The Metis Nation-Saskatchewan says they have found temporary funding to continue a mental health program that was said to be ending in March.
Last week, several Metis citizens learned the program they used to access counselling and other mental health supports would end in the coming weeks.
The MN-S had said the program was coming to an end because the federal funding was not being renewed.
The MN-S faced some criticism for the situation as the funding cuts came at a time when the Metis Nation was opening an office in Ottawa. Others felt MN-S had waited too long to inform citizens that the programming was being discontinued.
On Monday, however, MN-S Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Beverly Fullerton released a statement, announcing they had secured bridge funding to continue the mental health program on a temporary basis.
“We’ve heard our citizens loud and clear: the cuts to our mental health supports program have had a devastating impact on those accessing these services,” Minister Fullerton said in the statement.
Fullerton says the alternative funding was found in federal funding previously transferred to support the MN-S State of Emergency declared last year.
In the meantime, the Metis Nation says they will continue to search for long-term solutions for the funding.
The statement also says the MN-S Ministry of Mental Health has been directed to contact program participants directly to “outline next steps and provide clarity on continued support.”
The full statement from Minister Fullerton is available here – Feb 23 statement on MN–S Mental Health funding.