Media.Knet.Ca

The team from KO Telehealth attending the Canadian Society of Telehealth (http://www.cst-sct.org/en/index.php) were presented with two awards for their work in developing and delivering telehealth services in First Nations across the Sioux Lookout zone. All the First Nations and organizations partnering with KOTH to deliver services using the boardband network and the telehealth services are recognized in these two national awards of excellence. The two awards include:

• Digital Group of Telehealth Companies Award of Excellence for 2006 was represented to the Keewaytinook Okimakanak Telehealth team (see letter below)
• Best Research in Concurrent Sessions award was presented to John Hogenbirk, from Laurentian University, for his work with on the KO Telehealth evaluation.

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October 15, 2006

The Digital Group of Telehealth Companies Award of Excellence for 2006 is awarded to:

 Keewaytinook Okimakanak Telehealth (KOTH)

On behalf of the CST Awards Committee, I am pleased to announce that the successful recipient of the Digital Group of Telehealth Companies Award of Excellence for 2006 is Keewaytinook Okimakanak Telehealth (KOTH).

Thanks to the generous support of the Digital Group of Telehealth Companies, the award is granted to the recipient that best meets the eight criteria. The award will be presented at the CST Conference Annual Gala Dinner on Oct. 16, 2006 in Edmonton.

KOTH is Canada’s largest and busiest First Nations Telemedicine Service. Encompassing over 25 sites, KOTH has designed, implemented and refined a First Nations service model that supports and sustains telehealth services in Ontario’s most remote and northern communities. Working in partnership with the Ontario Telemedicine Network, Kuh-ke-nah Network (K-net) and the community, KOTH has developed a fully integrated service model that is accessible to provincial and federal health service providers.

 A recent evaluation completed by the Centre for Rural and Northern Health Research at Laurentian University and the School of Environmental Design and Rural Development at the University of Guelph validated the many benefits of KOTH. Most notably, the researchers recognized the development of an integrated community base model that is contributing to the health and wellbeing of First Nations by removing geographical barriers to health services.

KOTH’s ongoing development in the areas of expanded service delivery, innovative technology, research and best practices along with their commitment to quality patient care has made them a recognized leader in telehealth. On behalf of CST, we congratulate KOTH and wish them continued success. 

Sincerely,

Laurie Poole
President, CST

To Members of the Assembly of First Nations Executive, First Nations Leaders and Community Directors:

Based on direction received from the AFN Executive and its portfolio committees, the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) Secretariat has initiated a national public education campaign for Canadians, whose objective is to:

Generate public awareness and support that First Nations rights and issues are of critical importance to Canada’s future, and must be addressed in the next Federal Budget and Election (anticipated winter-spring 2007).

The campaign will be launched in collaboration with a major global and national effort to eliminate poverty with a special focus on First Nations communities and the struggle we are facing: The Make Poverty History campaign - http://www.makepovertyhistory.ca/.

This campaign (visit http://www.afn.ca/article.asp?id=2903 for more information) is the first main activity being undertaken under one of four key themes of the Platform from which I received my mandate at the July 2006 Annual General Assembly:

1. Asserting Rights;

2. Implementing Treaties;

3. Eliminating Poverty;

4. Improving Relations with Other Governments.

The “Make Poverty History Campaign for First Nations” is based on three main premises:

First Nations poverty is the greatest social injustice in Canada.

• The cost of First Nations poverty is a cost to Canada. Maintaining a ‘broken system’ is a much bigger cost than recognizing First Nations governments, respecting their Constitutional and Treaty Rights, and their plan for Creating Opportunities and Building on Successes.

A decade of failures of the Canadian Government to act has resulted in billions lost.

• Next month is the tenth anniversary of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples and the one-year anniversary of the First Ministers Meeting on Aboriginal Issues. The federal government cannot point to any significant progress achieved nationally during that time; positive changes have been initiated by communities for communities and only by overcoming the barriers imposed onto them by external governments.

First Nations must have the ability to make the decisions that affect their lives and plan for their own future.

• Self-government is the key to eliminating poverty and ensuring full First Nations opportunity to protect and benefit from Canadian lands and resources.

