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Cabinet shuffle brings “seismic shifts” to Indigenous affairs, health n Cite as: CMAJ 2017 September 18;189:E1200-1. doi: 10.1503/cmaj.109-5494

Posted on cmajnews.com on Aug. 29, 2017.

anada has a new health minister and a new ministry of Indigenous services after a surprising federal Ccabinet shakeup Monday. A week after Dr. Jane Philpott decried the health system’s “negligence and sys- temic discrimination” against Indige- nous Canadians, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tapped her to head a new minis- try overseeing services on reserves. For- mer Indigenous affairs minister Carolyn Bennett remains responsible for treaty rights under the new title of Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and North- ern Affairs. New Brunswick MP Ginette Petitpas Taylor replaces Philpott as Min- ister of Health. Philpott said splitting the Indigenous affairs portfolio enables the government to dismantle old “colonial structures” and build stronger nation-to-nation partner- ships with Indigenous people. “These are Canadian Medical Association seismic shifts,” she told reporters after Former health minister Dr. Jane Philpott will now manage Indigenous services. the swearing-in ceremony. As Minister of Indigenous Services, sity in Ottawa. The commission, and progress and accountability under the old Philpott will focus on six priorities: child many Indigenous people and academics, system,” he said. and family services, health care, infra- argued that a single ministry couldn’t Douglas Angus, professor emeritus at structure, education, food security, and both administer and dismantle the Indian the University of Ottawa’s Telfer School of housing. Bennett will focus on the long- Act. The jobs require “different functions, Management, agreed that restructuring term goal of ending the 1876 Indian Act, different skills,” and ultimately different was “long overdue,” and has the potential which gives the federal government con- ministries, Abele said. to be “the best thing that has happened trol over most aspects of Indigenous life. The alignment of Philpott, Bennett to this file ever.” Assembly of First Nations National and Jody Wilson-Raybould, the first Indig- The change also suggests “renewed Chief Perry Bellegarde welcomed the enous person to serve as justice minister, effort” to improve services for Indigenous “new approach” in a statement. “First “bodes well for the kind of fundamental people, an area of direct federal responsi- Nations are an order of government in change that is needed,” she added. bility where the government “has not Canada and the government has to be Christopher Cochrane, an associate done a particularly good job,” said Patrick organized to address that reality.” professor of political science at the Uni- Fafard, an associate professor at the Uni- The new division of responsibilities versity of Toronto, said the new ministries versity of Ottawa’s Graduate School of stems from the recommendations of the will be easier to hold accountable for Public and International Affairs. 1996 Royal Commission on Aboriginal “tangible outcomes.” The choice of Philpott to tackle the Peoples, explained Frances Abele, a pro- “There was too much going on,” and a challenge reflects her demonstrated abil- fessor of public policy at Carleton Univer- “good deal of frustration with lack of ity as health minister, but also her convic-

E1200 CMAJ | SEPTEMBER 18, 2017 | VOLUME 189 | ISSUE 37 © 2017 Joule Inc. or its licensors NEWS E1201 She also inherits the challenges of of inherits the challenges She also for responsibility new very a is “This ada’s opioids crisis. “It’s absolutely a prior- a “It’s absolutely opioids crisis. ada’s . she told reporters ity for government,” to responding and legalization marijuana death. access to assisted calls to expand forward to meeting me and I am looking order to ensure that I with the officials in on all of the portfo- am properly briefed Taylor said. lios ahead,” Petitpas Lauren Vogel, CMAJ ISSUE 37 ISSUE | VOLUME 189 VOLUME | describes “her longstanding longstanding “her describes Taking over as Health Minister, PetitpasTaking over as Health Brunswick, where she provided crisis crisis she provided where Brunswick, interven- domestic violence counselling, risk assess- domestic violence tion, and Party Liberal Her of crime. to victims ment biography to Can- the federal response will lead Taylor passion for battling social issues,” includ- battling social issues,” passion for for the Coalition ing as a volunteer and the Against Abuse in Relationships Association’s Sui- Canadian Mental Health in Moncton. cide Prevention Committee SEPTEMBER 18, 2017 SEPTEMBER | CMAJ More surprising is the choice of rookie is the choice of More surprising Petitpas Tay- Before entering politics, tion that improving the health status of of status the health improving tion that on health relies “much less Canadians action on and much more on care services of health.” the social determinants Minister of Petitpas Taylor as MP Ginette “It suggests that the Health, Fafard said. considerable confi- Prime Minister has dence in her abilities.” as a victim services lor served 23 years Codiac RCMP in New coordinator with the