Support for Equitable Wages for Addictions Treatment Staff

Resolution No. 2022-09-13

Support for Equitable Wages for Addictions Treatment Staff

Whereas First Nations addictions workers currently earn 45% less than their provincial counterparts; The funding formula for these programs have not been evaluated or updated in decades and, as a result, has not kept pace with the need and nature of challenges that First Nations people face; and

Whereas Time is of the essence to make meaningful changes to better fund, support, and resource programs such as the National Native Alcohol and Drug Abuse Program (NNADAP) and the National Youth Solvent Abuse Program (NYSAP). Staff turnover rates at youth treatment centers are as high as 50%, while the rates of substance use are increasing. An enhancement in funding to these programs is vital to sustaining and strengthening community, regional and national responses to substance use and associated mental health issues among First Nations people; and

Whereas despite temporary increases in program funding over the last number of years, federal funding for NNADAP does not provide for comprehensive community­based addictions and harm reductions services, nor does the funding ensure that communities can compensate their addictions workers adequately or pay them

to provide culturally appropriate services that are aligned with First Nations values and paradigms; and

Whereas While part of the success of these addiction treatment programs is that they are community run, the reality is that there is not sufficient funding within the existing envelope and formula to allow for wages to be at parity with the provincial standard wages for qualified workers, despite the federal government's communicating those wages are up to communities to establish;

Therefore, be it resolved That the Chiefs and delegates of this Mamowihitowin of the Omushkegowuk supports the Thunderbird Partnership Foundation and its allies in raising the alarm on the issues of fair wage compensation to commensurate with the level and complexity of work and lack of equity and capacity within addictions treatment programs for First Nations people in Canada; and

Be it further resolved that That the Chiefs and delegates of this Mamowihitowin Of the Omushkegowuk fully supports the Thunderbird Partnership Foundation to call on the federal government to:

Conduct a comprehensive review of the current funding formula to inform the modernization of a new formula based on new criteria, recognizing the need for increased funding,

Implement guidelines for fair and equitable salaries for addictions workers of the National Native Alcohol and Drug Abuse Program (NNADAP) and the National Youth Solvent Abuse Program (NYSAP), commensurate with those paid to mainstream and provincial counterparts

Strengthen system continuity and coordination to ensure services and programming are better integrated

between the federal, provincial, and territorial governments, ensuring that all First Nations peoples have access to services in accordance with the principles of the Canada Health Act,

Increase federal government transparency and communication in funding structures to assess whether funding is sufficient and increase accountability to First Nations peoples,

Place measurable conditions on mental health transfers to the provinces and territories so that the federal government is accountable for the funding they transfer.

Resolution No. 2022-09-13 Page 2 of 2

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