AFN National Chief Calls for Urgent Government Action in light of recent WHO Report
OTTAWA, Aug. 29 – Assembly of First Nations National Chief Phil Fontaine is urging the Government of Canada to take immediate action in light of the recommendations presented in the recent World Health Organization (WHO) Report entitled “Closing the gap in a generation: Health equity through action on the social determinants of health” issued this week. The three overarching recommendations of the report are particularly applicable for First Nations in Canada. The AFN has repeatedly called on the Government to adopt a social justice approach to achieve fairness, equity and improve the quality of life for First Nations.Among the recommendations, the report states: “Inequity in the conditions of daily living is shaped by deeper social structures and processes. The inequity is systematic, produced by social norms, policies, and practices that tolerate or actually promote unfair distribution of and access to power, wealth, and other necessary social resources.”
In light of the current state of government inaction to level the playing field for First Nations, National Chief Fontaine challenges this Government to work with the AFN to effectively address the challenges and issues that exist in First Nation communities and which continue to impede First Nation citizens. The WHO report also notes that unsafe drinking water, access to housing, high suicide rates and the inequitable distribution of power, money and resources directly impacts life expectancy.
National Chief stated that “we have been calling on the Government to address these and other determinants the WHO report accounts for the inequity and social justice gap. First Nations have been facing these challenges for too long. We hope that the international spotlight on the very same issues that plague First Nations as a result of Government inaction will encourage a change in Government response. It is now time for action. It is now time for change. The Government has an obligation to tackle the serious issues that affect the lives of First Nations. Canada is not necessarily ‘the best country in the world’ for all its citizens.”
The Assembly of First Nations is the national political organization representing First Nations citizens in Canada.
For further information: Joan McEwen, Director of Communications, (613) 241-6789, ext. 242, cell (613) 324-3329, jmcewen@afn.ca
