First Nations move forward on health care without province

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This article was published 28/03/2018 (2743 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

OTTAWA — Manitoba’s northern First Nations are moving ahead with plans to ultimately take over federal dollars and responsibility for on-reserve health care, forging a deal without the provincial government, after months of urging it to take part.

This morning, the Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak will sign a memorandum of understanding with federal Indigenous Services Minister Jane Philpott on “health transformation.” But unlike a similar MOU signed last July with an Ontario group, the province won’t be at the table.

“There’s been some movement, but ultimately it doesn’t seem like the province wants to work with First Nations on reserves,” said MKO Grand Chief Sheila North, adding previous NDP governments also seemed reluctant to work on the issue. “That has caused a lot of unnecessary grief for our people.”

The federal government pays for virtually all on-reserve health care, often through nurses that give basic treatments. Local leaders can run prevention programs, but have to navigate federal bureaucrats and programming that changes under the government of the day.

The current system also leads to jurisdictional squabbles over funding, when federally paid nurses work alongside band-funded crisis workers, and fly patients to province-funded hospitals.

The federal Liberals say they’re focused on giving Indigenous leaders more autonomy over health care. They argue local solutions often lead to ­better outcomes.

North has made health transformation one of MKO’s key priorities over the past year, and Ottawa has offered funds for MKO to survey its communities and undergo pilot projects, such as a fly-in team focused on suicide prevention. But Tuesday’s move escalates that process, for example, by tasking public servants with regular followups.

“It brings us to the table to talk seriously and meaningfully to move towards those changes,” North said.

Months ago, MKO presented a draft tripartite agreement to Ottawa and the provincial government, but never heard back from Manitoba Health Minister Kelvin Goertzen. His office confirmed Tuesday receiving MKO’s proposal in February; it’s unclear why the minister did not respond.

North raised the idea in a meeting with Premier Brian Pallister last July, saying it could fit into the government’s sweeping health-care reform. Since then, neither Pallister, Goertzen nor health department staff have outlined any movement on the file.

“There seems to be hesitation, and only they can answer the reasons why,” she said.

North said the previous NDP government had only limited enthusiasm for health devolution, and she was encouraged Manitoba technicians will meet next month with MKO staff, something Goertzen’s office confirmed.

“Departmental officials from Manitoba Health, Seniors and Active Living will be meeting with representatives from the MKO next month to discuss the organization’s clinical care ­proposal in greater detail,” spokesman Kevin Engstrom wrote.

North said the MOU could ultimately mean more First Nations employed in health-care jobs, oversight bodies lead by First Nations people and tribal leaders deciding how to prioritize health dollars, instead of the current piecemeal process that goes through federal bureaucrats.

“We want to be able to have the ability to bring the accountability to the First Nations, rather than just to Ottawa,” she said.

“We don’t have a choice; otherwise our people will get sicker, they’ll die faster and sooner and they’ll be suffering needlessly if we don’t do this. It’s our responsibility to take back the health of our people.”

dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca