(Image Credit: Youtube/9-8-8 Canada)

By Greg Fry

9-8-8

Doherty reacts to extra suicide crisis helpline funding

Jan 16, 2026 | 3:10 PM

PRINCE GEORGE — Todd Doherty is pleased that Ottawa has decided to fund the 9-8-8 crisis helpline for another two years.

The Cariboo-Prince George MP says it’s positive but wonders why more permanent funding isn’t available considering the hotline has responded to about a million calls and texts since it was launched just over two years ago.

“Today’s news is great regarding the continued funding but a big question I have is why only two years? It’s demonstrated that almost a million, probably over a million now, I think the last statistics I saw for 9-8-8 were last fall’s. So, it’s got to be close to a million Canadians have used that number – called or texted, and gotten the support they needed.”

Doherty says that goes to the overall issue with mental health where he says inconsistent funding is commonplace. He says if permanent funding isn’t possible – he’d at least like to see funding offered in four or five year increments – not two years.

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Doherty – who first put forward a motion to launch the crisis hotline in December 2020 – plans to raise the issue when he returns to Ottawa next week.