OTTAWA (February 6, 2007) - The Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Health and the Métis National Council Minister of Health David Chartrand, today announced the $10 million Health and Human Resources Initiative to improve health of Métis people. The news conference and signing ceremony took place at the Crowne Plaza in Ottawa.

This funding of $10 million over four years will increase the number of Métis students pursuing careers in health sciences through bursaries and scholarships and build the capacity of Métis organizations to engage in health human resource planning. The program’s objective is to reduce long-term wait times and address the shortage of personnel in the field, also providing a cultural context for non-Métis health personnel working in Métis communities. The HHRI is a part of Health Canada’s new Aboriginal Health Human Resources Initiative which will develop health human resources strategies that respond to the unique needs and diversity among Métis, First Nations, and Inuit.

“This is a great day for us, Métis have been waiting a long time for this day to come,” Minister Chartrand said. “Today we have with us RNs, doctors and there will be many more coming from different fields. There are twenty six categories in the educational institutions that can be pursued with these funds, and I know that our families are so relieved to hear the news that there is an investment, and that there is an opportunity for them,” Chartrand said and added: “I know that this new partnership that we are embarking upon will make such a great difference, and there is no doubt in my mind that the Métis National Council will ensure that all the resources that you are expending are spent as wisely and effectively as we can.”

“Today is an important day for all of us, because we are committed to making real and lasting improvement for Aboriginal peoples’ health,” Minister of Health Tony Clement said. “I believe we have a tremendous opportunity to stand up and to be a part of the solution. We know that the Métis face some unique challenges, and some unique circumstances. Part of the solution is to work closely together on Aboriginal health care resources. We need more Aboriginal health professionals in our health care system, and in fact we need to go beyond that and work on improving the retention rates for Aboriginal health professionals. We are seeing already some great new developments along these lines,” Minister Clement concluded.

Marcella Hamilton, Métis youth from Saskatchewan thanked Minister Clement and his government, and emphasized that “historically, Métis students have had difficulty financially entering into the health profession. “There is a huge gap between Métis health professionals and non-Métis health professionals, and new scholarships and bursaries will help close that gap.”

As a token of appreciation, Minister Clement was presented with an engraved Métis fiddle.

The MNC represents the Métis Nation in Canada at the national and international level. The Métis Nation’s homeland includes the three Prairie provinces and extends into Ontario, British Columbia, the Northwest Territories and the northern United States. There are approximately 350,000 – 400,000 Métis Nation citizens in Canada.



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