First Ministers' Meeting with Leaders of National Aboriginal Organizations, November 24-25, 2005

First Ministers and National Aboriginal Leaders considered the Blueprint on Aboriginal Health: A 10-Year Transformative Plan at their meeting in Kelowna, B.C., November 24-25, 2005. The document responds to the commitment made at the Special Meeting of First Ministers and the Leaders of the 5 National Aboriginal Organizations on September 13, 2004. The Blueprint is a roadmap to guide action and investment in closing the gap in health outcomes between First Nations, Inuit and Métis and Canadians as a whole.

The Government of Canada committed to investing $1.315 billion over the next five years:

$870 million to stabilize the First Nation and Inuit Health System; and,
$445 million to promote transformation and to build capacity.

Progress in closing the gap will be made by improving access and quality of health services through comprehensive, wholistic and coordinated service provision by all parties to the Blueprint, and through concerted efforts on determinants of health.

The Blueprint is the result of unprecedented collaboration and engagement by federal, provincial, territorial governments and First Nations, Inuit and Métis in every region of Canada throughout 2005. The document contains overarching principles and approaches as well as three distinct frameworks - First Nations, Inuit and Metis - and National Directions.

More information is available on the following Web sites:

• First Ministers' Meetings - Office of the Prime Minister
• Meeting of First Ministers and National Aboriginal Leaders 2005 - Indian and Northern Affairs Canada