Statement made on 01 February 2011 by Senator Lucie Pépin (retired)
Hon. Lucie Pépin:
Honourable senators, my question is for the Leader of the Government in the Senate.
We are told that there are far too many women suffering from mental illness in the federal inmate population. Many of these female offenders have special mental health needs that are not being adequately addressed. This was noted in the 2006 report on mental health of the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, and recently in The Globe and Mail.
We know, Madam Leader, that your government is very interested in prisons. Could the leader tell us if her government's plans will address the problem of the lack of mental health services for women in our prisons who need those services?
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