Statement made on 20 October 2011 by Senator Jim Munson
Hon. Jim Munson:
Honourable senators, sometimes there are questions that are tougher to ask than other questions here in the Senate. I am sure that folks on the other side, on our side and all across the country are trying to come to terms with a real tough question, and that is the issue of suicide.
Today, in this particular city, there is a sad story taking place concerning a young man and his funeral. He was bullied because of his homosexuality, and he took his own life.
You can be anything you want to be in this country. You can be a fighter in the National Hockey League and you can be alone with your thoughts. However, as a nation, I believe we still have to try to come up with answers to those tough questions regarding people who are struggling and who decide to end their lives.
Last week, members in the other place gave near unanimous support to a motion calling on the government to establish a national suicide prevention strategy. My question to the Leader of the Government in the Senate is whether she might tell us what steps the government is taking to implement a national suicide prevention strategy.
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