Press Release
Canadian Psychedelic Trade Association Calls Out Trudeau Government, Calls on Carney and Poilievre to Improve Federal Regulations for Novel Mental Care
TORONTO, April 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — PsyCan, the national trade association representing Canada’s legally operating psychedelic medicine and therapy companies, is calling on the Carney and Poilievre campaigns to commit to enhancing research, affordability, and access to psychedelic medicine for veterans and for all Canadians struggling with mental health conditions.
“Unlike her predecessor, Carolyn Bennett, who constructively engaged with our sector, former Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Ya’ara Saks showed little interest in the promise of psychedelic medicine,” said Liam Bedard, PsyCan Executive Director.
“Her response reflected a decline in interest across the entire Trudeau government in exploring any novel mental health care options over the past 4 years. Instead of offering patients hope — and relief for a strained healthcare system grappling with a worsening mental health and opioid crisis — the Trudeau government has lately chosen inaction.”
PsyCan’s members are at the forefront of a billion-dollar psychedelic sector leading global breakthroughs in drug development and clinical research. However, current pathways for Canadian patients to access psychedelic medicine — like Health Canada’s Special Access Program — are inefficient and insufficient. As a result, Canada risks losing its leadership position — in the U.S., over 30 states have introduced new psychedelics-related regulations, as have the European Union and Australia.
Results from clinical trials show psychedelic therapies can be faster-acting and more effective than current frontline psychiatric treatments for depression, anxiety, PTSD, and substance-abuse disorders. The Time is Now, a 2023 report from the Senate of Canada Subcommittee on Veteran Affairs, recommended the immediate implementation of a robust, federally-funded psychedelic research program.
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