February 2, 2015 - Ottawa, ON - Health Canada
Federal Health Minister Rona Ambrose, British Columbia Health Minister Terry Lake, First Nations Health Council Chair Grand Chief Doug Kelly and First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) Chief Operating Officer Richard Jock met today in Ottawa to discuss future directions and opportunities to continue the ongoing successful implementation of the BC Tripartite Framework Agreement on First Nation Health Governance.
The Agreement, signed in 2011, laid the foundation for the historic transfer of health services from Health Canada's First Nations and Inuit Health Branch British Columbia Region to the British Columbia First Nations Health Authority, which took place in October 2013. A first for Canada, the partnership among the Tripartite partners signifies a new way of working in First Nations health and brings decision-making closer to home and into the hands of First Nations.
This transfer of health services enables First Nations communities to design and deliver their own health services in partnership with provincial, federal, and BC Regional Health Authority partners to achieve the vision of healthy, self-determining, and vibrant BC First Nations children, families, and communities.
"I am encouraged by our substantial progress in bringing decision-making closer to home and into the hands of First Nations individuals, families, and communities. We cannot do this work alone and our partnership with BC and Canada as both funders and governance partners is key to the ongoing success of this new way of delivering health services to First Nations."
Grand Chief Doug Kelly
First Nations Health Council Chair
The success stories documented in the latest Annual Report of the Tripartite Health Committee on First Nations Health confirm the effectiveness of this new way of providing services to First Nations. When we empower First Nations to assume responsibility for their wellness, the well-being of individuals, families and communities is enhanced. The federal government is wholly committed to this partnership because it demonstrates how working together and respecting First Nations' culture improves health outcomes.
Honourable Rona Ambrose
Federal Minister of Health
"I'm glad we have the opportunity to meet and move our partnership forward to determine the best ways to provide culturally safe, holistic and accessible health services for all First Nations and Aboriginal peoples of our province. We have seen success as a result of our partnership and we are open to new ideas, strategies and projects that help create innovations to improve the health of First Nations people."
Honourable Terry Lake
British Columbia Health Minister
First Nations Health Council Chair Grand Chief Doug Kelly with Federal Health Minister Rona Ambrose and British Columbia Health Minister Terry Lake.
Michael Bolkenius
Office of the Honourable Rona Ambrose
Federal Minister of Health
613-957-0200
Health Canada
Media Relations
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Trevor Kehoe
Communications Officer and Media Relations
First Nations Health Authority
604-831-4898
Trevor.Kehoe@fnha.ca
Kristy Anderson
Media Relations Manager
BC Ministry of Health
Communications
250-952-1887 (media line)
