Current Problems: Health (18-24)
Exploring Theme: "Ongoing Health Crisis"
Updates on this page: 26
(Filtered by Stakeholder "Ontario")
November 19, 2024
The state of mental health in Canada? It’s alarming, a new Canadian Mental Health Association report finds
NationTalk: TORONTO – Through a first-of-its-kind report, the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) is providing an in-depth look at the mental health system in Canada—with all its cracks and failings—and how people are faring, in every province and territory. What it reveals is troubling. Among the findings of The State of Mental Health in Canada...
October 11, 2024
Minister says not enough beds for compulsory care for addictions across the country
Several provinces are discussing introducing or expanding compulsory treatment Mental Health and Addictions Minister Ya’ara Saks listens to questions at a news conference at the National Press Theatre in Ottawa, on Friday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang APTN News: The Canadian Press – Provinces and territories need to do more to expand and improve their treatment...
July 5, 2024
Calls for action after report finds unnatural death rates in some First Nations over triple Ontario average
Report by Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority examines data from 2011-2021 CBC News: When Patricia Keesickquayash looks atop the hill of her First Nation’s cemetery, which was expanded in the 1990s, she wonders how the plots filled up so quickly. Unnatural death rates in First Nations across the Sioux Lookout area of northwestern Ontario...
June 14, 2024
Grand Council Treaty #3 Declares a Nation-Wide Mental Health and Addictions State of Emergency
NationTalk: Grand Council Treaty #3, under the leadership of the Ogichidaa, Gaakinawataagizod, and Chiefs-in-Assembly, have officially declared a nation-wide Mental Health and Addictions State of Emergency across the Treaty #3 territory. The declaration escalates the nation-wide mental health and substance use crisis, determined by resolution CA-23-23 passed at the 2023 Fall Assembly. This crucial declaration...
May 23, 2024
Mercury poisoning near Grassy Narrows First Nation worsened by ongoing industrial pollution, study suggests
New research shows sulfate, organic matter are exacerbating methylmercury levels CBC Indigenous: A new study from the University of Western Ontario suggests mercury contamination in northwestern Ontario’s English-Wabigoon River has been made worse by ongoing industrial pollution. Contamination of the river system dates back to the 1960s and 70s, when the pulp and paper mill dumped...
April 17, 2024
Aamjiwnaang First Nation says high chemical levels making members sick, calls for Sarnia facility shutdown
Company says it’s reviewing the data and concerns over high chemical levels CBC News: Aamjiwnaang First Nation in Sarnia, Ont., is calling on all levels of government to shut down a facility after data indicated high levels of a harmful chemical were present in the air. In a news release, the First Nation said it sent its employees homes...
March 18, 2024
Inuit leaders, MPs urge action on TB elimination as federal budget nears
TB rate among Inuit 676 times higher than among non-Indigenous, Canadian-born people CBC Indigenous: With the federal budget approaching, Inuit leaders and New Democrat MPs are urging the Trudeau government to tackle tuberculosis in Indigenous communities. Inuit in particular face a “staggering and unacceptable reality” of tuberculosis rates more than 300 times higher than Canadian-born non-Indigenous people,...
March 1, 2024
Mamakwa confronts Conservative ministers about NAN state of emergency
Nishnawbe Aski Nation hosted an emergency meeting on Jan. 24 in Ottawa following a string of youth suicides in First Nation communities across the region. NationTalk: TBNewswatch.com THUNDER BAY – MPP Sol Mamakwa called out the Doug Ford government during question period on Wednesday — for failing to attend last month’s emergency meeting discussing high suicide...
January 29, 2024
Mushkegowuk First Nations Enhancing Their Response To Illegal Drug And Alcohol Crisis
NationTalk: – Moose Factory ON Mushkegowuk Council has approved funding to support Kashechewan, Fort Albany, Moose Cree and Attawapiskat First Nations to respond to an escalating illegal drug and alcohol crisis that is devastating their communities. The funding, approved at a meeting of Mushkegowuk Chiefs held earlier this month, will help stem the flow of...
January 24, 2024
First Nations leaders hold emergency meeting in Ottawa on mental-health crisis
NationTalk: The Canadian Press, Ottawa – First Nations leaders are holding an emergency meeting in Ottawa on Wednesday to discuss a mental-health crisis they warn could get even worse without government help. Nishnawbe Aski Nation says there has been an alarming spate of suicides and suicide attempts in the northern Ontario First Nations it represents. That includes the...
January 24, 2024
Nishnawbe Aski Nation holds emergency meeting in Ottawa amid surge in sudden deaths on First Nations
First Nations chiefs from Ontario, federal officials at meeting after string of suicides, unexplained deaths WARNING: This story contains details of suicide and may impact those who know someone affected by it. CBC Indigenous: Leadership with the Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) held an emergency meeting with federal officials after a string of recent youth suicides and unexplained deaths in First Nations...
November 23, 2023
Opioid-Related Toxicity and Deaths Continue to Rise among First Nations in Ontario
NationTalk: Toronto, ON – The Chiefs of Ontario (COO) and Ontario Regional Chief Glen Hare made the following statement regarding the opioid overdose crisis and the death toll rise affecting Ontario First Nations. First Nations in Ontario have been disproportionately affected by the opioid overdose crisis, which has greatly affected both families and communities. COO...
