N.W.T. Mtis leaders ask for inclusion in federal health care benefit

Leaders in the N.W.T. are advocating for Mtisinclusion in a national health-care insurance program for First Nations and Inuit people.

The Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) program for First Nations and Inuit covers some medicare costs like dental, vision and out-of-territory medical travel for those that can prove their status and who don't already get health-care coverage through their place of work. Currently, Mtisare not eligible to receive these benefits.

Garry Bailey, president of the N.W.T. MtisNation, said that needs to change.

"We're not asking for more than First Nations," he told CBC. "Equitable treatment is all I'm asking [for]."

The insurance program was raised in the N.W.T. Legislature last week, as members review this year's proposed budget line by line. In 2019, more than 27,000 people in the N.W.T. were eligible for the NIHB program almost 60 per cent of the territory's population.

Mtisunder federal jurisdiction: Supreme Court

In 2016, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled in a case known as the Daniels decision that the federal government has a constitutional obligation to provide equal access to health care, education and hunting rights to Mtisand "non-status Indians."

"That logically means ... the government of Canada would provide the same programs and services, including non-insured health benefits, to all mixed-blood Aboriginal people, but that has not been the case," Bill Enge, the president of the North Slave MtisAlliance, told CBC.

Instead, Enge said the Trudeau government flows most of its health-care funding for Mtis throughthe MtisNational Council, to which neither Mtisgroup in the N.W.T. belongs. As a result, Enge said, it's difficult getting any federal assistance.

CBC contacted Indigenous Services Canada, who oversees the NIHB program, with a series of questions for this story, but did not receive answers by deadline.

At the end of the day Canada, there should be no more excuses.- David Chartrand, president of the MtisNational Council

David Chartrand, president of the MtisNational Council, said part of the federal government's hesitation to implement the Danielsdecisioncould be because it would mean deciding who is and who is not Mtis: an issue that the council, and other groups, is grappling with as more people come forward claiming ancestry.

"Who are the Mtis?" Chartrand said. "We are vigorously protecting [our identity]... because there are tens of thousands out there who are claiming to be Mtispeople.

"But at the end of the day, Canada, there should be no moreexcuses."

In 2017, the Trudeau government signed a Canada-Mtisaccord that agreed to working together on their specific health needs when creating policies. Neither N.W.T. Mtisgroups are signatories to that agreement.

Existing Mtis territorial program difficult to access

The N.W.T. does have a Mtis-specific health benefit, which has many of the same coverage rates as the federal one, but is paid for by territorial tax dollars.

The existing program comes with its fair share ofchallenges, according to Bailey. Some of his members who are Mtisbut do not want to claim Indian status don't qualify for the health benefit, so they don't receive any medical coverage at all.

Our people have a right to self-identify as Mtis. They shouldn't be forced to become a treaty Indian.- Garry Bailey, president of the N.W.T. MtisNation

"Our people have a right to self-identify as Mtispeople, they shouldn't be forced to become a treaty Indian," Bailey said.

• N.W.T. health dept. directs Mtis benefits applicant to apply for Indian status

CBC reached out to the N.W.T. government for comment, but did not receive a reply by the time of publication.

In the legislature last week, N.W.T. Health Minister Julie Green acknowledged that improving the Mtis Health Benefit was one agenda item ina January meeting withthe N.W.T. MtisNation.

However, she said she would be "surprised" if the territory moved to include Mtisin their program due to already high health-care costs.

Yellowknife North MLA Rylund Johnson says the territory would be able to save roughly $3 million per year if the federal government takes on the health-care coverage for Mtis. That money could go towardproviding health-care coverage to some 2,200 residents that don't have any either at work or through the NIHB.

Wider discussion needed on health-care benefits in N.W.T.

Mtis inclusion should be part of a wider review of the NIHB program, according to Johnson.

Johnson said some of his constituents are eligible for both N.W.T. government benefits and the NIHB program. When that happens, he said it's not clear who should be reimbursing medical costs.

"We had two insurers arguing that they were a payer of last resort," Johnson said. "It's a ridiculous bureaucracy to get your benefits."

Even though this is a federal program, we administer it and it's had a long history of bad service.- Rylund Johnson, Yellowknife North MLA

Coverage for some medical services, like dental care, is "limited" under the federal plan, Johnson continued, leading to worse health-care treatment overall compared with those who are covered under N.W.T. government plans.

He believes it's time for the N.W.T. government to lead the charge in asking the federal government for a review.

"Even though this is a federal program, we administer it and it's had a long history of bad service," Johnson said.

Green, the territory's health minister, told the Legislative Assembly last week that she's not aware of any negotiations currently underway with the federal government on changes to the NIHB program.