At the meeting in Vancouver, Health Ministers and representatives of the AFN, MNC and ITK agreed on the inclusion of First Nations, the Métis Nation and Inuit in developing a formal process within the broader Health Accord discussion to better determine how provincial, territorial and federal governments can meet health needs in their respective health systems. The agreement was reached in advance of today’s meeting in Vancouver of Federal, provincial and territorial Health Ministers to negotiate a new Health Accord that will include a long-term agreement on funding and setting national priorities on health care.
Métis Nation British Columbia President Bruce Dumont who is MNC’s Health Minister, applauded the decision on Indigenous peoples’ inclusion in the process:
“Having the Métis Nation at the table with federal and provincial Health Ministers will enable us to tackle the barrier of jurisdiction that has long delayed dealing with critical Métis Nation health issues by Ottawa and the provinces,” said Dumont. “We really need cooperation of all jurisdictions with the Métis Nation to deal with the acute chronic disease issues of Métis people.”
MNC President Chartier also viewed the agreement as a breakthrough for the Métis Nation:
“ It speaks to the sincerity of the Trudeau government early in its term in pressing ahead with the First Nations, the Métis Nation and Inuit to begin closing the gap in health outcomes with the overall Canadian population,” said Chartier. “ This is consistent with the government’s commitment to fulfill the vision of the Kelowna Accord and the spirit of reconciliation that drove it.”