As the pre-first ministers’ meeting on health began with aboriginal leaders for the first time being at the table, Prime Minister Paul Martin offered $700 million over the next five years towards aboriginal health issues.
Treaty #3 Ogichidaa Arnold Gardner also is pleased to see there was consensus reached to hold another first ministers’ conference to exclusively discuss aboriginal issues.
An action plan to include $700 million offered will be developed with the federal government, as well as the ministers of health and aboriginal groups, before the next conference.
“We have had serious suicide crises in our territory for decades and we have had no serious offers of assistance,” said Gardner. “The money offered to top up the funding for aboriginal health is encouraging.
“Now that an action plan is to be developed with input from aboriginal people, I hope that our people and communities in Treaty #3 will be included in the process.
“This will require resources—resources that we do not have,” Gardner added.
“People in Treaty #3 need to be heard and it is time that our health issues are moved forward,” he stressed.
The five-year plan includes $200 million in transition funding, $100 million in human resources initiative, and $400 million in promotion of health and diseases, which includes suicide prevention.
Although there was no discussion on the money involved, the premiers and aboriginal leaders seemed optimistic about working together on aboriginal issues.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