Key events targeted by the national campaign include:

• October 3: Public Forum with Canadian Leadership on the Protection of International Indigenous Rights with the United Nations’ Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples;
• October 15: Marches for “Making Poverty History”;
• October 17: International Day for the Eradication of Poverty;
• November 21: RCAP Tenth Anniversary;
• November 24: Make Poverty History for First Nations national event at the Rogers Centre Pow Wow in Toronto at 2:30 p.m.;
• November 25-26: One-Year Anniversary of Kelowna;
• November 28: Aboriginal Health Summit hosted by Premier Campbell;
• December Special Chiefs Assembly with a focus on the results to date of the National Campaign and where future directions will be discussed among First Nations leaders.

This campaign cannot be successful unless YOU are part of this collective effort – communicating to the new minority government and to all Canadians that First Nations will not be ignored and our rights must be fully recognized and respected.

Here are ways in which you can support this national campaign:

• Send out the template letter and op-ed attached, tailored to highlight your community’s circumstances and needs;
• Distribute campaign materials to your partners and community members, and encourage them to become involved;
• Meet with your government Members of Parliament to emphasize the urgency of the situation;
• Contact your AFN Regional Office to identify any potential campaign events;
• Participate in the November 24^th event at Toronto’s Rogers Centre Pow Wow.

If you have any suggestions or questions, please contact your AFN Regional Office or Bryan Hendry, AFN Communications Director (tel: 1-866-869-6789, extension 229; cell: 613-293-6106; bhendry@afn.ca). More information is posted on www.afn.ca.

I thank you in advance for your support in this challenging environment. We must stand strong together as First Nations governments.

Sincerely,

National Chief Phil Fontaine

On Oct ober 12, Treasury Board's Independent Blue Ribbon hosted a roundtable of national and regional Aboriginal groups to learn about their experience with accessing federal government grants and contributions. Keewaytinook Okimakanak's K-Net Service initiative was invited to share their experience with the panel members.

• Backgrounder - Independent Blue Ribbon Panel - Terms of Reference
• Backgrounder - Blue Ribbon Panel Member Biographies
• Fact Sheet - Grant and Contribution Programs

Federal government takes next step to restore accountability and to ensure effective and efficient program delivery - June 6, 2006

OTTAWA - The Honourable John Baird, President of the Treasury Board of Canada today announced the creation of an independent blue-ribbon panel to recommend measures to make the delivery of grant and contribution programs more efficient while ensuring greater accountability.

"People who work hard, pay their taxes and play by the rules want accountability from their government," Minister Baird said.  "With some $26 billion dollars going to grant and contributions each year, we owe taxpayers a thorough review of these programs as part of our ongoing efforts to restore accountability to government and to leave the legacy of political scandal in the past."

The government committed in its Federal Accountability Act and Action Plan to establish this independent panel.  It will have three main areas of focus:

• reviewing the administrative requirements individuals and organizations must meet in order to access government grant and contribution programs;
• examining the issues faced by government departments in managing these programs; and,
• assessing whether instruments other than grants and contributions are more appropriate for funding some programs. 

"A top priority of Canada's new government is to restore the public's confidence in government," Minister Baird added.

"Examining grants and contributions is an important step in helping to ensure the effective and efficient delivery of these programs."

The three panellists were selected based on their extensive experience in the private or public sectors. They are Ms. Frances Lankin, President and Chief Executive Officer, United Way of Greater Toronto; Mr. Ian D. Clark, President and Chief Executive Officer, Council of Ontario Universities; and Mr. Marc Tellier, President and Chief Executive Officer of Yellow Pages Group.

"I am delighted these three distinguished individuals have agreed to provide informed and objective advice based on their knowledge of how government works and what Canadians need," Minister Baird concluded.  "Together, they bring a unique and valuable blend of political, not-for-profit, public sector and business experience.

 I am confident that their recommendations will reflect their sound judgment and ability to get to the heart of the issues."
The government intends to issue a new policy on transfer payments that will reflect recommendations of both the blue-ribbon panel and the Auditor General's May 2006 report on the Management of Voted Grants and Contributions.

In addition, the government will undertake two other initiatives to help government work better for Canadians: strengthen and streamline management by reviewing its procurement and financial management policies and repeal policies and regulations that inhibit the effectiveness of the public service.

Attached is a backgrounder with information on the Terms of Reference of the panel, biographical information on the panel members, and a fact sheet on grants and contributions programs.

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For more information, contact:
Patrick Robert
Press Secretary
Office of the President of the Treasury Board
(613) 957-2666
Robert Makichuk
Media Relations
Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat
(613) 957-2391