Ontario breaks jurisdictional barriers with vow for First Nations health care – The Globe and Mail
The Ontario government is preparing to announce that it is keeping a two-year-old promise to inject hundreds of millions of dollars into First Nations health care and that cash is now flowing to culturally appropriate initiatives including palliative care, primary care and mental wellness.
First Nations leaders say more money is still needed to bring the standard of care provided to their people to the level that is enjoyed by other Canadians. But they give credit to Ontario for breaking down jurisdictional barriers, both with the federal government and with Indigenous communities, to improve a system that has been rife with failure.
Perry Bellegarde, the National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations (AFN), said on Tuesday that Ontario has not fallen back on the excuse that Indigenous health care is a federal responsibility and is instead leading the way among provinces in spending to improve outcomes for First Nations people.
