Federal Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq, British Columbia Health Minister Margaret MacDiarmid, and Grand Chief Doug Kelly, chair of the B.C. First Nations Health Council, signed a Health Partnership Accord today re-affirming their long-term commitment and shared vision for a better, more responsive and integrated health system for First Nations in British Columbia.

The Health Partnership Accord is a commitment of the British Columbia Tripartite Framework Agreement on First Nation Health Governance (Framework Agreement) signed by the parties in October 2011. The Framework Agreement is guiding the transfer of responsibility for design and delivery of all federally funded health programs and services for British Columbia First Nations, currently administered by Health Canada, to the First Nations Health Authority.

"In partnership with the First Nations Health Authority, the First Nations Health Council and the B.C. Ministry of Health, the government of Canada will support more decision-making by First Nations and better health for First Nations individuals, families and communities in British Columbia," said Aglukkaq.

The First Nations Health Authority will incorporate First Nations' cultural knowledge, beliefs, values and models of healing into the re-design and delivery of health programs to better meet the needs of First Nations communities with their guidance.

"The Health Partnership Accord advances our commitment to First Nations health care by collaborating with B.C. First Nations on the health of their people," said MacDiarmid. "We are proud to further strengthen our tripartite relationship with the federal government, the First Nations Health Council, and the First Nations Health Authority to better meet the needs of First Nations."

"This accord is significant for a number of reasons. It commits each of the partners to continue to work together in a good way. We won't need to refer to this document when times are easy, only when we are in times of difficulty," said Kelly. "We should always remind ourselves and our partners why we have come together - to make the lives of our people and the conditions of our communities better. We are showing others how to work well in partnership and to stay focused on why we do our work. This Health Partnership Accord will keep us working together in a good way."

Since the signing of the Framework Agreement in October 2011, the First Nations Health Council has been expanding working relationships with B.C. regional health authorities. All five regional health authorities have signed partnership accords committing to develop a closer working relationship with local First Nations in support of the alignment of health services provided by local First Nations' health organization, the Province and the First Nations Health Authority to better meet the needs of First Nations.

The transfer of resources is expected to take place in phases, starting in July 2013 and ending in October 2013. This approach aims to support a smooth transfer of responsibilities and avoid disruptions to First Nations clients and Health Canada staff affected by the upcoming changes.

Learn More:

For a full copy of the accord, please visit the First Nation Health Council website:

www.fnhc.ca/pdf/Tripartite_Health_Partnership_Accord-_December17.2012_.pdf

A backgrounder follows.

Media Contacts :

Ryan Jabs
Media Relations Manager
Ministry of Health
British Columbia

Health Canada
Cailin Rodgers
Office of the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq
Federal Minister of Health
613 957-0200
250 952-1887 (media line)

Trevor Kehoe
Communications
First Nations Health Authority
604 831-4898 (mobile)
tkehoe@fnhc.ca

BACKGROUNDER

Health Partnership Accord reaffirms commitment to action on improved health outcomes for B.C. First Nations

The Tripartite Health Partnership Accord between the First Nations Health Council, Health Canada and the Province of B.C. is an evergreen document that affirms the long-term commitment of the three parties to work together to achieve a higher-quality, more integrated, culturally appropriate, and effective health system for B.C. First Nations. The accord contains a shared vision of healthy B.C. First Nations individuals, families and communities with access to the best health services available that are responsive, innovative, community-driven, and nation-based.

The creation of this accord was outlined in the B.C. Tripartite Agreement on First Nations Health Governance (Framework Agreement) signed in October, 2011. Among other things, the Framework Agreement also included a commitment to create a new First Nations health governance structure including a First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) and the transfer of responsibility for program management and service delivery from Health Canada (First Nations Inuit Health B.C. Region) into the hands of the FNHA, which will administer health services to B.C. First Nations communities with their guidance.

The Framework Agreement and this accord, along with a number of other important documents and health plans, signify a new era for B.C. First Nations health governance and a renewed commitment to continue to move forward on the historic work of all partners in elevating health outcomes for B.C. First Nations. Although not a legal document like the Framework Agreement, the Health Partnership Accord reiterates that the parties will maintain a strong partnership focussed on improving health outcomes for First Nations in B.C.

The accord builds upon the already-established positive working relationship and seeks to find new and effective ways of coming together to achieve common goals of working together to eliminate disparities and inequalities in the health status between First Nations in B.C. and other residents. All partners have agreed to overcome challenges in a good way through frank, honest, and respectful dialogue, using reciprocal accountability to guide the work at all levels.

This accord builds on a number of important documents including: the Transformative Change Accord: First Nations Health Plan, First Nations Health Plan Memorandum of Understanding, Tripartite First Nations Health Plan, and the Tripartite Framework Agreement on First Nation Health Governance. The accord expands on the already strong tripartite relationship and represents another step forward in the evolving, broad and enduring partnership with a commitment to reciprocal accountability.

The historic transformation in B.C. First Nations health is being watched across the country and internationally as an innovative approach to creating a new wellness system that will better meet the needs of First Nations communities to elevate their level of health.

Background Documents:

The Tripartite First Nations Health Plan (2007):

www.fnhc.ca/pdf/TripartiteFNHealthPlan.pdf

The Consensus Paper: British Columbia First Nations Perspectives on a new Health Governance Arrangement (2011):

www.fnhc.ca/pdf/FNHC_Consensus_Paper_-_WEB.pdf

British Columbia Tripartite Framework Agreement on First Nation Health Governance (2011):

www.fnhc.ca/pdf/framework-accord-cadre-eng1.pdf

Consensus Paper 2012 - Navigating the Currents of Change: Transitioning to a New First Nations Health Governance Structure:

www.fnhc.ca/pdf/iFNHA_Consensus_Paper_2012.pdf

Connections:

First Nations Health Council: www.fnhc.ca

B.C. Ministry of Health: www.gov.bc.ca/health/

Health Canada: www.hc.gc.ca

Media Contacts :

Ryan Jabs
Media Relations Manager
Ministry of Health
British Columbia

Health Canada
Cailin Rodgers
Office of the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq
Federal Minister of Health
613 957-0200
250 952-1887 (media line)

Trevor Kehoe
Communications
First Nations Health Authority
604 831-4898 (mobile)
tkehoe@fnhc.ca