OTTOWA, ONTARIO - 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 Pacific 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.

Quotes:

Grand Chief Doug Kelly, First Nations Health council chair -

“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 B.C. 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.”

Honourable Rona Ambrose, Federal Minister of Health -

“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.”

Terry Lake, British Columbia Health Minister -

“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.”

Related Products

For the Together in Wellness Tripartite Committee on First Nations Health 2013-2104 Annual Report please visit: http://www.health.gov.bc.ca/library/publications/year/2015/together-in-wellness-2013-2014.pdf

Associated Links

News Release: Tripartite Partners Signify New Path Forward with Historic Transfer of Health Services for B.C. First Nations - Oct. 21, 2013: http://www.fnha.ca/about/news-and-events/news/tripartite-partners-signify-new-path-forward-with-historic-transfer-of-health-services-for-bc-first-nations

British Columbia Tripartite Framework Agreement on First Nation Health Governance (2011): http://www.fnha.ca/Documents/framework-accord-cadre.pdf

Health Canada news releases are available on the Internet at: www.healthcanada.gc.ca/media

Media Contacts:

Michael Bolkenius
Office of the Honourable Rona Ambrose
Federal Minister of Health
613 957-0200

Health Canada
Media Relations
613 957-2983

Health Canada Public Inquiries:
613 957-2991
1 866 225-0709

Trevor Kehoe
Communications Officer and Media Relations
First Nations Health Authority
604 831-4898
Trevor.Kehoe@fnha.ca

Kristy Anderson
Media Relations Manager
B.C. Ministry of Health
Communications
250 952-1887 (media line)