The minister, in terms of her oversight of the department, has highlighted four key ways the government is working with first nations.
“Finalizing a strategy by March 2018 with First Nations and Inuit partners to improve oral health and service delivery”. That was number one. Number two is “Improving data collection...by working with First Nations and Inuit partners to track the needs of community members”. That's on the data collection point that you raised in your audit.
“Utilize programs with First Nations and Inuit partners to attract, educate and retain Indigenous oral health workers in communities”. Again, this is addressing service provision. Finally, “Improving how decisions are documented under NIHB by including more details on approvals and policy changes.” I assume with this is more timely communication to the communities on what the changes are.
Also, in budget 2017 there is an additional investment of $45.4 million for the children's oral health initiative over five years to expand the oral health program in up to 214 additional communities. There is $813 million in the budget, as well—$83.2 million for the children's oral health initiative and also the community-based fetal alcohol spectrum disorder programming, and the maternal and child health programs.
With the ministerial response and the department response, it reads to me as though the ship is turning. I agree with you that it has to be implemented and the plans need to be put in place, but there appears to be a very strong focused agenda now to improve the oral health needs of indigenous people, and there is a fair amount of financial resources being brought to bear to make that happen. Do you agree with that? Do you have a sense that more should be done?