7/25/2019 Health Canada Press Release Jan 21 - English

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PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Feds Fail on New Relationship with Algongquins of Barriere Lake,

Health Canada Response Disappoints Community

January 21, 2016

(Rapid Lake/Ottawa) The Algoqnuins of Barriere Lake are deeply disappointed with Health Canadas response to a recentprotest against the departments medical transportation procedures that put community members health at risk (see lastThursday press release here). Barriere Lake is an Algonquin Anishnaabe community located in western Quebec, 3 !hoursnorth of Ottawa.

While we appreciated the opportunity to dialogue with Health Canada, the paternalistic attitude of Health Canadabureaucrats has left the community infuriated said Chief Ratt. Health Canada has failed to respect the communitysauthority to administer medical transportation services that are culturally appropriate and ensure the health, safety andsecurity of community members.

Health Canada acted unilaterally once again imposing discriminatory rules that make it difficult for community memberson the reserve to follow up their regular medical appointments, which could result in serious consequences for the

vulnerable including children. Since December, the imposed rules by Health Canada have resulted in community membersmissing over 20 medical appointments.

Currently, Health Canada gives their nurses working in the community the liberty of calling taxis for emergencies anddialysis patients. As for other community members to access transportation services to meet their medical needs there isstill a 48-hour pre-authorization required by the regional Health Canada bureaucrats. Continuing with the use of taxis formedical transportation would cost Health Canada approximately $15,000-$20,000 for a two-week period whereas,community drivers would receive a fraction of that amount for the month to provide essential services to eligiblebeneficiaries under the funding agreement signed between Third Party Managers (TPM) and Health Canada.

Health Canada makes up rules as they go which clearly confirms that both TPM and the regional office have notimplemented the national medical transportation framework policy since 2006. We have not heard from other FirstNations complaining about medical transportation services. Why is our community being treated this way as we are the

most vulnerable from all other nine Algonquin First Nation communities? The nearest health facilities are located 160kmnorth, in Val-D'or, or 150km south, in Mont Laurier and Maniwaki. stated Jessica Thusky, Health Coordinator at BarriereLake.

Given violence against Native women in the region, women in the community are uneasy taking a taxi a long distance ona fairly isolated highway with a stranger. The community-contracted drivers ensure those traveling to appointments feelcomfortable as the drivers are known, speak Algonquin and are respectful of their passengers needs. By exclusivelyrelying on taxis from neighbouring towns rather than drivers from the community, Health Canadas imposition is contraryto the goal of the Liberal government for a new relationship with First Nations particularly through reconciliation and thenational inquiry on the missing and murdered Indigenous women.

Barriere Lake demands that authorization for all medical transportation be returned to the community and that the servicesfrom the community-contracted drivers is immediately restored.

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Media Contacts:

Casey Ratt, Chief: 819-441-8002Tony Wawatie, Interim Director General, English & French Spokesperson: 819-355-3662Jessica Thusky, Health Coordinator: 819-651-2904Michel Thusky, French Spokesperson: 819-215-0591

For background on the Algonquins of Barriere Lake: www.barrierelakesolidartiy.org .

http://www.barrierelakesolidartiy.org/http://www.barrierelakesolidarity.org/2016/01/health-canada-red-tape-puts-community.html