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

Updated February 24, 2010

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

The Government of Canada's Economic Action Plan provides funding for over 40 new construction projects and approximately 230 renovation projects to existing First Nations health infrastructure, such as nursing stations and nurses' residences. The total funding for all projects is $135 million and all projects are scheduled for completion by March 31, 2011.

In addition to the investment of $135 million in health infrastructure for First Nations, the Economic Action Plan provides $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).

There are currently 40 signed Contribution Agreements for new major construction projects of First Nations health infrastructure (see list below).

Pacific Region

Community	Description	Project Value	Anticipated completion date
Anaham First Nation
The community is located in the Chilcotin District in the western Central Interior region approximately 100 kilometres west of Williams Lake.	A new health centre is being built in Anaham (Tl'etingox-T'in) First Nation replacing the health station constructed in 1983. The project is currently at the construction stage.	$2.5 million	February 2011
Huu-ay-aht First Nation
The community is located on the west coast of Vancouver island and is approximately 200 kilometres northwest of Victoria.	A new multipurpose health station will replace the current Huu-ay-aht health station. The project is currently at the construction stage.	$2.58 million	February 2011
Lax Kwa'laams
The community of Lax Kwa'laams is situated approximately 30 kilometres northwest of Prince Rupert.	The new facility will expand an existing facility built in 2000. The expansion will include a dental clinic, an expanded treatment area and additional space to accommodate expanding health programs.	$1.065 million	February 2011
Lower Post First Nation
The community is located on the Alaska Highway approximately 450 kilometres from Whitehorse, and 10 kilometres south of the Yukon border.	Construction of a new health centre began in the fall of 2009.	$2.7 million	March 2011
Spallumcheen First Nation
Located in the Chilcotin District in the Western Central Interior region, approximately 35.2 kilometres north of Vernon and 112 kilometres east of Kamloops.	A new health centre is being built to replace the existing health station. The project is currently at the construction stage.	$2.01 million	February 2011
Yekooche First Nation
The community is located approximately 180 kilometres from Prince George.	A new health station is being built to replace the existing facility. Construction began in the summer of 2009.	$2.9 million	July 2010

Alberta

Community	Description	Project Value	Anticipated completion date
Fort Chipewyan
The community of Athabasca Chipewyan First Nations reserve is located across the lake from the hamlet of Fort Chipewyan on the south-western shore of Lake Athabasca. It is approximately 200 air kilometres north of Fort McMurray and 600 kilometres northeast of Edmonton.	A new health centre will replace the existing nursing station constructed in 1981. The project is currently at the construction stage.	$15 million	March 2011
Hay Lakes (Dene Tha' Chateh)
This community is located 100 kilometres northwest of High Level in northern Alberta.	A new health centre will replace the existing nursing station constructed in 1987. The project is currently at the construction stage.	$9.5 million	March 2011
Paul Band Health Centre
The community is located approximately 60 kilometres west of Edmonton at Wabamnu Lake Indian Reserve.	A new replacement health centre providing 842 square metres of space.	4.4 million	March 2011
Swan River
The community is located 48 kilometres west of Slave Lake and 71 kilometres east of High Prairie along Highway 2, on the southern shores of the Lesser Slave Lake, approximately 297 kilometres north of Edmonton.	An expansion to the existing health centre constructed in 1996 has been completed.	$1.34 million	January 2010

Saskatchewan

Community	Description	Project Value	Anticipated completion date
Beardy's and Okemasis First Nation
Beardy's and Okemasis First Nation is located approximately 56 kilometres southwest of Prince Albert, and 85 kilometres north of Saskatoon.	A new health centre will replace the existing health centre constructed in 1984. The project is currently at the construction stage.	$2.25 million	March 2011
James Smith Cree Nation
The community is located 58 kilometres east of Prince Albert.	An expansion to the existing health centre constructed in 1998. The project is currently at the construction stage.	$550,000	March 2011
Makwa First Nation
The community is located 241 kilometres west of Saskatoon.	An expansion to the existing health centre constructed in 1999. The project is currently at the construction stage.	$550,000	March 2011
Mistawasis First Nation
The community is located approximately 70 kilometres west of Prince Albert and 120 kilometres north of Saskatoon.	A new health centre will replace the existing multi-purpose health centre constructed in 1995.	$2.1 million	February 2011
Muskody First Nation
The community is located 26.5 kilometres southeast of Prince Albert.	An expansion to the existing health centre constructed in 2001.	$550,000	February 2011
Piapot First Nation
The community of Piapot is located approximately 40 kilometres north of Regina.	A new health centre to replace the existing health centre built in 1994.	$2 million	March 2011
Saulteaux First Nation
The community is located near Cochin and Jackfish Lake in northern Saskatchewan.	An expansion to the existing multi-purpose health centre constructed in 2002. The project is currently at the construction stage.	$550,000	March 2011
Sturgeon Lake First Nation
The community is located 46 kilometres northwest of Prince Albert.	The Sturgeon Lake Health Centre will replace an existing health centre built in 1982.	$2.05 million	March 2011
Thunderchild Health Centre
The community is located approximately 230 kilometres west of Prince Albert and 113 kilometres northwest of North Battleford, along Highway 3.	An expansion to an existing multi-purpose health centre constructed in 1997.	$550,000	February 2011

