Health Transfer Policy

Health care expenditure accounted for an estimated 11% (214.9 billion) of Canada’s GDP in 2014 (CIHI, 2014). Canada boasts a universal, cost-effective and fair health care system to its citizens (Picard, 2010). However, despite great claims and large expenses incurred Canada’s health care system has been reported inefficient in it’s delivery to the population (Davis, Schoen, & Stremikis, 2010; Picard, 2010). As inconsistencies exist in health care delivery across the country, choosing priorities for the health of the Canadian people becomes of vital importance. In Ontario, progress toward a better health care system has been stated to be moving forward by putting the needs of the “patient’s first” (Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care [MOHLTC], 2015). This policy brief will give a background of health care issues in Canada related to Ontario. Three evidence-based priorities will be suggested for Ontario’s health policy agenda for the next three to five years. Furthermore, through a critical analysis of these issues a recommendation of the top priority issue for the agenda will be presented.

Since the 1970’s, many Indigenous communities have established their own independent, community-controlled health services (ACCHs) and an over-arching representatives advocacy body, the National Aboriginal Controlled Community Health Organisation (NACCHO previously NAIHO) was formed in 1975.

Since the colonization of Canada First Nations people have been discriminated against and assimilated into the new culture of Canada through policies created by the government. Policies created had the intentions of improving the Aboriginal people’s standard of living and increasing their opportunities. Mainly in the past hundred years in Canadian Society, policies and government implemented actions such as; Residential schools, the Indian Act, and reserve systems have resulted in extinguishing native culture, teachings, and pride. Policies towards the treatment of Aboriginal Canadians has decreased their opportunities and standard of living because of policies specified previously (Residential schools, the Indian Act, and reservation systems).

First Nation Peoples within Canada have been facing many injustices in their homeland since the dawn of colonization. The most unraveling point to First Nation assimilation was the formation of the consequential Indian Act and residential schools resulting in a stir of adversity. As racist ideologies within Canada developed, upheaval against such treatment was undertaken as First Nation communities fought back against government land claims and eradication of treaty rights. In attempt to make amends, proper compensations from the injustices within residential schools have been released and the key for the future is allowing First Nation self-government. Ideals with the intent of ultimate assimilation have been standardized unto First Nation

I believe that the aboriginal people need better health care and housing. According to Health Canada First Nation people and Inuit people are more at risk to receive HIV. In a trend over the past few years, it has been seen that natives are being infected at a significantly younger age than non-aboriginal people. This could be because the aboriginal people are treated differently in Canada so that they don’t receive the same health coverage that the rest of the Canadians do. It is unfortunate that the highest cause of HIV transition between aboriginal people is injection drugs. The Canadian government should be enforcing the same drug laws that we have in other parts of Canada on the reserves. It is known that Aboriginal people have adjusted some of the laws on their reserves to accompany their customs and culture. Yet, the HIV count is rising in the aboriginal people, and if not properly taken care of, people may be more prone to different diseases. Also, some health care benefits that we receive are not translated to the aboriginal population. In the aboriginal regions, people live in a large home and hold many relatives and a few different families. With more young people, there will eventually be inadequate room for living. The government should use this opportunity to build houses and give the jobs to

The National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) was established in 1992, as the new national ACCHS umbrella organisation replaced the NAIHO. Many Indigenous communities have recognized their own independent since the 1970’s. In 1975, The Community-controlled health services (ACCHs) and an

Carson, B., Dunbar, T., Chenhall, R. D., & Bailie, R. (2007). Social determinants of Indigenous health. Allen & Unwin.

