June 2013:
Letter to Justice Committee (Bill C-54)
In this letter to the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights, Dr. Sandy Simpson discusses CAMH’s concerns with Bill C-54, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the National Defence Act (mental disorder)
April 2013:
CAMH Alcohol Policy Framework
CAMH believes that the sale and consumption of alcohol should be regulated with public health and safety as primary concerns. This framework document reviews the evidence around alcohol-related harm, discusses best practices for the prevention of alcohol problems, and outlines principles for an Ontario approach to alcohol policy.
November 2012:
Submission to Toronto City Council's Executive Committee re. "Considering a New Casino in Toronto" motion
The debate about a possible casino in downtown Toronto has sparked a public conversation about gambling and the
harms associated with it. On November 5, CAMH’s Dr. Nigel Turner gave
testimony to the Executive Committee of Toronto City Council on the
harms associated with gambling in general and casinos in particular.
Letter to Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs re. Bill C-290
In this letter, Dr. Peter Selby and Robert Murray discuss concerns about possible health impacts of Bill C-290, an Act to amend the Criminal Code to allow single-event sports betting.
October 2012:
Road to Recovery – Client Experiences in Supportive Housing
In this paper we explore our clients’ attitudes towards supportive housing, and the progress and challenges they have encountered, in an effort to inform future policy development and system planning. Between March and May this year, the project working group interviewed 16 clients at 4 Toronto supportive housing sites and held focus groups with site staff. The experiences of clients transitioning from hospital to community, and the role supportive housing plays in recovery from mental illness, form the centerpiece of this paper.
August 2012:
CPSO Policy Consultation: ‘Prescribing Drugs’ Policy
The misuse of prescription opioids has emerged in the past decade as a significant health and social problem for Ontario and Canada. In this second submission to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO), CAMH provides feedback on the CPSO's draft ‘Prescribing Drugs’ Policy.
Letter to Premier Dalton McGuinty re. alcohol in convenience stores
Letter to Tim Hudak re. alcohol in convenience stores
Letter to Andrea Horwath re. alcohol in convenience stores
In response to recent debates about allowing alcohol to be sold in convenience stores, these letters remind Ontario's provincial party leaders of the potential harms associated with increased alcohol availability. It was co-signed by CAMH CEO Dr. Catherine Zahn and Mothers Against Drunk Driving CEO Andy Murie.
July 2012:
Letter to Ontario's Minister of Finance re. OLG modernization plan
In February, the Commission on the Reform of Ontario’s Public Services recommended that the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation consider ways to increase revenue. The following month, the OLG announced a multiyear modernization plan. This letter from CAMH's CEO, Dr. Catherine Zahn, outlines some concerns about gambling expansion and emphasizes the need for an approach that incorporates considerations of public health and social responsibility.
June 2012:
Presentation to the Standing Committee on Government Agencies: Alcohol-related harms
On June 25, Dr. Norman Giesbrecht spoke to the Ontario legislature's Standing Committee on Government Agencies about alcohol-related harms and the role that government-run retail systems can play in reducing these harms.
Letter to the Minister of Justice re. proposed review of 'Not Criminally Responsible on Account of Mental Disorder' defence
In May, the Honourable Rob Nicholson announced a review of the 'Not Criminally Responsible on Account of Mental Disorder' defence, an historical section of Canada's criminal code. This letter from CAMH's CEO, Dr. Catherine Zahn, urges the Minister to support the law as it stands.