Tories to review mental health court

Seven months after it seemed it would become reality, the possibility of a mental health court for Brandon is being reviewed by the new Tory government.

Manitoba Justice Minister and Attorney General Heather Stefanson says the initiative is under review as part of a larger look at restorative justice in the province.

"As part of a general review of the restorative justice in Manitoba, there will be further examination of what the needs are in Brandon for mental health court," Stefanson said.

In mid-November 2015, under the NDP government, then attorney general Gord Mackintosh announced that Brandon would get a mental health court as part of a five-year strategy under the Restorative Justice Act.

At the time, Mackintosh described the court as an important commitment in the strategy, with the only question being how fast it could be introduced.

However, with the switch from an NDP to a Progressive Conservative government, the need for the initiative -- and other restorative justice initiatives in the province -- is under review by Manitoba Justice.

A mental health court has run in Winnipeg for years. It diverts mentally ill accused from the regular court system in favour of treatment and aims to prevent repeat offending.

Local judges have expressed their wish that such a system was introduced here.

Stefanson said she paid a visit to Brandon in early May and met with Mayor Rick Chrest and Brandon Police Service Chief Ian Grant, who described the success of Community Mobilization Westman.

That proactive program unites local human services agencies in an effort to identify people and families in trouble and get them help before they reach crisis. Mental health is one of the factors considered.

Stefanson referred to that program -- often called the "Hub" model, after the group that considers the referred cases -- as she mentioned the review of the need for a mental health court here.

"Currently, we get the indication that the Hub model at the grassroots level is meeting those needs," Stefanson said.

The review doesn't mean that a mental health court won't come to Brandon, she said.

"We'll continue to look at ways to provide better services for all Manitobans," Stefanson said, adding the review is ongoing with no deadline at this point.

Meanwhile, a local group that includes justice and mental health officials continues to work toward establishing a mental health court here.

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