The late Professor Patrick W. Corrigan was an American mental health scholar, researcher and advocate who was widely recognized as the world-leading expert on the stigma of mental illness. The United States Congress, the White House and the Joint Chiefs of Staff all called on him due to his expertise, while Stanford University identified him as being one of the most highly cited scientists in the world (IIT, March 25, 2024).
A decade ago, Professor Corrigan sent an open letter to Justin Trudeau — shortly after he became prime minister of Canada — addressing my former experience of severe mental illness in Canada and subsequent recovery in Australia. He concluded his correspondence to the prime minister by stating: “Knowledge of Mr. Mahar’s story will serve to challenge the stigma of mental illness, raise awareness of recovery, and inspire hope for people with mental health problems and their families” (Open Letter, February 22, 2016).
To put Professor Corrigan’s assessment into context, five days earlier I had sent Mr. Trudeau an open letter along with four documents to notify him about a case of long-term systemic corruption: “the File 1000-121 Affair. The issue involves the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) and the unjust enrichment of several Canadian media companies (Open Letter, February 17, 2016); (Document 1); (Document 2); (Document 3); and (Document 4).
Mr. Trudeau did not initiate an investigation into the CRTC, as I requested. To the contrary, the Trudeau government increased the authority of the CRTC by enacting the Online Streaming Act. As a result, officials at the Commission are trying to force American media companies to subsidize Canadian media companies, which is presently a major irritant to the companies and the U.S. administration.
Far worse than ignoring evidence of systemic corruption at the CRTC, the Trudeau government passed legislation to expand eligibility for medical assistance in dying (MAID) to permit medical practitioners to provide lethal injections to people with mental health conditions who are otherwise healthy. “The eligibility date for persons suffering solely from a mental illness is now March 17, 2027” (Government of Canada).
It is a matter of public record that I strongly oppose the expansion of MAID for people whose sole medical condition is mental illness (Submission, November 11, 2023). In addition, it is also a matter of public record that I was a whistleblower about the File 1000-121 Affair long ago (Global Televison).
Given that Justin Trudeau is no longer prime minister, I figure it is time to actively return to the File 1000-121 Affair and try to simultaneously raise awareness about recovery from mental illness before March 17, 2027.
In the process, it will become clear whether Prime Minister Mark Carney has the integrity and courage to tell Canadians the truth about the File 1000-121 Affair.
