Spotlight on Canada

1
Spotlight on Canada Debbie Reid, Health Canada
Jonathan Thompson, Assembly of First
Nations Elizabeth Ford, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami
2
Perspectives on the North

• In Canada, the North is characterized by its
  geographical, cultural, and political
  perspectives.
• To some the North is defined as North of about 53
  degrees latitude (taking in the Territories and
  the Northern regions of provinces).
• To others it means North of 60 (where the
  Territories and the Arctic begin).
• The North is the traditional homeland to Inuit
  and First Nations, as well as a defining feature
  of the Canadian identity.
• Politically, it is a region of intertwining
  jurisdictions territorial, provincial, federal
  and Aboriginal - a vast expanse rich in resources
  but also environmentally fragile, sparsely
  populated and costly to service.

3
Jurisdictions and Organizations

• Government of Canada
• Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
• Health Canada, Public Health Agency
• Other departments including Human Resources and
  Social Development
• Indigenous Governments and Organizations,
  including
• Assembly of First Nations
• Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami
• Council of Yukon First Nations
• Provincial and Territorial Governments

4
Health and Jurisdiction

• Provinces and territories provide
• hospital and physician services
• community and public health programs
• supplemental insurance
• long term care
• regulation

5
Health and Jurisdiction

• Federal government provides or funds
• community health programs in First Nations
  communities (primary care, communicable chronic
  disease control)
• environmental health, mental health addictions,
  children youth
• Non-Insured Health Benefits (drugs, dental, etc.)
  for all registered First Nations people and Inuit
  

6
Canadian Perspective

• Delivering health services in the North is
  particularly challenging due to remoteness and
  high cost of delivering such services.
• Inuit and First Nations play a key role in
  delivering health services in the North.
• Improving the health status of FN/I requires
  collaboration across jurisdictions and sectors.

7
2007 Projected Registered Indian Population
8,347
17,743
53 Latitude
127,533
105,592
130,335
131,910
72,565
178,080
33,645
Total 805,750
8
First Nations

• Varying cultures and languages
• Face higher rates of disease life expectancy is
  5-7 years below national average
• Living conditions is ranked 63rd or amongst Third
  World conditions
• FN communities in northern regions of provinces
  face similar health challenges as those north of
  60.

9
Challenges for First Nations

• F/P/T jurisdictional disputes - cost of health
  services, i.e. Jordans Principle
• Geography Remoteness
• High cost of living and food security
• High rates of diseases and addictions
• Lack of infrastructure inadequate
  housing/water
• Lack of/Limited health human resources and
• Addressing intergenerational impacts from
  abuses suffered in Residential Schools.

10
Opportunities for First Nations

• Foster collaborative partnerships with F/P/Ts
  which focus on building capacity of FNs to
  govern and administer health services
• Tripartite agreements that integrate F/P/T health
  services to better meet health care needs of
  FNs
• Joint development of policy and programs and
• Tele-health/medicine can assist with limited
  health services in the north.

11
Inuit Across the Arctic

• Approximately160,000 Inuit in the Northern
  Circumpolar Region
• Sharing a common culture and heritage across the
  Arctic

12
Inuit Nunaat
13
Challenges to Health Delivery Inuit Nunaat

• Geography and remoteness
• Population sparse and widely dispersed
• HHR Recruitment Retention
• High cost of living
• Lack of infrastructure
• Lack of Inuit-Specific data

14
Life Expectancy
15
Opportunities for Collaboration

• Promoting increased awareness and sharing amongst
  the federal, provincial, territorial and Inuit
  partners regarding Inuit realities and health
  priorities, including the importance of Inuit
  children and youth

16
Opportunities for Collaboration (Continued)

• Applying an Inuit-Specific Lens using
  Inuit-Specific Data
• Sharing best practices models
• Addressing jurisdictional challenges
• Using a social-determinants model and partnering
  with other sectors

17

• Any Questions?

18

• Thank you