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OTTAWA — Indigenous leaders are urging Canada to confront deplorable health conditions for their people as federal, territorial and provincial ministers prepare to meet in Vancouver next week.
Isadore Day, Ontario regional chief of the Assembly of First Nations and chair of the assembly’s health committee, says health outcomes for aboriginals have reached crisis levels.
He wants native leaders to fully participate in discussions around a new national health accord.
Day says addressing the health crisis will allow First Nations to fully participate in Canada’s social and economic success.
Health Canada says Aboriginal Peoples face serious health problems, including high rates of chronic and contagious diseases and shorter life expectancies.
Health Minister Jane Philpott says indigenous leaders will be part of the discussions on the health accord but she said an exact model has not been determined yet.
