In progress since 2014, the Quebec First Nations health and social services governance process aims to redefine the current governance structure so that First Nations can repatriate responsibilities that are currently held by Indigenous Services Canada in matters of health and social services through a new governance model that will allow First Nations to take over the health and wellness services that are intended for them.
In order to review the progress made in recent years, the following is a summary of the milestones in the governance process and the main work carried out to develop the health and wellness governance model.
2014: Start of the governance process
- Motion by the Chiefs of the AFNQL for the implementation of a collective reflection process aimed at developing a new health and social services governance model.
- Adoption of the vision, principles and values of the governance process by the Chiefs of the AFNQL.
- Regional coordination mandate entrusted to the FNQLHSSC by the AFNQL.
- Development of a definition of First Nations governance that is adapted to the health and social services governance process by the representatives of the communities and organizations.
PHASE 1 – REFLECTION
2014-2016
The work of the first phase made it possible to develop comprehensive knowledge of the federal and provincial environment and to build the foundations of the new model.
- Analysis of different governance models implemented in Canada and around the world.
- Review of the current situation by representatives of the communities and organizations and indication of desired changes in terms of health and wellness.
- Choice of a collaborative and tripartite mode of governance entrusting health and wellness responsibilities to the communities that are collectively supported at the regional level and whose operation is carried out by means of a tripartite agreement in partnership with government bodies.
- Choice of an effective governance approach as a source of inspiration to develop the new governance model. This concept focuses on achieving collective goals through the involvement of all stakeholders in management, shared responsibilities, decision-making and service delivery.
- Development of a framework model of effective health and social services governance defining the basic principles and characteristics of the new governance model.
PHASE 2 – APPROPRIATION
2016-2017
The second phase of the process was dedicated to the appropriation of the framework model, namely the construction of the different components, structures and operating rules of the new Quebec First Nations health and social services governance model.
- Renewal of the FNQLHSSC’s mandate by the Chiefs of the AFNQL.
- Portrait of the operations and responsibilities of the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch and Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (now Indigenous Services Canada) produced by the FNQLHSSC in order to determine the characteristics of the desired support as part of the new model.
- Development of the 56 guidelines by representatives of the communities and organizations in order to guide the development of the new governance model with regard to planning, support, accountability, decision-making and the Directors Network.
- Development of a general model of effective governance based on the four components of effective governance and the guidelines, making it possible to move from a theoretical concept to a more applied concept of local and regional governance.
- Validation of the general model of effective governance by the representatives of the communities and organizations.
PHASE 3 – REALIZATION
2018-2020
The phase III work is dedicated to the realization of the desired governance model, by specifying each of the components as well as the different structures to be implemented, their roles, their responsibilities, their composition and their operating rules. This is a decisive phase since the model will be submitted to the Chiefs of the AFNQL at the beginning of next fall.
- Inventory of the professional health and social services resources in the First Nations communities and organizations.
- Guidance provided by communities and organizations who determined that the new governance model should allow for the creation of a regional body that would adopt a holistic approach, provide direct services when needed, and have collective and community responsibility for health and wellness.
- Inventory of the needs at the local level whether or not they are covered by the federal and provincial governments and the regional commissions and organizations of the AFNQL in order to determine the responsibilities that the regional body could take on and the services that it could offer.
- Portrait of the funding for the health and social services provided in the communities and analysis of the funding granted by the federal government to understand the management of budgets by Indigenous Services Canada.
- Presentation of the concrete model of the regional body to the communities and organizations.
Upcoming activities:
– Improvement and validation of the concrete model of the regional body
– Adoption of the concrete model by the Chiefs of the AFNQL
Information:
Toolbox: https://gouvernance.cssspnql.com/en/toolbox/
Publications: https://gouvernance.cssspnql.com/en/publications/