Agreement signed for funding of Cree Board of Health and Social Services of James Bay

CHISASIBI, Eeyou Istchee, July 20, 2012 /CNW/ - Today, the Cree Nation of Eeyou Istchee and the Government of Quebec have concluded an Agreement concerning the funding framework and funding rules for the Cree Board of Health and Social Services of James Bay.

This funding framework is intended to ensure funding for the operations of the Cree Board of Health and Social Services of James Bay.  The funding to be provided related mainly to: 1) The Operations of the Board, 2) Capital Investments in buildings, equipment and information systems, and 3) Maintenance of assets. The framework applies for the period from April 1, 2013 to March 31, 2018 except the items for the capital investments, for which the funding measures apply until March 31, 2020.

The previous and new funding framework agreements have been based on the strategic regional plan of the Cree Board of Health and Social Services of James Bay, which is the long term vision for the continued development and improvement of Cree Health and Social Services.  Whereas the focus of the previous agreement was on the first, or front line, services in the Cree communities, the new Agreement will be focused more on the development and consolidation of regional services as well as the continued development and improvement of service delivery foreseen in the previous agreement.

The resources to be provided under the Agreement are primarily oriented to the development and consolidation of the regional services in the following areas:

• Development of the Chisasibi Regional Hospital services with the construction of the new facility that will combine the hospital with the CMC (CSS-CLSC equivalent),
• Haemodialysis in Waskaganish,
• Youth Protection and healing services, Traditional healing centre and other services and centres,
• Establishment of regional clinical services unite including telehealth and telemedicine,
• Increased Human Resources regional support and training,
• Information Technologies

The signatories of the Agreement are Dr. Matthew Coon Come, Grand Chief of the Grand Council of the Crees (Eeyou Istchee) and Chairman of the Cree Regional Authority, Dr. Yves Bolduc, Ministre de la Santé et des Services sociaux, Madame Dominique Vien, Ministre Déléguée aux Services sociaux, Monsieur Yvon Valliéres, Ministre responsable des affaires intergouvernementales canadiennes et de la francophonie canadienne, Monsieur Geoffrey Kelley, Ministre responsable des Affaires autochtones and Mr. James Bobbish, Chairman of the Cree Board of Health and Social Services of James Bay.

"With the signature today of the new health Agreement and funding framework, the Crees and Quebec are demonstrating their shared commitment to improving the health and social services provided to the Crees of Eeyou Istchee", stated Grand Chief Dr. Matthew Coon Come.  "This is a tangible example of partnership between the Crees and Quebec to improve the lives of the people of Eeyou Istchee", he continued.  "It is this partnership that we, the Crees, wish to pursue with Quebec in other fields of activity, including governance, so that we share in the responsible and sustainable development of Eeyou Istchee for our common benefit".

"It is vital that a solid infrastructure for all areas of health care is put in place as it was envisaged when the Cree Board of Health and Social Services of James Bay began its journey in 1978", said James Bobbish, the Chairman of the Cree Board of Health and Social Services of James Bay.  "The resources made available for the work of the Cree Board of Health and Social Services of James Bay are a clear demonstration of the collaboration between the Cree Board of Health and Social Services of James Bay and the Government of Quebec", continued Mr. Bobbish.

Mr. Abel Bosum, Cree-Quebec Negotiator
Grand Council of the Crees (Eeyou Istchee)
and the Cree Regional Authority
Tel.: [phone]
[email protected]

Ms. Katherine Morrow, Coordinator of Communications
Cree Board of Health and Social Services of James Bay
Cell: [phone]
[email protected]