This is the continuation of the derogation of the health right of our Peoples. Furthermore, community care, transportation costs, counseling, medication, vision, dental, and long term hospital care in many cases must have prior approval by the Medical Services Branch. Some are denied, others have their requests delayed creating further anxiety and mental anguish. As of January 1996 Aboriginal peoples health care has been restricted. Certain medical professions and Aboriginal communities have not been notified of the new guidelines.
Confusion reigns on the issue of our health right.
Any government must be judged on how it treats the sick and those most unable to defend themselves. Most of all no government should bury its head in the sands of complacency or arrogance. There is no assurance for the Indian Nations in Canada that this government will back off on their plans to phase out the N.I.H.B. as we know it. This brings us back to square one as Mr. Dingwall is clearly saying changes will be targeted to off-reserve people. Paul Kyba, then Assistant Regional Director of Medical Services Branch in B.C. Region met with the delegation on March 13th.