MPP Mitzie Hunter calls for Holistic Health Services for Victims of Gun Violence
September 6, 2022 | Vision Newspaper |
Mitzie Hunter, MPP for Scarborough-Guildwood, will be taking Bill 9 for a second reading in the Ontario Legislature on Wednesday, September 7, 2022. Bill 9, the Safe and Healthy Communities Act, 2022 will amend the Health Insurance Act, allowing victims of gun violence exposure, their families and others to have access to prescribed hospital-based and community-based violence intervention programs. With this reading, Hunter is asking all members to support the Bill and to vote to get it to committee.
“Gun violence is a public health issue which disrupts the wellbeing of entire communities and leaves victims, families, perpetrators and community members in a state of chaos and so we must ensure that gun violence is met with mandatory public health programs aimed at reducing or eliminating its impacts”, Morris Beckford, VP of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Poverty Reduction, TNG Community Services.
If passed, Bill 9 would:
- Allow for counselling services for survivors of gun violence to be covered by OHIP
- Allow Boards of Health to develop programs and services for reducing gun violence
- Declare gun violence as a public health issue
“On September 7th, Bill 9 will be debated and hopefully passed. This is the Ford government’s opportunity to demonstrate that they are serious about supporting victims of gun violence exposure or if Ontarians in desperate need of health supports will again be told by their government that they need to wait. All members agree that people need to feel safe in their community. People impacted by extreme violence need to receive appropriate supports in order to heal from this trauma”, MPP Mitzie Hunter.
Date: Wednesday, September 7, 2022
Time: 9:15 am
Who: MPP Mitzie Hunter and stakeholders
Location: Media Studio, Ontario Legislative Assembly, Toronto, ON
SOURCE Konvo Media
