Backgrounder on Canada's Economic Action Plan Investment in First Nations and Inuit Health

News Release: Government of Canada is Investing in First Nations and Inuit Health

There are more than 40 new construction projects and approximately 230 renovations of existing First Nations health infrastructure made possible by funding under the Government of Canada's Economic Action Plan.

The total funding for all projects and incremental costs associated with these projects is $135 million.

All projects are scheduled for completion by March 2011.

Sixteen of the projects (see list below), which are typical of the types of new health infrastructure funded under this initiative, are already underway:

Pacific Region

• Huu-ay-aht First Nation - A new multipurpose health station will replace the current Huu-ay-aht Health Station, a trailer that was placed in the community in 1977. The project is valued at $2.578 million and will be completed Winter of 2011. The community is located on the west coast of Vancouver island and is about 197 km north-west of Victoria.
• Lower Post First Nation - A new health centre will be built, with construction beginning in Fall 2009 and completed in Spring 2011. The community is located on the Alaska Highway about 450 km from Whitehorse, and 10 km south of the Yukon border.
• Anaham First Nation - a new health centre will be built in Anaham (Tl'etingox-T'in) First Nation replacing the health station constructed in 1983 and lost in a 2008 fire. The project is valued at $2.5 million dollars, with construction slated for completion Winter 2011. The community is located in the Chilcotin District in the western Central Interior region approximately 100 km west of Williams Lake.
• Yekooche First Nation - a new health station will be built in Yekooche First Nation to replace the existing trailer that was brought into the community in 1970. The project is valued at $2.705 million. Construction will begin in Summer 2009 with planned completion for Spring 2010. The community is located approximately 180 km from Prince George.

Alberta

• Swan River Level 3 Health Centre - An expansion to the existing health centre constructed in 1996, the project is valued at $1.34 million. Construction is expected to be completed in January 2010. The community is located 48 km west of Slave Lake and 71 km east of High Prairie along Highway 2, on the southern shores of the Lesser Slave Lake approximately 297 km north of Edmonton.

Saskatchewan

• Piapot Health Centre - This is a replacement to the 1994 existing health centre. The project is valued at $2 million. Construction is to be completed March 2011. The First Nations community of Piapot is located about 40 km north of Regina.
• Sturgeon Lake Health Centre - Replacing the existing health centre built in 1982, the project is valued at $2.05 million. Completion is planned for March 2011. Sturgeon Lake is located 46 km northwest of Prince Albert.
• Beardy's Health Centre - This building will replace the existing health centre constructed in 1984. The project is valued at $2.25 million. Construction is to be complete March 2011. Beardy's and Okemasis First Nation is located about 56 km southwest of Prince Albert, and 85 km north of Saskatoon.

Manitoba

• Bloodvein Nursing Station - A new nursing station will be built in Bloodvein First Nation to replace the existing facility that was constructed in 1979. The project is valued at $3.06 million. Construction will begin in the Summer of 2009 with planned completion for September 2010. The community is located approximately 200 km from Winnipeg.
• York Landing Nurses Residence and Nursing Station - A new nursing residence will be built in York Landing. The project is valued at $2.9 million with planned completion for Spring 2010. The residence will complement the new $4.5 million. nursing station that will be completed in September 2009. York Landing is a remote community, located about 100 km northeast of Thompson, Manitoba.

Ontario

• Pic Mobert Health Station (Replacement) - A new health centre will be constructed at Pic Mobert First Nation to replace the existing one built in 1985. Construction will begin in the summer of 2009 with planned completion for March 2010. The community is located 400 km east of Thunder Bay, Ontario. It has an on-reserve population of approximately 325. The project is valued at $2.13 million.
• Batchewana Health Station - Batchewana is an Anishinaabe (Ojibway) community located approximately 2 hours northwest of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. It has an on-reserve population of approximately 631 members. The project is valued at $1.5 million.
• Gull Bay Health Station (Replacement) - Gull Bay is an Anishinaabe (Ojibway) community located approximately 2.5 hours north of Thunder Bay, Ontario. It has an on-reserve population of approximately 318 members. This construction replaces the health facility built in 1982. The project is valued at $2.73 million.

Quebec

• Opitciwan Nursing Station - Opitciwan is an Atikamekw community located approximately 10.5 hours northeast of Quebec City. It has an on-reserve population of about 2092. The expansion creates additional space to the existing nursing station built in 1986 and expanded and renovated in 1994. The project is valued at $2.535 million.
• Pakua Shipi Nursing Station - Pakua Shipi is located approximately 4 hours north-north-east from Quebec City by air. It has an on-reserve population of approximately 308. This expansion creates additional space to the existing nursing station built in 1983 and expanded/renovated in 1997. The project is valued at $1.75 million.

Atlantic Region

• Pabineau Health Center - Pabineau First Nation is a Mi'kmaq community located approximately 2.5 hours, north of Moncton. It has an on-reserve population of approximately 100. The project is valued at $1.22 million.

In addition to the investment of $135 million in health infrastructure for First Nations, the Economic Action Plan will also fund a further $305 million over two years to strengthen current First Nations and Inuit health programs ($240 million for Non-Insured Health Benefits and $65 million to ensure 24/7 availability of nursing services in remote and isolated communities served by Health Canada).