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Bill C-211

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First Session, Forty-second Parliament,

64 Elizabeth II, 2015-2016

HOUSE OF COMMONS OF CANADA

BILL C-211
An Act respecting a federal framework on post-traumatic stress disorder
FIRST READING, January 28, 2016

Mr. Doherty
421100


SUMMARY

This enactment requires the Minister of Health to convene a conference with the Minister of National Defence, the Minister of Veterans Affairs, provincial and territorial government representatives responsible for health and representatives of the medical community and patients’ groups for the purpose of developing a comprehensive federal framework to address the challenges of recognizing the symptoms and providing timely diagnosis and treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Available on the House of Commons website at the following address:
www.ourcommons.ca


1st Session, 42nd Parliament,

64 Elizabeth II, 2015-2016

HOUSE OF COMMONS OF CANADA

BILL C-211

An Act respecting a federal framework on post-traumatic stress disorder

Preamble

Whereas post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a condition that is characterized by persistent emotional distress occurring as a result of physical injury or severe psychological shock and typically involves disturbance of sleep and constant vivid recall of the traumatic experience, with dulled responses to others and to the outside world;

Whereas there is a clear need for persons who have served as first responders, firefighters, military personnel, corrections officers and members of the RCMP to receive direct and timely access to PTSD support;

Whereas, while not-for-profit organizations and governmental resources to address mental health issues, including PTSD, exist at the federal and provincial levels, there is no coordinated national strategy that would expand the scope of support to ensure long-term solutions;

And whereas many Canadians, in particular persons who have served as first responders, firefighters, military personnel, corrections officers and members of the RCMP, suffer from PTSD and would greatly benefit from the development and implementation of a federal framework on PTSD that provides for best practices, research, education, awareness and treatment;

Now, therefore, Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows:

Short Title

Short title

1 This Act may be cited as the Federal Framework on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Act.

Interpretation

Definitions

2 The following definitions apply in this Act.

Agency means the Public Health Agency of Canada.

federal framework means a framework to address the challenges of recognizing the symptoms and providing timely diagnosis and treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Minister means the Minister of Health.

Federal Framework on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Conference

3 The Minister must, no later than 12 months after the day on which this Act comes into force, convene a conference with the Minister of National Defence, the Minister of Veterans Affairs, provincial and territorial government representatives responsible for health and stakeholders, including representatives of the medical community and patients’ groups, for the purpose of developing a comprehensive federal framework that includes

  • (a) the establishment of a national medical surveillance program to use data collected by the Agency to properly track incidence rates and the associated economic and social costs of post-traumatic stress disorder;

  • (b) the establishment of guidelines regarding

    • (i) the diagnosis, treatment and management of post-traumatic stress disorder, and

    • (ii) the sharing throughout Canada of best practices related to the treatment and management of post-traumatic stress disorder; and

  • (c) the creation and distribution of standardized educational materials related to post-traumatic stress disorder, for use by Canadian public health care providers, that are designed to increase national awareness about the disorder and enhance its diagnosis, treatment and management.

Preparation and tabling of report

4 (1) The Minister must prepare a report setting out the federal framework and cause a copy of the report to be laid before each House of Parliament within 18 months after the day on which this Act comes into force.

Publication of report

(2) The Minister must publish the report on the Agency’s website within 30 days after the day on which it is laid before a House of Parliament.

Review and Report

Review

5 The Agency must

  • (a) complete a review of the effectiveness of the federal framework no later than five years after the day on which the report referred to in section 4 is published; and

  • (b) cause a report on its findings to be laid before each House of Parliament within the next ten sitting days after the review is completed.

Published under authority of the Speaker of the House of Commons

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