Evidence of meeting #31 for Health in the 40th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was plan.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Director, Health and Social Services, Wellness Centre, Garden River First Nation
Although we did appreciate the supplies and the different things, it was just....
Supervisor, Health Services, Wellness Centre, Garden River First Nation
It would have been nice to have a list in terms of what we do with it.
Liberal
Supervisor, Health Services, Wellness Centre, Garden River First Nation
No. There was just a packing slip. We just had what was delivered.
Liberal
Kirsty Duncan Liberal Etobicoke North, ON
Thank you both.
Chief, may I ask what percentage of your community lacks water?
Chief, Wasagamack First Nation
Only 10% of people have water; 90% don't have water.
Liberal
Kirsty Duncan Liberal Etobicoke North, ON
So 90% don't have water. Thank you.
We really feel that you should be celebrated. The work you've done should be emulated. Has there been any attempt from officials to ask for some out-of-the-box thinking in terms of social distancing within homes where, as one person said, in some cases we have two, three, and four family units in a house?
Director, Health and Social Services, Wellness Centre, Garden River First Nation
I'm sorry, I didn't hear you. Can you rephrase the question?
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joy Smith
You can repeat the question, Ms. Duncan, but you have half a minute, please.
Liberal
Kirsty Duncan Liberal Etobicoke North, ON
Okay.
I'm sorry, Ms. Nolan.
Was there any support from the officials in terms of how you do social distancing in a house where you have two or three or four family units living in close proximity? How do we keep people safe? We need some out-of-the-box thinking.
Director, Health and Social Services, Wellness Centre, Garden River First Nation
No, it hasn't occurred that way at all, ever, from any pandemic information we've received. It's just been, “You need to get ready, and here is the template. Go for it.” We're saying, “Okay....”
We were fortunate because we went for it, but we know that other communities in our area didn't, and they're not ready. Our next-door neighbours are not ready, unfortunately.
Conservative
Bloc
Luc Malo Bloc Verchères—Les Patriotes, QC
Thank you, Madam Chair.
Chief Knott, your testimony sounds very much like what we heard a little earlier. Indeed, we were told that the communities you represent are dealing with systemic issues in terms of access to water and adequate numbers of decent housing. Factors such as that can exacerbate any situation where people's health could be at risk.
Are the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs and Health Canada aware of these conditions? Is this the first time you have made this information public?
Chief, Wasagamack First Nation
We have submitted some proposals in terms of the need for adequate housing and infrastructure. We are told, in terms of the policies, that they have put us for future years. They've told us that the allocation is not enough. There is no funding in place. But we still hear that there is funding available for overseas and for other subsidies where Canada provides funding. It's in the back door of Canada that they don't provide enough funding for sufficient housing for water and sewers.
I was glad and honoured that MP Bennett visited my community and saw the first sight of it.
So it's the policies. They are what stunts or blocks access to the funding that would ensure that we get good housing.
Bloc
Luc Malo Bloc Verchères—Les Patriotes, QC
Do you believe that, when the vaccine does become available, you will be in a position to immunize people in your communities quickly and efficiently?
Chief, Wasagamack First Nation
Yes, we can administer that. In fact, just last fall I had a meeting with a provincial official. I live in a remote community, I have no airport. I live in pretty well a very remote community. The closest airport is half an hour, driving range, by boat. I have requested that the minister do the testing in a remote area of how fast and how efficiently they can do the job of dropping off the vaccines and all the medication, all the supplies. It hasn't been done yet, but we're prepared to accept.
Bloc
Luc Malo Bloc Verchères—Les Patriotes, QC
Ms. Nolan, have you had an opportunity to tell other communities about your prevention tools? Have you had a chance to share your experience, as a means of helping other communities, or is today the first time you have spoken publicly about this tool?
Director, Health and Social Services, Wellness Centre, Garden River First Nation
Yes and no. We really haven't had the opportunity to present the information or the tools that we've developed to anyone, although we did manage to show one of the pandemic planners at Health Canada our magnet. She was so excited about that, she took our magnet and said, “Can we reproduce it and send it across Canada?” We said, “Great, take it, do what you need to do.” So that was, what, four or five years ago? Since then we haven't had anybody come to say, “What else have you been doing? This might be a good idea. This might be able to be shared with other first nations.” We'd love to be able to share with other first nations what we've developed. We think that's the right thing to do.
Bloc
Luc Malo Bloc Verchères—Les Patriotes, QC
And you haven't heard anything from Health Canada for four or five years!
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joy Smith
I'm sorry, Mr. Malo, I have to stop now and go to Ms. Wasylycia-Leis.
Bloc
Luc Malo Bloc Verchères—Les Patriotes, QC
I simply wanted to mention that a second time, Madam Chair.
Thank you.
Judy Wasylycia-Leis NDP Winnipeg North, MB
Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you very much for being here and taking the time.
Chief Knott, you made a very clear statement that I think we should all take note of, and that is that unless we take some major steps now, we could be facing some very tragic consequences. I think that's why we're all here, to prevent that from happening.
I think what Pamela and Maxine have shown us is that there are some very good initiatives out there and that Health Canada is in part doing its job, but that there seems to be an overall lack of coordination and communication in terms of a strategy for all first nations and Inuit communities.
So I want to know from all of you, what's the best way to do that right now? What advice should we give to the minister and the officials, who will appear after you, about how we can get the kind of program you have in your community, Garden River, and take that experience and that wealth of knowledge and share it among all, what, 600 first nation and Inuit communities across this country? Does anybody have any ideas on that?
Chief Knott.
Chief, Wasagamack First Nation
I'm glad you've mentioned that and inquired about it. I think today, at this table, the colleagues here and our sisters here have demonstrated that a community has the potential to produce their policies, to improve their lives. They know what the problem is and they can correct the problem. We are never given a chance to that extent, and we don't have the resources to produce these types of projects, the pilot projects that we have. If every first nation is given an opportunity, I'm sure they can make improvements to their lives that they can forward to the government.
Thank you.