Doyle Vermette introduced the bill for the first time in 2018. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

first reading

Vermette re-introduces bill aimed at establishing provincial suicide strategy

Nov 5, 2019 | 4:58 PM

Cumberland MLA Doyle Vermette wants the Saskatchewan Party to work with him in passing Bill 618, also known as The Saskatchewan Strategy for Suicide Prevention Act.

The bill was re-introduced Tuesday in the legislature by Vermette, where it underwent a first reading. It marked the second time the bill was brought forward by the MLA as he already did so in 2018, but it died on the order desk when government proceedings came to an end. Vermette is hopeful other MLAs will put politics aside and take action as more than 2,200 people died by suicide in the province between 2005 and 2019.

“If they don’t want to, I guess we will serve a petition every day,” he said. “We’ll remind them in question period, we’ll remind them from residents, and we’ll start to campaign. We’re not going to quit; we can’t afford to quit.”

Joining Vermette in the legislature were northerners Sally Ratt and Linda Roberts. Both mothers lost children to suicide with Ratt’s daughter Ariana being 12 years old at the time and Roberts’ daughter Jadene being 14. They served a petition with hundreds of signatures in support of the bill and the need for the province to be more involved when it comes to including more support for suicide prevention.

“We as parents, friends, family members and a community would like to see more involvement with the government on supporting us with planning and the implementation of suicide awareness and prevention for all ages, men and women,” Ratt and Roberts are quoted as saying in an NDP media release.

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When it comes to how such a strategy would work, Vermette noted it would include different organizations, frontline workers, counsellors, Indigenous and municipal leadership, as well as families affected by suicide. He mentioned it would also need to be determined how other provinces are tackling suicide rates and what are the best practices already established. Vermette stated he doesn’t have all the answers for such a strategy, but there needs to be recognition that a suicide crisis is underway.

“The mothers that were here still have that hope and they don’t want to see this happen to one more child,” he said. “It’s up to the government. Right now, they have the majority.”

If passed, Bill 618 would force the government to implement a suicide prevention strategy and would give the Saskatchewan Health Authority 180 days to start consultations with relevent stakeholders and groups. The authority would also need to report back annually on the progress being made.

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derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno