Indian Health Transfer Policy (Canada)

The 1988 Indian Health Transfer Policy provided a framework for the assumption of control of health services by First Nations people, and set forth a developmental approach to transfer centred on the concept of self-determination in health. Through this process, the decision to enter into transfer discussions with Health Canada rests with each community. Once involved in transfer, communities are able to take control of health program responsibilities at a pace determined by their individual circumstances and health management capabilities.

Overview

The process is designed to occur within the present funding base of federal health programs for First Nation and Inuit peoples, and First Nation and Inuit communities are required to provide certain mandatory programs such as communicable disease control, environmental and occupational health and safety programs, and treatment services.

Initially, the enthusiasm for this process was varied. For some, it was seen as an important link to Self-Government where the community plans and controls health programs in their communities according to its own priorities. It was seen as a way to develop programs relevant to a community's own cultural and social needs. Others took a more hesitant approach. As the uptake of control of health services by First Nations increased, the Indian Health Transfer Policy began to be seen increasingly by First Nations people as a stepping stone towards the inherent right of Self-Government.

Transfer became the cornerstone of Health Canada's relationship with First Nation and Inuit communities. Health Services Transfer Agreements between Health Canada and First Nation and Inuit provided the opportunity for communities or First Nation and Inuit organizations to manage their own health programs and services. At first, Transfer was the only option communities had for increasing their control over health programs and services beyond Contribution Agreements. Although many communities were interested in assuming increased control over health services and programs, not all communities were ready to move into this level of control so quickly. It became increasingly apparent that one design could not fit all the diversity of readiness. Some communities expressed interest in alternative strategies which would also give them increased control of resources.

Each year brought pressures for change and restructure in the transfer approach. First Nations and Inuit Health Branch searched for ways to respond to communities desiring to increase their control of community resources, either through the transfer process, or through other initiatives. This movement was further supported by a decision of the Departmental Executive Committee of Health Canada on March 15, 1994, which directed First Nations and Inuit Health Branch to commence planning all activities toward the following goals:

the devolution of all existing First Nations and Inuit Health Branch Indian health resources to First Nation and Inuit control within a time frame to be determined during consultations with First Nation and Inuit communities; moving First Nations and Inuit Health Branch out of the health care service delivery business; the transfer of knowledge and capacity to First Nation and Inuit communities so that they can manage and administer their health resources; a refocused role for First Nations and Inuit Health Branch; and a refocused role for Health Canada which will take into account First Nations and Inuit Health Branch's strategic direction.

In further support the search for alternative pathways to transfer, in late 1994, Treasury Board approved the Integrated Community-Based Health Services Approach as a second transfer option for communities to move into a limited level of control over health services.

1995 saw the distribution and implementation of Pathways to First Nations Control Report of Project 07 Strategic Planning Exercise. This cornerstone document set the essential differences between The Integrated Approach and Transfer. The Integrated Approach is an intermediate measure which provides more flexibility than Contribution Agreements, but less flexibility than the Transfer Agreement.

In 1995, the federal government announced the Inherent Right to Self-Government Policy . This policy recognizes First Nations and Inuit have the constitutional right to shape their own forms of government to suit their particular historical, cultural, political and economic circumstances. The policy thus introduced a third option for communities to further increase their control of health services.

Self-governance gives Bands more flexibility to establish program priorities in response to tribal needs rather than following Federal program objectives. Bands are able to expand, consolidate and create new programs to improve services to their communities and to make certain laws governing their community with respect to health. Furthermore, the range of resources for health programs which can be included in a Self-Government arrangement is greater than those included in a Health Service Transfer arrangementand may eventually include fixed assets and services under the Non-Insured Health Benefits Program. The flexibility in terms of how resources are allocated is also greater and reporting requirements are fewer.

First Nation and Inuit peoples will determine the pace at which Self-Government arrangements proceed. Putting the arrangements in place will of course take time. The process will require intense local or regional negotiations between First Nation and Inuit peoples, the federal government and the provincial or territorial government concerned. Figure 3 depicts the status of First Nation and Inuit control activities at the close of the first decade of transfer, March 31, 1999. The uptake of transfer has steadily increased over the past decade the maps on figure 3 present a progressive overview of the rate of uptake of transfer by First Nation and Inuit communities starting in year one.

History

To put Health Transfer in context, it is useful to understand from a historical perspective how First Nations and Inuit and the Federal Government have worked together to respond to First Nations and Inuit expressed desire to manage and control their own health programs.

1969 White Paper

Federal Government Policy Paper which proposed to remove the status of treaty individuals under the Indian Act and to discontinue special services so identified, advocating the increased assimilation of Native people into Canadian Society.

1970 Red Paper

First Nations' response to the White Paper emphasizing federal responsibility for health care to First Nation peoples and emphasizing plans to strengthen community control of their lives and of government-delivered community programs.

1975 Federal Government/Indian Relationships Paper

The White and Red Papers served as an impetus for the collaborative effort of the Federal Government and First Nations to begin serious planning for the future.

This resulted in the 1975 paper, The Canadian Government/The Canadian Indian Relationships, which defined a policy framework for strengthening Indian control of programs and services. In the health sector, under contribution agreements 75% of the Bands became responsible for such programs as the Native Alcohol and Drug Abuse Program and the Community Health Representative Program.

1979 Indian Health Policy

The Federal Indian Health Policy is based on the special relationship of the Indian people to the Federal Government, a relationship which both the Indian people and the Government are committed to preserving. It recognizes the circumstances under which many Indian communities exist, which have placed Indian people at a grave disadvantage compared to most other Canadians in terms of health, as in other ways.

The stated goal of the Indian Health Policy adopted by the Federal Government on September 19, 1979, is "to achieve an increasing level of health in Indian communities, generated and maintained by the Indian communities themselves". In this regard the policy recognized the historic responsibilities of both federal and provincial governments in providing health services to First Nations and Inuit people, and it removed the issue of treaty rights from health policy considerations to where it rightly belonged - Indian Affairs. The policy reasoned that improvements to the health status of the Indian population should be built on three pillars: (1) community development, both socio-economic and cultural/spiritual, to remove the conditions which limit the attainment of well-being; (2) the traditional trust relationship between Indian people and the federal government; and (3) the interrelated Canadian health system, with its federal, provincial, municipal, Indian and private sectors.

A further important aspect of the new policy was the recognition that First Nation and Inuit communities could take over any or all aspect(s) of the administration of their own community health programs, at their discretion and with the support of the Department of National Health and Welfare.

1980 Report of the Advisory Committee on Indian and Inuit Health Consultation (Berger Report)

The Berger report recommended methods of consultation that would ensure substantive participation by First Nations and Inuit people in the design, management and control of health care services in their communities.

1983 Report of the Special Committee on Indian Self-Government (Penner Report)

The Penner Report recommended that the Federal government establish a new relationship with First Nations and Inuit people and that an essential element of this relationship be recognition of Indian Self-Government. The report identified health as a key area for takeover.

1983-86 Community Health Projects

First Nations and Inuit Health Branch sponsored demonstration projects for First Nations. The experiment was initiated to provide both Federal and First Nation authorities with the same substantive information with respect to First Nation control of health services.

1986 The Sechelt Indian Band Self-Government Act

The Sechelt Indian Band Self-Government Act was passed by Parliament in 1986. In April of the following year, the British Columbia Legislative Assembly unanimously passed a bill to give the Sechelt community municipal status. Consequently, the Sechelt Indian Band signed the first Self-Government agreement in which a First Nation community assumed control of their health services.

1988 Cabinet Approval for Health Transfer South of the 60th Parallel

In order for First Nations and Inuit Health Branch to proceed with health transfer to First Nations as part of administrative reform, the policy framework, authorities and resources had to be developed and secured. A Subcommittee on the Transfer of Health Programs to Indian Control was established with representation from First Nations with experience in health care. The Subcommittee incorporated the experiences from the Community Health Projects and recommended a developmental and consultative approach for health transfer. These recommendations were then used to finalize the health transfer policy framework.

On March 16, 1988, the Federal Government Cabinet approved the health transfer policy framework for transferring resources for Indian health programs south of the 60th parallel to Indian control through a process which:

permits health program control to be assumed at a pace determined by the community, i.e., the community can assume control gradually over a number of years through a phased transfer;enables communities to design health programs to meet their needs;requires that certain mandatory public health and treatment programs be provided;strengthens the accountability of Chiefs and Councils to community members;gives communities:the financial flexibility to allocate funds according to community health priorities and to retain unspent balances;the responsibility for eliminating deficits and for annual financial audits and evaluations at specific intervals;permits multi-year (three to five year) agreements;does not prejudice treaty or Aboriginal rights;operates within current legislation;is optional and open to all First Nation communities south of the 60th parallel.

1989 Treasury Board Authorities for Transfer

In 1989, Treasury Board approved the financial authorities and resources to support pre-transfer planning and to fund community health management structures.

References

* Health Canada (2008),a. Ten Years of Health Transfer First Nation and Inuit Control Retrieved May 10, 2008 from http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fnih-spni/pubs/agree-accord/10_years_ans_trans/3_transfert_e.html
* Health Canada (2008),b. Ten Years of Health Transfer First Nation and Inuit Control Reterived May 10, 2008 from http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fnih-spni/pubs/agree-accord/10_years_ans_trans/2_intro_e.html