總理宣布為原住民及社區提供更多醫療、經濟、及社會援助資金
2020 年5 月29 日安大略省渥太華總理辦公室- COVID-19 進一步加劇了原住民民眾，特別是生活在邊遠地區的人們，已經面臨的許多現有挑戰。
加拿大聯邦政府正在與第一民族，因紐特人和梅蒂斯人社區合作，以支持他們的即時公共衛生應對，並通過社區主導的解決方案靈活地滿足他們的特定需求，同時還尋找機會提供長期支持。
總理賈斯廷·杜魯多（Justin Trudeau）今天宣布，根據已確定的需求，在危機期間向原住民家庭和社區提供關鍵支持的新資金。
資金包括：
• 2.851 億加元用於支持對原住民社區正在進行的針對COVID-19 的公共衛生應對行動。這項投資將資助社區主導的應對大流行的行動，並有針對性地增加第一民族社區的初級衛生保健資源。萬一發生疫情爆發，可以利用這筆資金為第一民族，因紐特人和梅蒂斯社區的社區服務提供快速增加的能力和額外的支持。
• 2.7 億加元用於補充“保留區內收入援助計劃”，以解決對該計劃日益增長的需求，這將幫助個人和家庭支付基本生活開支。它還將幫助僱用更多的工作人員，以更好地為第一民族社區提供服務，並將個人與其他政府計劃聯繫起來。
• 在五年內投資4,480 萬加元，用於建立12 個新的庇護所，這將有助於保護和支持遭受暴力和逃離暴力侵害的原住民婦女和女童。
這筆資金將幫助在全國範圍內在第一民族社區建立10 個庇護所，並在保留地內建立2 個庇護所，以支持原住民婦女和兒童。政府還將提供4080 萬加元，以支持這些新避難所在頭五年內的運營成本，每年還將提供1020 萬加元。我們還宣布，從今年開始，每年將繼續撥款100 萬加元，以支持與梅蒂斯領導人和服務提供商的互動，以提供住房，梅蒂斯婦女，女童，LGBTQ 和雙靈（Two Spirit）人士的由社區領導的暴力預防項目。
今天的投資建立在3.05 億加元的原住民社區支持基金已經完成的工作的基礎上，另外的7500 萬加元則提供給與居住在城市地區和保留地以外的原住民人民一起工作的社區和組織。加拿大聯邦政府正在採取基於區別的方針，以滿足原住民人民和社區的需求。必要時，政府還提供了額外的支持，包括在薩斯喀徹溫西北部，那裡的資金支持了第一民族，薩斯喀徹溫省梅蒂斯國家，薩斯喀徹溫省政府和其他合作夥伴之間的集體努力，以協調這些區域內的COVID-19 的響應。
我們將繼續與原住民夥伴合作，以支持他們應對COVID-19 及其對健康，社會和經濟影響的努力。
引述
“ COVID-19 進一步加劇了原住民人民和社區已經面臨的獨特挑戰。我們正在傾聽原住民人民的聲音，並正在與他們合作，以確保他們獲得度過這場危機所需的支持。” —加拿大總理賈斯廷·杜魯多閣下
“自這場危機開始以來，加拿大就明確表示，我們將確保原住民社區獲得他們需要的支持。在這些充滿挑戰的時期，我們將繼續與他們緊密合作，以確定並滿足他們的獨特需求。今天的公告將幫助我們繼續支持這些社區的健康和安全，同時確保依靠收入援助獲得基本必需品的個人和家庭，在這場大流行中沒有被遺忘。” —原住民服務部長馬克·米勒（Marc Miller）閣下
“原住民婦女面臨的挑戰是獨特，複雜和多方面的。這項新的資金將幫助我們繼續投資於原住民和北部社區的更安全的避難所。” —家庭、兒童及社會服務部長鬍森（Ahmed Hussen）閣下
事實簡要
• 為第一民族社區的其他衛生保健資源提供資金將支持：
o 增加提供激增能力的衛生保健提供者的數量；
o 提供多達160 個臨時評估，篩選和隔離單位，其中包括對現有設施，現成的拖車和移動建築進行改造；
o 衛生保健設施中的醫療用品和設備；
• 第一民族負責管理“保留區內收入援助計劃”
。計劃工作人員在幫助有其他需求的個人方面發揮重要作用，包括提供心理健康和成癮諮詢服務的轉介，並幫助家庭找到並申請適當的政府福利，例如就業保險，加拿大緊急救援補助金和加拿大兒童福利金。
• 將通過加拿大抵押和住房公司的住房改善計劃資助第一民族社區中的十個新住房，並通過國家住房共同投資基金資助在該地區的兩個新住房。這兩個方案都將提供可償還的貸款，最高可支付符合條件的建設總資本成本的100％。
• 獲得庇護所資金的過程將通過“表達意向書”進行。在全國範圍內儲備的第一民族以及保留地上的原住民政府和/或組織將有資格提交提案。
• 截至2020 年3 月，《家庭暴力預防方案》為由46 個保留地上和育空地區婦女和兒童收容所組成的網絡提供了運營資金，該收容所為逃離暴力的婦女和兒童提供了避難所和服務。額外的投資將使計劃資助的庇護所數量達到58 個。
Prime Minister announces additional funding for health, economic, and social support for Indigenous peoples and communities
May 29, 2020 Ottawa, Ontario Prime Minister’s Office - COVID-19 has further highlighted many existing challenges already facing Indigenous peoples, particularly those who live in remote areas. The Government of Canada is working with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities to support their immediate public health response, with the flexibility to address their specific needs through community-led solutions, while also identifying opportunities to provide longer-term support.
