Cariboo-Prince George MP Todd Doherty appeared before the Senate Committee on National Security and Defence in Ottawa on Monday afternoon to speak in support of the bill he sponsored in support of first responders suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
"They run toward gun fire, they run into burning buildings, they restart your heart, they heal our wounds," Doherty said during his opening remarks addressing the Senate. "(Bill) C-211 was born out of the stories we see and hear all too often. The stories of another veteran, paramedic, emergency dispatcher, firefighter, police officer who just could not fight any longer. C-211 was developed to look at the overwhelming issue and the epidemic that we have with respect to our first responders, our veterans, our military."
Bill C-211, which has already been passed by the House of Commons and now awaits Senate approval, would create a federal framework for long-term solutions for those with the disorder.
Doherty said he has many stories of men and women taking their own lives and would like the bill put in place so those struggling with PTSD can get the help they require no matter where they live in Canada.
There were several other speakers at the session Monday including Dr. Patrick Bailie from the Canadian Psychological Association, and Col. Colleen Forestier, division of mental health with the Canadian Forces Health Services Group.
Sen. Jean-Guy Dagenais asked Doherty if other countries have policies in place for victims of PTSD to which Canada can turn for inspiration. Doherty said the opposite is the case.
"Many countries are watching us," Doherty said.
The session took about four hours in total and Doherty has a sense of what's to come.
"All we've done to this point is create a lot of hope," he said.
"I'm cautiously optimistic. There's a lot of hope pinned to this."
No date or time is confirmed yet but it looks like the committee will be going through Bill C-211 clause by clause early next week, Doherty said.
"The bill should pass fairly quickly, I'm hoping," he added.
"And even if the bill passes, it doesn't mean I'm finished with championing this framework," Doherty said.
"I want to make sure that the government of the day follows through with it and we develop a framework - this national plan - and that we back up everything we've said over the last two years and really get to work at saving people's lives. That's what we have to do."
