Question Period Note: Distinctions-Based Mental Health Wellness Strategies

Indigenous Peoples face unique challenges to having fair and equitable access to quality and culturally safe health care services, including early childhood trauma, income, access to stable housing, and the historical and ongoing effects of colonization and the residential school system on First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities.
Budget 2023 confirmed the Government of Canada’s commitment to improve health care in Canada through a historic investment of close to $200 billion over ten years, of which $25B will flow to provinces and territories through tailored bilateral agreements. These bilateral agreements will support progress on four shared priorities to improve access to health care, with mental health addressed by or included within all four priorities for residents of PT jurisdictions, including Indigenous peoples.

Our government recognizes that the ongoing effects of colonization and residential schools on Indigenous communities are root causes of mental health and substance use harms.
Through Budget 2023, the Government is providing $25B over 10 years to provinces and territories for shared health priorities, including mental health and substance use services.
The Government is also working with Indigenous partners to distribute an additional $2 billion over 10 years on a distinctions basis for culturally safe services.
Our Government is committed to working with Indigenous peoples to improve mental wellness.

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The Government of Canada is providing historic investments in health care, including $25B over 10 years to provinces and territories for shared health priorities, with mental health and substance use services addressed by or integrated within them.
The Government of Canada has provided substantial investments to Indigenous Services Canada for distinctions-based mental wellness supports through Budget 2021 ($597.6 million over 3 years). These supports provide community-based, culturally relevant and trauma-informed wellness services for families and survivors.
As part of the historic investments, the Government is also working with Indigenous partners to distribute an additional $2 billion over 10 years on a distinctions basis to address the challenges faced by Indigenous Peoples in accessing quality and culturally safe health services including for mental health and substance use. This approach is in keeping with the federal approach, premised on the fact that Indigenous peoples are best placed to determine and address their health-related needs