Chiefs of Ontario Office:

The activities of the Chiefs of Ontario is governed by the Political Confederacy (PC). The purpose of the Chiefs of Ontario office is to enable the four PTO’s and Independent First Nations to discuss and decide on regional, provincial, federal and national priorities affecting First Nations and to provide a unified voice on these issues. The main objective of the Chiefs of Ontario office is facilitate the discussion, planning, implementation and evaluation of all local, regional, provincial, federal and national matters affecting the First Nations in Ontario.

COO Health Coordination Unit:

Purpose:

The Health Co-ordination Unit is a technical and advisory body operating under the umbrella of the Chiefs of Ontario. It is comprised of the Health Directors of the four associations and one representative from the Independent First Nations. The Unit receives support through the coordinating capacity of the Chiefs of Ontario office. The Health Coordination Unit is responsible to the Political Confederacy (PC) of the Chiefs of Ontario. The Health Coordination Unit is responsible to provide the Ontario Health Portfolio with issues, briefing papers and specific strategies for political action.

Background:

As Health Canada moves forward with various initiatives and strategies geared toward the greater authority of First Nations in the delivery of health care to the First Nations communities, it is imperative that a Health Co-ordination Unit be made available to facilitate and support the political and technical processes in place which will effectively respond to the initiatives of the federal/provincial governments.

Mandate:

The broad mandate of the Health Co-ordination Unit is as follows:

1. To support the independent efforts of the Health Directors in:

• assisting First Nations to plan and develop Health services for their communities;
• resolving issues between legislation and regulations and First Nation requirements for control of Health Services;

2. To develop strategies and policy/position papers on Health issues for leadership and PPC Health Portfolio;

3. To initiate the consultation and negotiation processes for the attainment of First Nation control of Health and facilitate the roll-up of those PTO consultations;

4. To develop a working and information sharing relationship with other First Nation and non-Aboriginal Health organizations;

5. To develop and maintain an information sharing relationship with the Ontario Indian Social Services Council to continue an effective coordination of Ontario-wide issues that overlap with the goal of strategizing to ensure the issues and the mandate as directed by the political process are followed through;

6. To engage in regular intergovernmental liaison with federal and provincial government officials to facilitate information access for First Nations by providing reports to PTO’s on those meetings;

7. To report and make recommendations to the PC regarding:

• conflicts between government policy, programs and legislation and First Nation initiatives in the Health area;
• the development of strategies and position papers;
• overall progress of the Ontario Health Co-ordination Unit;
• the resource requirements of the Health Coordination Unit;
• any operational matters.

8. To develop new or re-profiled management committees/groups in Ontario for First Nations Health programming.

Structure:

• Coordination Unit is comprised of the Health Directors of the four provincial and territorial organizations (PTO’s) and a representative from the Independent First Nations.
  
  
• Coordination Unit is supported and coordinated through the Chiefs of Ontario office by a Coordinator/Policy Analyst and by a Health Assistant.
  
  
• Coordination Unit reports its decisions and brings forward recommendations directly to the PPC of the Chiefs of Ontario.
  
  
• The Ontario Health Portfolio is an ex-officio member of the Health Co-ordination Unit.

Operating Principles and Procedures:

Principles:

• Coordination Unit will strive to operate on a consensus basis, in the interest of developing Ontario-wide positions on issues. Consensus is defined as agreement by all members of a group with regard to decisions or direction. In cases where consensus is not reached, recommendations will go forward, including the recommendation of the non-consenting party. The views of the non-consenting party will be made known.
  
  
• Annual reports will be provided by the Health Coordination Unit for review at annual assemblies..
  
  
• The autonomy of First Nations and regions to assert their own direction and pursue programs at their own pace will be respected by the Coordination Unit. Regionalized approaches will not preclude coordination between regions where priorities, agendas, and approach are determined to be consistent and compatible with individual community initiatives.
  
  
• Coordination Unit members will play an active role in bringing forward and discussing issues, stating concerns relative to their communities and regions, and giving direction for purposes of formulating the Units decisions or recommendations.
  
  
• Each Co-ordination member will strive to volunteer their services to assist and offset the workload of the co-ordinator on specific health issues.

Procedures:

• The Coordination Unit will meet on a regular basis, to be determined by the members. Health Co-ordinator/Policy Analyst from the Chiefs of Ontario office are required to attend all meeting of the Coordination Unit.
  
  
• A minimum of three Directors or their designates will constitute a quorum for purposes of conducting meetings to discuss issues. Coordination Unit will make decisions on broad overarching issues by discussion and achieving consensus on Ontario-wide positions to take relative to these issues. Where a coordinated and united position is not feasible due to regional differences, timing or priorities, the minutes and any recommendations/position papers will so reflect regional approaches.
  
  
• Meetings will be convened by the Coordinator/Policy Analyst at the request of the Coordination Unit members and the minutes of all meetings will be recorded. The Coordinator/Policy Analyst will notify absent members of all decisions made.
  
  
• The reporting relationship on issues defined within the Coordination Unit’s agenda is directly from the Coordinator/Policy Analyst to the PC and Approved by the Political Confederacy. Individual Directors’ accountability to their Executive Directors and Chiefs/Councils will be respected by the Coordination Unit. As noted under principles, the Coordination Unit respects the autonomy of First Nations in asserting their own direction and approach to all issues and programs, including internal First Nation and regional processes for reporting on and ensuring accountability to communities on Health issues. All agenda items will be submitted 5 working days in advance of meetings.
  
  
• The Coordination Unit shall monitor expenditures related to Health initiatives and activity approved under the authority and management of the Coordination Unit. Monthly financial statements will be provided by the Chiefs of Ontario office to the Coordination Unit for review.

Evaluation Mechanism:

Evaluation of the activity of the Coordination Unit will take place prior to the end of each fiscal year. Evaluation will be based on the Coordination Unit’s level of success in collectively achieving strategic goals and objectives as set out in a strategic plan and will be done independently by each PTO Health Director/IFN Co-ordinator with a roll-up report by an independent resource person retained for that purpose under contract or on a volunteer basis.

Approved by the Planning and Priorities Committee
Saturday, November 13, 1999