to support resilient, inclusive, and trauma-informed approaches that reflect the needs of communities across the country. Motion M-20, a private Member’s motion sponsored by the member for Courtenay – Alberni, was placed on notice in the House of Commons on October 8, 2025, and, as of May 2026, has not yet been selected for debate. The Government looks forward to hearing from stakeholders and Parliamentarians on Motion M-20 and is monitoring its progress through the House of Commons.