Manitoba

Community	Description	Project Value	Anticipated completion date
Bloodvein First Nation
The community is located approximately 200 km from Winnipeg.	A new nursing station will replace the existing nursing station that was constructed in 1979. Construction started in the summer of 2009.	$5.4 million	September 2010
Brochet
The community is located 928 kilometres north of Winnipeg and has an on-reserve population of 431.	Construction of a new nurses' residence to support recruitment and retention efforts.	$1.25 million	February 2011
Cross Lake
This Cree community is located approximately 3.5 hours south of Thompson, Manitoba by car. It has an on reserve population of approximately 3138 members.	Expansion of an existing nursing station built in 1978.	$1.85 million	February 2011
Fort Alexander
On reserve population of approximately 3189 members.	A new health centre will replace the existing facility constructed in 1988. The project is currently at the construction stage.	$3.97 million	February 2011
Garden Hill
Garden Hill is a Cree community with an on reserve population of approximately 3424 members.	Construction of a new nurses' residence to complement the existing nursing station.	$4.8 million	February 2011
God's Lake Narrows
The community is located 1037 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg. It has an on reserve population of approximately 1400 members.	Construction of a nurses' residence to support recruitment and retention efforts is currently underway.	$695,000	February 2011
Oxford House
The community is located approximately 950 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg. It has an on reserve population of approximately 2177 members.	A new nursing station will replace the existing nursing station built in 1978.	$5.7 million	February 2011
Peguis First Nation
This Ojibway/Cree community is located approximately 145 kilometres north of Winnipeg. It has an on reserve population of approximately 3553 members.	A new health centre will replace the existing health facility built in 1987.	$3 million	February 2011
St. Theresa Point
The community is located 610 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg. It has an on reserve population of approximately 3268 members.	Construction of a new nurses' residence to complement a newly constructed nursing station completed in July 2009. The new facility will also support recruitment and retention efforts.	$5 million	February 2011
South Indian Lake (O-Pipon-Na-Piwin Cree Nation)
This Cree community is located approximately 1000 kilometres north of Winnipeg. It has an on reserve population of approximately 1200 members.	A new nursing station will replace the existing health facility built in 1983. Construction is underway.	$5.6 million	February 2011
Split Lake
Split Lake has an on reserve population of approximately 2130 members.	The construction of a new nurses' residence will complement a recently constructed nursing station and support recruitment and retention efforts.	$1.7 million	February 2011
York Landing
York Landing is a remote community located approximately 100 kilometres northeast of Thompson, Manitoba.	A new nursing residence will be built to complement the community's new $4.5 million nursing station. The project is currently at the construction stage.	$3.67 million	February 2011

Ontario

Community	Description	Project Value	Anticipated completion date
Batchewana
Batchewana is an Anishinaabe (Ojibway) community located approximately two hours northwest of Sault Ste. Marie by car. It has an on-reserve population of approximately 631 members.	Construction of a new health station is underway.	$4.2 million	March 2010
Fort Hope
Fort Hope is an Anishinaabe (Ojibway) community located 480 kilometres north of Thunder Bay, Ontario. It has an on reserve population of approximately 1269 members.	The existing nursing station, built in 1984, will be expanded.	$9.4 million	June 2010
Gull Bay
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.	A new health station will replace a health facility built in 1982. The project is currently at the construction stage.	$2.73 million	March 2010
Pic Mobert
The community is located 400 kilometres east of Thunder Bay, Ontario. It has an on-reserve population of approximately 325 members.	A new health centre will be built at Pic Mobert First Nation to replace the existing one built in 1985. Construction began in the summer of 2009.	$2.13 million	March 2010

Quebec

Community	Description	Project Value	Anticipated completion date
Opitciwan
Opitciwan is an Atikamekw community located approximately 10.5 hours northeast of Quebec City by car. It has an on-reserve population of approximately 2092 members.	Expansion of the existing nursing station built in 1986, which was last expanded and renovated in 1994. Construction is underway.	$3.58 million	July 2010
Pakua Shipi
Pakua Shipi is located approximately four hours northeast of Quebec City by air. It has an on-reserve population of approximately 308 members.	The Pakua Shipi Nursing Station expansion creates additional space to the existing nursing station built in 1983 and expanded/renovated in 1997. Construction is underway.	$3.2 million	March 2011

Atlantic Region

Community	Description	Project Value	Anticipated completion date
Oromocto First Nation (Wel-A-Mook-Took)
The Oromocto First Nation is a Mi'kmaq/Maliseet community located approximately 20 minutes from Fredericton. It has an on reserve population of approximately 264 members.	This health centre expansion will create additional space to the existing health centre built in 1997.	$1.26 million	February 2011
Pabineau First Nation
Pabineau First Nation is a Mi'kmaq community located approximately 2.5 hours north of Moncton by car. It has an on-reserve population of approximately 100.	Construction of a new Health Centre is underway.	$936,484	August 2010
Tobique First Nation
This Maliseet community is situated in northwestern New Brunswick, approximately two hours north of Frederiction. It has an on reserve population of approximately 1406 members.	A new facility will replace the existing health centre built in 1993, which the community has outgrown. The project is currently at the construction stage.	$3.35 million	January 2011

Note: Details accurate as of February 24, 2010