NEWS RELEASE CAROL HUGHES, MP ALGOMA-MANITOULIN- KAPUSKASING ************************ Government cuts to First Nations health organizations a drain on vital information OTTAWA – Cuts to organizations that facilitate and report on health service

NEWS RELEASE

CAROL HUGHES, MP

ALGOMA-MANITOULIN-

KAPUSKASING



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Government cuts to First Nations health organizations a drain on vital information

OTTAWA – Cuts to organizations that facilitate and report on health services for First Nation communities won’t make the problems disappear, says Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing MP, Carol Hughes.

The New Democrat critic for First Nations Health issues took the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs to task for budget cuts that run counter to the widespread desire to improve health services and try to address many chronic and well documented problems in First Nation communities.

“Canadians understood how years of government neglect had let the problem get worse, but now it’s time to act” said Hughes.

The government cut funding to the Assembly of First Nations, the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples, the Native Women’s Association of Canada, Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, the Métis Nation of Canada, and the National Aboriginal Health Organization in their recent budget all of which played a role in delivering or monitoring and reporting on health services.

“Public health information is important to First Nations that have higher rates of chronic disease,” stated Hughes. “Why is this government taking away the money needed to ensure better health outcomes for First Nations?”

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