Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland speaks during a press conference regarding Canada's new defence policy at CFB Trenton on Monday, April 8, 2024.Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press
The federal government has pledged to spend $500-million over four years for a new fund to help younger Canadians obtain mental-health care.
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland announced the plan Tuesday. It’s the latest in a series of programs being announced ahead of next week’s federal budget.
According to a government statement, the Youth Mental Health Fund is designed to help community health organizations provide more care for younger Canadians.
It is also intended to better equip these organizations to refer youth to other mental-health services, the statement said.
“We want younger Canadians to have the support they need so they are set up for success,” Ms. Freeland told a news conference in Ottawa. “Better funding for mental-health services means that younger Canadians can get the help they need right when and where they need it most.”