CKTZ held a roundtable chat with Regional Director Mark Vonesch and MLA for North Island Michele Babchuk. This is part two of that discussion, focused on mental health funding.

During her visit to Cortes Island this spring, MLA for North Island Michele Babchuk shared that the provincial government was making a new record budget investment in mental health. 

“One billion, we just passed in the budget to start looking at mental health and addictions treatment centers - as we switch from taking a look at mental health and addictions as a justice issue, as to a health issue,“ Babchuk said.

Regional Director Mark Vonesch discussed how that money, or other funding streams, can aid local programming that supports mental health services on Cortes Island.

CKTZ asked Babchuk if any of that money would be implemented into essential mental health services on Cortes, the MLA responded that, “some of those programs will be implemented through the school district… Island Health… youth mental health.”

“It's a matter of making sure that we have the resources to fund them. So that we can get them where they need to be," Babchuk continued. "And also, truthfully, right now making sure we've got the people on the ground to be able to do it because we're having a hard time being able to fill some of those positions right now.”

The regional director also chimed in on one of the only local, rural mental health services available to Cortes Island residents.

"There is a a psychiatric nurse that does visit Cortes a couple of times a week," Vonesch said. "And for people that wanna access that...you can call 250.850.2620, and that goes to a number in Courtney. And you just tell them, 'I would like to make a self-referral to book a time with Christine Lund, the clinician for Cortes Island.' That's an anonymous way for you to book an appointment with Christine when she comes to Cortes."

Vonesch discussed possible ways more revenue could be raised through non-property tax options, referring back to the MRTT tax, recently used to raise money, from short term rental accommodations, for affordable housing. At the roundtable, the community leaders then began discussing the framework of the vacant housing tax, a speculation tax.

“Unless the provincial government gives us control over [vacant housing tax], or just passes all the money back like the MRTT tax. Yeah. That's what I'd like. Can you do that?”

“Let me go talk to the Minister of Finance," Babchuk laughed. "I'm not sure how much, I'm not sure how much through the door I'm gonna get through with on that one.”

To hear more of this roundtable chat listen to the CKTZ News Update below: