Video—BC First Nations Health Authority the result of successful collaboration but now needs greater commitment to accountability

Video Transcript

Our study of the creation of the First Nations Health Authority in British Columbia illustrates how a different approach was used to address a long-standing issue.

We undertook this study to inform Parliament about how British Columbia First Nations, Health Canada, and the Province of British Columbia worked together for close to ten years to find a way to improve the traditionally poorer health outcomes of First Nations people in the province.

In a nutshell, the British Columbia First Nations Health Authority was the result of a successful collaboration, but it now needs to make a greater commitment to accountability.

The study showed that through their sustained collaboration, the three partners overcame the long-standing structural impediments to providing services to First Nations that we identified in 2011, including uncertainties around funding and service delivery, to create the First Nations Health Authority in British Columbia.

For example, the Health Authority has in place a ten-year funding arrangement, in contrast with past practice where funding was typically allocated on a yearly basis.

As part of our work, we also conducted an audit of some elements of the First Nations Health Authority’s accountability and governance framework.

While the partners were successful in creating the Health Authority, the audit noted that currently, there are weaknesses in the Authority’s accountability and governance framework.

For example, our audit found that the Agency did not consistently apply its policy to investigate allegations of workplace misconduct.

The Authority will need to address these weaknesses to support the successful delivery of health services to First Nations in British Columbia.