Hamilton Centre MPP Andrea Horwath wants action on a McGuinty government report showing that families in Hamilton-Niagara families wait longer for children’s mental health services than anywhere else in Ontario.

During Question Period today Horwath demanded to know how the Liberal government intends to address the problem.

“When will the government do the right thing and address this glaring disparity?” Horwath asked children’s minister Laurel Broten. “A steady, dedicated commitment to increase funding and rebuild the system is needed,” NDP leader Horwath said.

An assessment undertaken by the Ministry of Children and Youth Services found that the wait time for early intervention programs in Hamilton-Niagara is 68 days, compared to 17 days in the rest of the province. For emergency mental health services for children there’s an average wait of 19 days in Hamilton-Niagara, compared to three days elsewhere.

“The Minister’s vague response isn’t helping agencies like Lynwood Child and Family Centre in Hamilton deal with the severe, immediate and growing need,” Horwath said. “Will the minister agree to steady dedicated funding that will rebuild this system and bring the wait times down to the provincial average?”

Horwath noted that local and regional agencies, such as Lynwood Hall Child and Family Centre, are sounding the alarm over the dire impact of under-funding on children with mental health issues and their families.