June 19, 2023
Medical patients flock to this northern community, but there aren’t enough places to stay
Those travelling to Sioux Lookout for health care pushed to hotels as far as Dryden, Ignace, Lac Seul CBC News: Health-care workers in Sioux Lookout, Ont., hope a new hostel will ease the pressures of overcrowding among people travelling to the community for medical care. Thousands of people from remote First Nations in northwestern Ontario...
May 12, 2023
More than 6 years later, Moses Beaver’s means of death ‘undetermined’, inquest jury finds
Jury delivers 63 recommendations focused on improving mental health care for Indigenous people WARNING: This story discusses mental distress and suicide. CBC News: The jury overseeing the inquest into the death of Moses Beaver has deemed the means of his death to be undetermined — which is the finding his family was hoping for. The...
May 8, 2023
Moses Beaver’s sons tell inquest their requests for help for Oji-Cree artist were brushed off
NAN leader asks inquest, now in 4th and final week, why recommendations from previous inquests not in place WARNING: This story discusses sexual abuse, mental distress and suicide. CBC News: Over the past three weeks, the jury probing the inquest into the 2017 death of Moses Amik Beaver has heard numerous calls for better mental...
April 24, 2023
More mental health resources needed in remote First Nations, jury hears during Moses Beaver inquest
First week of inquest into Moses Beaver’s death in Thunder Bay, Ont. focuses on events in Nibinamik WARNING: This story discusses mental distress and suicide. CBC News: Calls to improve mental health care resources in remote First Nations in northwestern Ontario continue to be at the forefront of the inquest into the death of Moses...
April 4, 2023
Sioux Lookout hospital getting safe rooms, with hopes of bringing better support for mental health patients
About 20% of ER visits last year to northwestern Ontario hospital related to mental health or addictions CBC News: The Meno Ya Win Health Centre in Sioux Lookout in northwestern Ontario is undergoing renovations to make space for four safe rooms in its emergency department. The rooms will be designated for patients experiencing acute mental health...
November 24, 2022
The Impact of Inaction – New Publication Reveals Not All of Canada is on Track to Meet Global Hepatitis C Elimination Goal
Timing of elimination of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) in Canada’s provinces indicates 70% of provinces could reach the World Health Organization’s (WHO) HCV elimination target of 2030, however three of Canada’sprovinces — two of them the most populous in the country — are off track to achieve this hepatitis C elimination goal.1 Timely elimination would save 170...
September 6, 2022
The beast of addiction in Indigenous communities remains untamed
Globe & Mail: Tanya Talaga – Over the past week, a Thunder Bay hotel’s conference room has become home to a land-based healing and recovery program. There, 17 women from one northern First Nation about two hours down the highway – women who are addicted to opioids, alcohol, crystal methamphetamine (jib) and/or methadone, which is...
June 30, 2021
Grassy Narrows Care Home
Toronto Star – After more than 50 years of failed negotiations, the federal government committed $90M for a care home that will treat those poisoned by mercury. The deal includes: $68.9M in a trust for operational and servicing costs over 30 years and an agreement to periodically review the funding levels. $19.5M previously announced for...
October 21, 2020
Food Insecurity
The Narwhal – Human Rights Watch released “My fear is Losing Everything: Climate Crisis and First Nations’ Right to Food” in Canada. The report details how longer and more intense forest fire seasons, permafrost degradation, volatile weather patterns and increased levels of precipitation are all affecting wildlife habitat and, in turn, harvesting efforts. The report...
September 29, 2020
Beyond Hunger – The Hidden Impacts of Food Insecurity in Canada”
Community Food Centres (CFC) – Release of “Beyond Hunger – The Hidden Impacts of Food Insecurity in Canada”. Even before COVID-19, food insecurity affected nearly 4.5 million Canadians. In the first two months of the pandemic, that number grew by 39 per cent. Food insecurity now affects one in seven people, disproportionately impacting low-income and...
July 24, 2016
Star Investigation: A Poisoned People
The steady drip of the neurotoxin mercury has percolated through river sediment, the food chain and generations of Grassy Narrows First Nations residents for more than four decades, killing a community’s livelihood and then contaminating its people. By David Bruser News Reporter, Jayme Poisson News reporter Toronto Star: GRASSY NARROWS FIRST NATION—For more than 40 years...
July 14, 2016
Fire protection on reserves
NationTalk – There is no national fire protection code that mandates fire safety standards or enforcement on reserves. All other jurisdictions in Canada including provinces, territories, and other federal jurisdictions (such as military bases, airports, and seaports) have established building and fire codes. The Aboriginal Firefighters Association of Canada (AFAC), NIFSC’s parent organization, supports the...
July 14, 2016
Grassy Narrows mercury clean-up ignored for over 30 years
Toronto Star – Ontario’s former environment minister called for a clean-up of mercury contaminating Grassy Narrows First Nation, historical cabinet memos obtained by the Star show. But nothing was done by the government of the day to clean up the polluted river and lakes, and more than 30 years later the fish that feed the...
June 20, 2016
Province ignores information about possible mercury dumping ground: Star Investigation
A retired labourer says that more than 40 years ago he was part of a small crew that “haphazardly” dumped drums of mercury and salt into a pit near Grassy Narrows First Nation where water and fish have long been contaminated by the toxic metal. By Jayme Poisson News reporter, David Bruser News Reporter Toronto Star:...
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