Accused of systemic racism and discrimination, the Trudeau government faces pressure to improve healthcare for vulnerable groups
According to a report from the National Post, opposition parties have called on the Trudeau government to increase cash funding for healthcare, specifically for First Nations and Inuit youth.
While the Trudeau government has already set aside $634.8 million to be budgeted over five years, including $71 million for relief this year, the NDP has asked for the immediate addition of $155 million. Conservatives are expected to support the motion.
“Frankly, the current government has an incredible spending problem,” said Conservative MP Cathy McLeod, referring to her party’s usual call for government austerity. “But there are times when there is an exception.”
New Democrat Charlie Angus cited a case where the government, instead of paying the $8,000 bill to correct an aboriginal girl’s painful orthodontic condition, spent $32,000 fighting the family’s requests for financial help in court. In another instance, an aboriginal boy was prevented from getting a physician-recommended audiology test when a federal bureaucrat deemed it unnecessary.
He also linked the defective child welfare system to a rash of suicides among indigenous young people last year. “That is what systemic, racist discrimination looks like,” Angus said, possibly referring to a previous ruling against the federal government made by the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal.
In defense, the federal government reported that it was in consultations with provincial and territorial authorities on the issue, tapping Indigenous Affairs Minister Carolyn Bennett to be the “special ministerial representative” on file.
“We are committed to nothing less than a full-scale reform of child and family services on reserve and are undertaking that reform in partnership with the provinces and territories and First Nations,” Bennett said, addressing the House of Commons.
She also cited a government policy known as Jordan’s Principle, under which any government department must immediately pay healthcare costs for any child that presents itself to that agency for healthcare support; even if the department believes another government level should shoulder the costs, jurisdictional confusion can be sorted out afterwards. Bennett claimed that since July, over 900 indigenous children have benefited from the policy.
Nonetheless, critics say that Jordan’s Principle has not been completely enacted, causing continued delays in healthcare delivery for many First Nations children. “There may be 900 more children getting it, but the full principle of Jordan’s principle is that all children in First Nations deserve equal medical treatment, and the Liberals are not complying with that,” Angus said.
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While the Trudeau government has already set aside $634.8 million to be budgeted over five years, including $71 million for relief this year, the NDP has asked for the immediate addition of $155 million. Conservatives are expected to support the motion.
“Frankly, the current government has an incredible spending problem,” said Conservative MP Cathy McLeod, referring to her party’s usual call for government austerity. “But there are times when there is an exception.”
New Democrat Charlie Angus cited a case where the government, instead of paying the $8,000 bill to correct an aboriginal girl’s painful orthodontic condition, spent $32,000 fighting the family’s requests for financial help in court. In another instance, an aboriginal boy was prevented from getting a physician-recommended audiology test when a federal bureaucrat deemed it unnecessary.
He also linked the defective child welfare system to a rash of suicides among indigenous young people last year. “That is what systemic, racist discrimination looks like,” Angus said, possibly referring to a previous ruling against the federal government made by the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal.
In defense, the federal government reported that it was in consultations with provincial and territorial authorities on the issue, tapping Indigenous Affairs Minister Carolyn Bennett to be the “special ministerial representative” on file.
“We are committed to nothing less than a full-scale reform of child and family services on reserve and are undertaking that reform in partnership with the provinces and territories and First Nations,” Bennett said, addressing the House of Commons.
She also cited a government policy known as Jordan’s Principle, under which any government department must immediately pay healthcare costs for any child that presents itself to that agency for healthcare support; even if the department believes another government level should shoulder the costs, jurisdictional confusion can be sorted out afterwards. Bennett claimed that since July, over 900 indigenous children have benefited from the policy.
Nonetheless, critics say that Jordan’s Principle has not been completely enacted, causing continued delays in healthcare delivery for many First Nations children. “There may be 900 more children getting it, but the full principle of Jordan’s principle is that all children in First Nations deserve equal medical treatment, and the Liberals are not complying with that,” Angus said.
Related stories:
Saskatchewan at the centre of Canadian HIV scourge
Feds, provinces at loggerheads over health funding
