FNHC Speaks to Auditor General Report

Press Release

March 17, 2016

Dear Respected BC First Nations Chiefs and Leaders,

As duly appointed representatives to the First Nations Health Council (FNHC), we write to share information in response to recent questions and concerns. First, we wish to thank the Chiefs and Leaders that shared words of encouragement and appreciation for the work of the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA). The Office of the Auditor General (OAG) report and the subsequent media storm caused the FNHA Board, Senior Staff, and Caregivers significant stress. Your words of support meant so much. Thank you.

On February 2nd, the Office of the Auditor General of Canada (OAG) published a study on the FNHA. On that same day, an anonymous and redacted document was published online. This document contained serious allegations about the FNHA and the First Nations men and women leading the FNHA. It is important to be clear that the study conducted by the OAG and the anonymous document released by the media are separate and the contents of these should not be confused with each other.

As health and wellness leaders, the FNHC seeks to end all forms of lateral violence. We are committed to act with lateral kindness. We acknowledge that the anonymous document and the subsequent media coverage have clouded the OAG report and its conclusions. We acknowledge that this type of media coverage can be unsettling and that Chiefs and Leaders have questions. We urge Chiefs and Leaders to read the OAG report itself and to not confuse the recommendations of the OAG with the extreme and negative narrative painted by the media.

To assist you, the FNHA Board has attached a summary of the OAG report for your convenience. As we prepare for our Regional Caucus meetings this year, we ask you to review the report, consider its contents, and ask us questions.

The study completed by the OAG study was composed of two parts. The first part of the study looked at how BC First Nations worked together to establish the first-of-its-kind FNHA. The second part of the study looked at the corporate policies of the FNHA. The anonymous document was not the primary subject of the OAG’s study. While the OAG reviewed FNHA policy in light of the anonymous document, the OAG did not investigate these allegations.

We would like to highlight the following from the report:

• The OAG did not audit the merit of the allegations contained in the anonymous document. The OAG reviewed FNHA policies and the application of those policies in relation to these allegations.
• The OAG concluded that the FNHA was taking steps to strengthen accountability and governance by revising key policies and procedures and providing added guidance to staff to ensure consistent application of corporate policy.
• The OAG concluded that the decision of the FNHA to pursue accreditation will serve to strengthen corporate policy as this process requires voluntary third party verification.
  Health Canada confirmed that the FNHA has fulfilled all of its obligations as set out in the Framework Agreement (2011) and the Canada Funding Agreement (2013).

Health Canada’s official response to the report confirms that “the FNHA has been diligent in providing Health Canada with quality and timely deliverables against all its obligations and meeting the accountability and governance requirements set out in the framework agreement.” In addition to providing Regional Caucuses with our annual reports and audit statements, the members are confident the FNHA is meeting its accountability obligations to our governance partner and funder.

When we started this journey ten years ago, we agreed to complete health transfer only if we did a better job. Along the way, we faced challenges and tough conversations. We agreed that we are stronger together and worked to resolve those challenges. BC First Nations established governance standards and structures to ensure oversight, high operational performance and the separation of operations and politics. Our shared vision, values and standards for good governance have been key to our collective success and will continue to be the center of this work.

As leaders we witnessed the FNHA overcome many challenges as it navigated through transfer and built a new First Nations organization from the ground up. The FNHA has publicly committed to the highest standards of excellence in serving our communities. The FNHA has acknowledged that there are areas for improvement and, as a learning organization, has committed to listen, learn and act. As members we will do what we have always done, and look to our First Nations leadership for wisdom and guidance in finding ways to strengthen our health governance structure. In closing, we recruited the FNHA Board of Directors based upon their competencies, skills, and expertise. The FNHA Board of Directors, the CEO, and the Senior Management Team continue to have our full confidence and support as we make the necessary changes and improve upon our processes to deliver the highest quality services for First Nations peoples in BC.

In wellness,

Members of the First Nations Health Council

Click here to read and download the full summary document

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