The inequalities in today’s indigenous communities are still strongly evident. Heard, Khoo & Birrell (2009), argued that while there has been an attempt in narrowing the gap between Indigenous and non Indigenous Australians, a barrier still exists in appropriate health care reaching indigenous people. The Indigenous people believe, health is more than the individual, it is

Access to the communities is provided year round by Wasaya Airline and airstrips that are maintained by the Ontario Ministry of Transportation. Of course, each Aboriginal community is unique with its own set of traditions and ways of healing but my observation after working within the communities for over ten years is that they all suffer from improperished conditions and substandard housing. The local economies are primarily based upon government services (Indian and Northern Affairs) (INAC) and small business. Most of the reserves have six hundred people or less, and each community has a nursing station. The nursing stations are well-maintained functional buildings built in or about the early 1960’s and are maintained by Health Canada. First Nations and Inuit Health (FNIH) maintains responsibility for primary care services in the majority of the northwest Ontario reserve communities. In the north, nurses are the primary care givers working in an extended scope of practice, and client care is centrally coordinated by nurses working within interdisciplinary teams. The majority of the nursing and medical staff working for FNIH in the Sioux Lookout zone are Caucasian and do not come from local communities. This could outwardly appear as a reinforcement of power relations in the racial identities. There is only very limited cultural training given to employees when they are employed by FNIH. Medical advice and

“The status of Indigenous health in contemporary Australia is a result of historic factors as well as contemporary socio-economic issues” (Hampton & Toombs, 2013, p. 1).

The federal government is responsible for the delivery of primary health care services on-reserve as well as for funding the province for programs and services (Lavoie, 2013). Conversely, the province is responsible for primary health care services off-reserve, as well as hospital and physician services. While these jurisdictional boundaries seem to be clear in theory, in practice, they have been proven to be ambiguous and complex, and at times even self-serving (Lavoie, 2013; Kelly, 2011). This has contributed in an alarming burden of illness among First Nations communities that have economic, political and social implications for all Canadians. A study of these ambiguities and complexities as well as their consequences first requires a scan of the historical policies that have led to the current state of affairs in the healthcare of First Nations people.

While many may argue that the Canadian health care system provides equal treatment to every Canadian, evidence shows that this is not the case. There are major discrepancies within the system regarding Indigenous people that need to be addressed including several factors such as: housing issues, stereotypes Aboriginals face and the lack of Aboriginal doctors.

A national strategy was developed and the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation replaced the National Aboriginal and Islander Health Organisation in 1992.[33] In 1995, responsibility for most aspects of Indigenous health services was transitioned from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission to the Commonwealth Department of

The welfare systems of each province and territory currently shares some basic goals and characteristics in regards to child welfare services (Sinha & Kozlowski, 2013). Many Aboriginal families are impacted by poverty, which stems from the politics of oppression and injustice of colonialism (McCaslin & Boyer, 2009). The Constitution of Canada has given provincial and territorial governments control and responsibility for overseeing child welfare, as well as funding off-reserve programs (Barker, Alfred & Kerr, 2014). Alternately, the federal government is responsible for providing funding for programs on reserves (Barker, Alfred & Kerr, 2014). This unfortunately creates inconsistent policies and practices across Canada (Barker, Alfred & Kerr, 2014).

As a result, now women too have to travel a great distance to have their deliveries done by a professional. Some women have to reach cities 1 month prior to their delivery and pay all their own expenses (Hay, Varga-Toth, Hines, 2006, p.25) Because of all these hospital closures and reduced services now there are problems with surgical procedures and pharmacists. Most of the doctors and pharmacists does not stay long in these areas. They leave the community and return to cities (Hay, Varga-Toth, Hines, 2006, p.26) Also these rural areas do not receive much care for alcohol problems and HIV/AIDS. These services are poorly served. Aboriginals are also not given proper education in how to prevent these diseases (Hay, Varga-Toth, Hines, 2006, p. 26). These are some major issues that government fails to address or as it seems they choose purposely to ignore because these issues has been going on for decades. The government should be a bit responsible with making better policies and taking expert advices constantly to improve the policies. That is why we pay high taxes and high price for goods and services, so that the government should be always on their toe and working hard to make sure we get better and efficient policies. Policies that would help reduce inequalities and poverty in Canada.