INAN Committee Report

NDP Supplementary Report for the Declaration of Health Emergency by First Nations Communities in Northern Ontario

Although healthcare is a basic right for all Canadians, Indigenous people do not have access to the same quality of care as non-Indigenous people. This is unacceptable and is putting Indigenous lives at risk each and every day. While we support the overall conclusions and recommendations of the Committee report, the New Democratic Party believes that the government has failed to address key aspects of the health crisis in First Nation communities, and specifically in Treaty 9 territory.

The New Democratic Party (NDP) is extremely concerned by the severe deficiencies on the ground in health care systems in Indigenous communities. Based on the shocking testimony that this committee heard, Health Canada must be held accountable to end the systemic, inequitable delivery of health services in Indigenous communities. Therefore, the NDP makes the following additional recommendations:

Supplementary recommendation 1: The NDP urges the government, in collaboration with communities and the province to implement immediate changes to the glaring deficiencies of health delivery and non-insured benefits (NIHB) on Indigenous reserves while undertaking a comprehensive review and overhaul of these systems.

The NDP fully supports NAN’s declaration of emergency and its call upon the federal and provincial governments to undertake prompt and sustained action to address health care challenges on reserves. We support the nine actions identified by NAN, which the government did not carry out within the ninety days that it was urged to do so, following the declaration. Specifically, the NDP urges the government to assess health system deficiencies in Treaty 9, as well as the need to address the discriminatory and unethical policies and practices associated with the NIHB program in order to ensure sufficient basic medical supplies in all communities.

All of the witnesses before the committee agreed on the discriminatory nature of health care services in Indigenous communities, and particularly noted the irrevocable damage done by the NIHB program, which denies patients essential prescriptive drugs, health care services and excludes certain types of travel. The NDP fully supports Doctor Kirlew and Mr. Cutfeet’s recommendations that such policies are immediately reversed and that the government implement legislative changes that will build the foundation for a reformed, equitable health care system.

The NDP urges the government that pressing transformational change is necessary, but that it is also imperative that Health Canada does not wait for transformational change to take the immediate steps available to them to mitigate the systemic harms from the health care system that put lives at risk. Both transformational and immediate actions are required to tackle to the health crisis in Indigenous communities effectively.

Supplementary recommendation 2: The NDP urges the government to immediately augment regional health and wellness teams to service the regional and national needs of Indigenous communities.

Quality health care is out of reach for many Indigenous Communities because regional health and wellness teams are lacking in Indigenous reserves. Indigenous communities are in dire need of investment for new treatment centres, healing centres, as well as health support programs. The NDP urges the government to commit to fully funding regional health and wellness teams for Indigenous communities.

Supplementary recommendation 3: The NDP urges the government to fully and immediately implement Jordan’s Principle with matching funding to do so.

Since the House of Commons unanimously passed Jordan’s Principle in 2007, neither the federal nor provincial governments have implemented it. The NDP fully supports the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal’s recent ruling in January 2016 that legally mandates the government to implement Jordan’s Principle immediately.

Since the court ruled, the government has failed to set aside additional funding for Jordan’s Principle in both the budget and the supplementary estimates. The government has also provided vague wording that fails to prove the immediate and adequate implementation of Jordan’s Principle.

The NDP calls for the immediate and comprehensive implementation of Jordan’s Principle with matching additional funding for its implementation. These additional investments must not be drawn from other budget lines because every dollar counts and these health care services are badly needed. We must stop shifting the chairs on the deck of the Titanic.

Supplementary recommendation 4: The NDP recommends that issues concerning health card registration do not obstruct health care service.

Indigenous peoples should not be denied necessary health care solely on the reason that they do not possess health cards. The NDP strongly agrees with witness Dr. Michael Kirlew and his recommendation that health care institutions and services in reserves must treat children promptly and worry about their registration and paperwork after the safety and health of the child are guaranteed.

Supplementary recommendation 5: The NDP recommends that the Government of Canada commit to a holistic review of infrastructure, education, food, and water issues in collaboration with communities and the province.

The NDP fully supports Isadore Day, Ontario Regional Chief of Ontario in his recommendation that the government address the health crisis holistically. Currently, communities are still facing a shortage of clean drinking water, as well as overcrowded and substandard housing, which greatly impact health outcomes in Indigenous communities. Developing infrastructure, ensuring access to food and clean water, as well as offering equitable healthcare will ensure positive and sustainable transformations in health in First Nation communities.

Supplementary recommendation 6: The NDP recommends that the Government of Canada establish the ability to immediately and flexibly respond to crises in First Nation communities on the ground.

Recent health and mental health emergencies have shown the government’s inability to immediately and flexibly respond to these crises. In addition to solving the long-term issues, the NDP urges the government to increase its capacity to respond to urgent issues as they arise.

Supplementary recommendation 7: The NDP recommends that the government meaningfully include national Indigenous leadership as equal partners in the Health Accord Negotiations.

Having Indigenous leadership present at the table in the current health accord negotiations is very important to foster continued cooperation, partnership and transparency between the Canadian government and Indigenous people. The NDP is of the belief that involving Indigenous leadership is a requirement to negotiating the health accord and to make positive change in relation to the health crisis in Indigenous communities. 

Supplementary recommendation 8: The NDP recommends increased funding for health care for Indigenous People.

Budget 2016 provides zero additional dollars for health care services for Indigenous peoples. The gaps in health care services and outcomes when paired with the shocking testimony in relation to the severe deficiencies in the system illustrate the need for immediate added investments in health care for Indigenous Peoples.  The NDP is calling for these immediate additional investments to health care for Indigenous people that were missing from budget 2016.

Supplementary recommendation 9: The NDP recommends that Health Canada periodically update the committee on its progress.

The NDP believes that Health Canada should provide this Committee with regular progress reports on steps taken to address the shortfalls in the health care system for Indigenous People, as well as on the findings of the Spring 2015 audit of the Auditor General of Canada concerning access to health services for remote First Nations communities. Health Canada must be transparent and accountable for its measurement of success in addressing severe deficiencies in health care for Indigenous peoples.