Question Period Note: Supports for Elders

• The health and safety of First Nations, Inuit and Métis individuals and communities is a top priority for this Government.

• We recognize the elevated risk faced by Indigenous elders in the face of COVID-19.

• That’s why we acted quickly to provide $685 million through the Indigenous Community Support Fund and $285.1 million to support the public health response in Indigenous communities.

• We know that communities are working diligently to protect all citizens, including elders, and we remain committed to providing them the supports they need.

The Indigenous Community Support Fund - $685 million – may be used to fund a wide variety of measures such as supporting Elders and vulnerable community members, addressing food insecurity, educational and other supports for children, mental health assistance and emergency response services, preparedness measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and more. It will be distributed through a combination of allocations directly to First Nations, Inuit and Métis leadership, and needs-based funding, which will be application driven.

The Public Health Support Fund – $285 million – provides the resources to Indigenous communities in the provinces to support community-led responses to the pandemic, and provides targeted increases in primary health care resources for First Nations communities. In British Columbia, the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) coordinates health specific community requests; and Territorial governments are responsible for primary care and public health for all residents of the territories. In Nunavik the Government of Quebec is responsible for delivery of primary health care and public health. The Government of Nunatsiavut delivers public health while the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is responsible for primary health care.

If pressed on Long Term Care Homes On-Reserve

• My Department is working with Indigenous communities to support the implementation of stringent public health measures in Long Term Care facilities on-reserve.

• While no outbreaks occurred in long term care, personal care homes or Elders lodges on-reserve, strong rigour is needed in ensuring public health measures are in place on an ongoing basis.

• To protect the health of Indigenous seniors, it will be critical that we remain vigilant this fall in maintaining public health measures in these facilities and heading off the spread of the seasonal Influenza virus.