Canadians deserve timely access to high-quality health care, no matter where they live.
That's why today, the Honourable Marjorie Michel, Minister of Health, the Honourable Rebecca Alty, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Member of Parliament for the Northwest Territories, and the Honourable Lucy Kuptana, Northwest Territories Minister of Health and Social Services, announced funding to build and renew health infrastructure while improving access to health care across the territory.
To that end, the Working Together bilateral agreement will be renewed, investing $51.2 million over seven years to improve access to quality health care in the Northwest Territories. This marks the first announcement in a series of renewed Working Together bilateral agreements with provinces and territories.
Through this renewed federal investment, the Northwest Territories will advance ongoing priorities outlined in a new four-year action plan, including:
- strengthening its public health service capacity to improve coordination, including in integrated primary health care teams to help residents access the right care at the right time;
- growing and retaining the health workforce through physician training, supporting recruitment and retention, and investing in cultural safety training;
- strengthening mental health and substance use services through continued support for specialized treatment, medical detox services and community-based supports; and,
- supporting culturally appropriate mental wellness and suicide prevention programs, including by supporting community organizations that deliver community-led services and engaging with Indigenous Governments and organizations.
The renewed agreement builds on measurable progress already achieved under the initial bilateral agreement (2023-24 - 2025-26). Since then, the Northwest Territories has:
- strengthened the health workforce by reducing staff vacancies by 29%, helping more people get the care they need;
- expanded access to suicide-prevention services through the funding of 10 Indigenous governments and non-government organizations under the Community Suicide Prevention Fund;
- increased access to substance use services through the funding of the Territorial Addictions Medicine Program, which supports treatment for residents with Opioid Use disorder, alcohol withdrawal and complex polysubstance use; and,
- reduced barriers to rural and remote primary care in the north by offering two training slots per year for its Family Medicine Residency Program.
The territory will continue to publicly report each year on progress toward agreed-upon targets, ensuring Canadians can track how these investments are improving access to care. The action plan continues to be informed by engagement with Indigenous partners to help improve access to culturally safe and appropriate care.
Building on today's renewal of the Working Together bilateral agreement, the ministers also announced investments of more than $70.2 million from the Government of Canada and $23.4 million from the Government of the Northwest Territories for 16 health infrastructure projects through the Provincial and Territorial stream of the Build Communities Strong Fund.
These investments will support construction or rehabilitation of health facilities in 12 Northwest Territories communities. The projects will help provide essential health and social services to the people across these communities.
The Build Communities Strong Fund is a cornerstone of the Government of Canada's plan to build the infrastructure needed to build Canada strong for all - today and for generations to come.
Together, the Government of Canada and the Northwest Territories are delivering practical improvements that strengthen health care, support healthier communities and help build a stronger economy.