The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today announced new funding to provide critical support to Indigenous families and communities during this crisis, based on needs that have been identified. The funding includes:
· $285.1 million to support the ongoing public health response to COVID-19 in Indigenous communities. The investment will fund community-led responses to the pandemic, and provide targeted increases in primary health care resources for First Nations communities. In case of outbreaks, this funding can be drawn upon to provide surge capacity and additional support for community-based services in First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities.
· $270 million to supplement the On-Reserve Income Assistance Program to address increased demand on the program, which will help individuals and families meet their essential living expenses. It will also help hire additional staff to better serve First Nations communities and connect individuals to other government programs.
· $44.8 million over five years to build 12 new shelters, which will help protect and support Indigenous women and girls experiencing and fleeing violence. This funding will help build 10 shelters in First Nations communities on reserve across the country, and two in the territories, to support Indigenous women and children. The government will also provide $40.8 million to support operational costs for these new shelters over the first five years, and $10.2 million annually ongoing. We are also announcing $1 million a year ongoing, starting this year, to support engagement with Métis leaders and service providers on shelter provision and community-led violence prevention projects for Métis women, girls, and LGBTQ and two-spirit people.
Today’s investment builds on the work already being done through the $305 million Indigenous Community Support Fund, and the additional $75 million provided for communities and organizations working with Indigenous peoples living in urban areas and off-reserve. The Government of Canada is taking a distinctions-based approach to address the needs of Indigenous peoples and communities. Where needed, the government has also provided additional support, including in northwestern Saskatchewan, where funding has supported a collective effort between First Nations, the Métis Nation of Saskatchewan, the Government of Saskatchewan, and other partners to coordinate the COVID-19 response in the region.
We will continue to work with Indigenous partners as we move forward to support their efforts to respond to COVID-19 and its health, social, and economic impacts.
Quotes
“COVID-19 has further highlighted the unique challenges that already exist for Indigenous peoples and communities. We are listening to Indigenous peoples, and are working with them to ensure they have the support they need to get through this crisis.”
—The Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada
“Canada has been clear since the beginning of this crisis that we will ensure Indigenous communities have the support they need. We continue to work closely with them to identify and meet their unique needs during these challenging times. Today’s announcement will help us to continue to support the health and safety of these communities, while ensuring that individuals and families who rely on income assistance for the basic essentials are not left behind during this pandemic.”
—The Hon. Marc Miller, Minister of Indigenous Services
“The challenges Indigenous women face are unique, complex, and multifaceted. This new funding will help us continue investing in more safe shelter spaces in Indigenous and Northern communities.”
—The Hon. Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development
Quick Facts
· Funding for additional health care resources in First Nations communities will support:
o increasing the number of health care providers to provide surge capacity;
o delivering up to 160 temporary assessment, screening and isolation units, which includes retooling of existing facilities, ready-to-move trailers, and mobile structures;
o medical supplies and equipment in health care facilities;
· First Nations administer the On-Reserve Income Assistance Program. Program staff members play an important role in helping individuals with other needs, including providing referrals to mental health and addictions counselling, and helping families find and apply for appropriate government benefits, such as Employment Insurance, the Canada Emergency Response Benefit, and the Canada Child Benefit.
· Ten new shelters in First Nations communities on reserve will be funded through Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s Shelter Enhancement Program, and two new shelters in the territories will be funded through the National Housing Co-Investment Fund. Both programs will offer forgivable loans for up to 100 per cent of the total eligible capital costs of construction.
· The process to access the funding for the shelters will be through an Expression of Interest. First Nations on reserve across the country and Indigenous governments and/or organizations in the Territories will be eligible to submit proposals.
· As of March 2020, the Family Violence Prevention Program provides operational funding for a network of 46 shelters for women and children living on reserve and in Yukon that provides places of refuge and services for women and children fleeing violence. The additional investments will bring the number of program-funded shelters to 58.