October 2013
News Release: Tripartite Partners Signify New Path Forward with Historic Transfer of Health Services for BC First Nations
The transfer of responsibilities for planning, design and delivery of health programs and services from Health Canada's First Nations Inuit Health Branch BC Region to the BC First Nations Health Authority was set into motion in October 2011 with the signing of the BC Tripartite Framework Agreement on First Nation Health Governance. The Framework Agreement concluded negotiations that began in 2006 among the federal government, the Province of British Columbia and B.C. First Nations, when they signed the First Nations Health Plan: Memorandum of Understanding.
The new arrangement supports better health outcomes for B.C. First Nations through a new governance structure and a new relationship among the three parties. It addresses health service gaps through new partnerships, closer collaboration and health systems innovation through coordination and integration.
The BC First Nations Health Governance Structure includes the:
- First Nations Health Authority: responsible for planning, management, service delivery and funding of health programs previously provided by Health Canada's First Nations Inuit Health Branch B.C. Region.
- Tripartite Committee on First Nations Health: responsible for coordinating and aligning planning and service delivery among the First Nations Health Authority, the B.C. health authorities, the B.C. Ministry of Health, and Heath Canada.
- First Nations Health Directors Association: composed of health directors and managers working in First Nations communities and responsible for supporting education, knowledge transfer, professional development and best practices for health directors and managers. This Association also acts as a technical advisory body to the First Nations Health Council and the First Nations Health Authority on research, policy, program planning and design, and the implementation of the Health Plans.
- First Nations Health Council: provides political leadership and advocacy for implementation of Tripartite commitments and supports health priorities for BC First Nations.
The transfer is supported by the Canada Funding Agreement which authorizes the transfer of roughly $380 million per annum for a total of $4.7 billion from July 1, 2013 until March 31, 2023. The amount is based on federal expenditures for First Nations programs and services in British Columbia with an escalator to reflect expected population and cost increases.
As of the end of fiscal year 2012/13, the B.C. Government has provided $27 million in funding to support the Framework Agreement. This funding is part of the overall $100 million commitment that will be provided to the First Nations Health Authority up to 2020 to implement the provisions outlined in the Framework Agreement and original commitments contained in tripartite and bilateral health plans and agreements.
The new First Nations Health Governance Structure through the FNHA and FNHC has also led the signing of Regional Partnership Accords with each regional health authority in BC and the respective First Nations Health Council Regional Caucus, leading to region-specific initiatives with closer collaboration and integration to better meets the needs of First Nations in their territory.
