Province Pressured To Fund Reserve Care Home

Monday, June 04, 2007 at 13:41

 

 

The search is on for funding for a long-term care home on the Muskeg Lake reserve.

 

The band’s health director, Deanna Greyeyes, says the First Nation wants the provincial government to designate the 30 beds at the facility as special-care beds.

 

Greyeyes says the move would free up $53,000 per bed in government money.

 

However, she worries the province will try and excuse itself from the situation by claiming health care on reserves is not within its jurisdiction.

 

Greyeyes doesn’t feel that argument has much merit, considering how much casino revenue First Nations put into provincial coffers.

 

She says the home is scheduled to have 15 clients by the end of today, and it needs public funds to operate.