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UPDATE: Province announces $222M for Indigenous health care

THUNDER BAY – The province has promised to spend $222 million over the next three years, then an additional $105 million annually to close the health-care gap in First Nations communities.
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Fort William First Nation Chief Peter Collins (from left), Minister of Northern Development and Mines Michael Gravelle, Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler, Minister of Health Eric Hoskins, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs David Zimmer and Ontario Regional Chief Isadore Day at a $222-million indigenous health-care investment announcement in Thunder Bay on Wednesday.

THUNDER BAY – The province has promised to spend $222 million over the next three years, then an additional $105 million annually to close the health-care gap in First Nations communities.

It was a response to a public-health state of emergency declared three months ago by NAN officials, demanding the government react within 90 days, after failing to react to a number of reports detailing health-care shortfalls in Aboriginal communities.

Ontario Regional Chief Isadore Day and Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler expressed cautious optimism about the announcement, made by Health Minister Eric Hoskins on Wednesday morning in Thunder Bay.

“I think it’s an important first step,” Fiddler said.

Day, however, was a little more reserved in his enthusiasm for the deal.

“While it’s very significant step forward, you have to recognize there is a configuration of disparity here in Ontario. The Far North is severely requiring these investments,” said, Day, noting the money averages out to about $500,000 per community.

“But what you have to look at is how it’s being rolled out. It’s not going to be the same for everybody, so there’s going to be different dynamics and perspectives that will have to be worked through.”

The money will fuel four key sectors, including primary care, public health and health promotion, seniors care and hospital services and life promotion and crisis support.

Primary care gets the lion’s share of both the immediate funding ($72.2 million over three years) and the ongoing spending ($37.4 million).

Among the plans for the money is to increase physician services by 2,641 days for 28 communities in the Sioux Lookout Region, 10 new or expanded health-care teams to serve indigenous people across Ontario’s North and cultural competency training to front-line workers.

The $44.1 million being spent on public health and health promotion ($21.3 million ongoing) includes the appointment of an associate medical officer of health in the Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority and an expansion of the Northern Fruit and Vegetable program to cover 13,000 more Aboriginal children.

The plan will also provide $1 million for senior beds at the Meno Ya Win Health Centre and a commitment to expand and community care in the North.

Finally the province will spend $60 million over three years and $25 million each year to expand supports, including trauma response teams, suicide prevention training, youth recreation and culture programs and crisis management for communities. The money will also help expand access to telemedicine.

Hoskins acknowledged the investment won’t solve all the problems or necessarily bring an end to the need for future states of emergencies in Ontario First Nations.

“I wish I could say yes. But the reality is we have a long way to go,” Hoskins said. 

“I think I’ve been very outspoken about this issue where I’ve admitted quite sincerely that the level and quality of health service in First Nations communities, particularly those in remote, fly-in reserves has been inadequate and has not provided the level of care that anyone in Ontario should expect.”

Hoskins said the investment demonstrate his government is committed to equitable access to health care for Ontario’s indigenous population, regardless of where they might live.

 



Leith Dunick

About the Author: Leith Dunick

A proud Nova Scotian who has called Thunder Bay home since 2002, Leith is Dougall Media's director of news, but still likes to tell your stories too. Wants his Expos back and to see Neil Young at least one more time. Twitter: @LeithDunick
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