Yes. While there may be more access to home care supports or long-term care supports off reserve, there is still a lack of access to culturally safe supports. We had an engagement session recently with seniors living in Ottawa who pointed out their experiences of racism in the health care system within long-term care and of not feeling comfortable—not being able to smudge in hospitals and many long-term care centres, for example. Even though they have access to services, this lack of cultural safety within those services is still really an issue. While there may be greater access off reserve in one sense, it's still not necessarily meeting indigenous seniors' needs from a holistic standpoint.
On May 2nd, 2019. See this statement in context.