Question Period Note: Joyce’s Principle

• The death of Joyce Echaquan has reminded us that while important initial steps have been taken to address racism in Canada’s health care systems, more work is needed.

• My department is providing $2 million to the Atikamekw Nation and the Manawan First Nation to advance their advocacy for implementation of the federal aspects of Joyce’s Principle.

• Joyce’s Principle aims to guarantee the right of equitable access of all Indigenous People, without any discrimination, to all social and health services, as well as the right to enjoy the best possible physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health.

A female patient in her mid-thirties, from the community of Manawan was admitted to Joliette Hospital in September 2020 in order to receive urgent care for an acute health issue.

The patient recorded a video of herself during her hospital stay that shows her distress, but most of all, mistreatment as well as degrading and racist comments from the staff.

Tragically, the patient passed during her hospital stay. The exact cause of death remains unknown.

The video was shared on social media (Facebook) and the story was eventually published on the CBC website (see link below)

http://www.radio-canada.ca/util/postier/suggerer-go.asp?nID=4562889

The Government convened an urgent meeting on October 16, 2020, bringing together Indigenous, provincial and territorial governments and partners, and health practitioners and regulators to hear about the lived experience of Indigenous patients and providers.

On January 27-28, 2021, over 170 participants and 500 observers from National Indigenous Organizations, Indigenous Health Professional organizations, Provincial and Territorial Governments, Pan-Canadian Health Organizations, health experts, and other stakeholders attended a second National Dialogue to address Anti-Indigenous Racism in Canada’s Health Care Systems. Building from the Emergency Meeting held on October 16, 2020, this meeting provided an opportunity for the participants to renew their commitment to eliminating racism by identifying concrete actions and developing response strategies towards that shared objective.

In March 2021, the Atikamekw announced they are turning to the United Nations to obtain justice on behalf of Joyce Echaquan. Complaints will be brought before five special rapporteurs in advance of the United Nations Annual Forum for Indigenous Peoples. The intention is to encourage Ottawa and Quebec to implement Joyce’s Principle and urge immediate action to end systemic discrimination against Indigenous Peoples.

The Coroner’s public hearing into the death of Joyce Echaquan will begin on May 14, 2021 at the Trois-Rivières courthouse. The hearing will be chaired by Coroner Géhane Kamel, who is already in charge of a committee on mortality in Indigenous and Inuit communities. The coroner’s mandate is not to decide criminal liability but rather to determine the causes and circumstances of death and to make recommendations on how to avoid similar deaths in the future.

Thirteen days of hearings are scheduled and will be spread over four weeks to shed light on the causes and circumstances of Joyce Echaquan's death. About fifty witnesses will be heard, including Joyce’s family and relatives, hospital employees, pharmacists and an emergency physician.

The inquiry is scheduled to end on June 2, at which time Manawan Chief Paul-Emile Ottawa will be called upon to offer his thoughts and suggestions to the coroner in the “recommendations” section of the public inquiry, as will Ghislain Picard, chief of the Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador.

The Government of Canada will be convening a third national dialogue in June 2021 to continue pursuing collective actions related to increasing Indigenous representation in postsecondary health education, cultural competency training, traditional approaches to health and safe patient navigation.

If pressed on specific actions taken

• My department is providing mandatory cultural safety and cultural competency training to all new employees and receiving regular policy guidance from the Advisory Committee on Indigenous Women’s Wellbeing.

• We convened two national dialogue of governments and partner organizations; the first in October 2020 to hear of the lived experiences of racism by Indigenous people and providers, and the second in January to present plans for concrete actions to eliminate anti-Indigenous racism in health care systems.

• Our Government has confirmed its intention to convene a third national dialogue in spring 2021 to continue pursuing collective actions to increase Indigenous representation in post-secondary health education, cultural safety and humility training, traditional approaches to health, and safe patient navigation.

If pressed on Budget 2021 – Addressing Systemic Racism

• In Budget 2021, we have committed to investing $126.7 million over three years, beginning in 2021-22, to take action to foster health systems free from racism and discrimination where Indigenous Peoples are respected and safe.

• This funding will support patient advocates, health system navigators, and cultural safety training for medical professionals.
If pressed on Systemic Racism in Health Care

• In January 2021, the Department convened with governments and organizations to present plans for concrete actions to address racism in the healthcare system.

• This continued engagement with health system partners will inform the co-development of distinctions-based Indigenous health legislation.

• We remain committed to ensuring Indigenous peoples have access to culturally safe and high-quality health services.

If pressed on Calls for Justice to the United Nations

• The Government of Canada acknowledges that racism exists at all levels and is committed to supporting the implementation of Joyce’s Principle.

• We must collectively consider Joyce’s Principle as a foundation to guide and direct responses across jurisdictions to ensure the experiences of Joyce Echaquan and her family do not continue.

If pressed on Coronor’s Public Hearing

• Canadians are rightfully outraged by racism that Indigenous people face in Canada’s health care system; this was highlighted by the racist treatment that Joyce Echaquan endured prior to her death last September.

• The Government of Canada recognized the tremendous impact of Joyce Echaquan’s actions in exposing racism in Canada’s health care system.

• Indigenous Services Canada is treating anti-Indigenous racism in health care as an urgent priority and we have taken action to address this issue, such as support for the continued advocacy for Joyce’s Principle.

• This is just the beginning and we remain committed to ensuring Indigenous Peoples have access to culturally safe and high-quality health services.