Thank you. That is a very good question and I'd like to thank you for asking that question.
With the British Columbia government and British Columbia first nations, we signed the framework agreement in October 2011. This agreement makes it possible for us to move forward in new and promising ways in partnership with the first nations and the British Columbia health authority. The tripartite sets up a first nations health authority in British Columbia and gives the British Columbia first nations a real voice in their health services. They're at the table; they're involved.
To do its job, the first nations authority will work very closely with the British Columbia regional health authorities so there is better integration, as opposed to providing services in silos for first nations and the rest of the citizens.
Our government will support the health authority with long-term funding, and that will be money we currently spend to provide services to B.C., but it also includes escalators to address the normal cost growth factor. With this agreement, we will have accountability in place for the first nations health authority. At the same time, as I said in my comments earlier, it's a health authority for first nations people by first nations people, on better ways to deliver programs more acceptable to first nations, but in partnership with the provincial government.
It's the first of its kind; it's taken over five years to get here, and it is a new way of doing business. It's about better integration of services in B.C. I commend the British Columbia provincial health authority, again, for their leadership and interest in working at better ways of delivering programs. This is historic. It's innovative, and it shows that the federal government can work with the provinces and first nations to deal with better outcomes for Canadians.
Thank you.