The OHRC aims to guide healthcare providers to combat discrimination
The Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) has announced plans to develop a policy to combat Indigenous-specific discrimination within the province’s healthcare system.
In collaboration with Indigenous partners, this initiative aims to provide clear guidance to healthcare providers on fulfilling their obligations under the Ontario Human Rights Code and to help Indigenous communities understand their protections when accessing healthcare services.
Chief Commissioner Patricia DeGuire highlighted the urgency of this initiative, stating, “Indigenous-specific discrimination is pervasive throughout our healthcare system. This is intolerable. The Commission calls for immediate and practical change. The engagements and the survey are the start of the Commission’s work to develop vital human rights guidance to help prevent and address this discrimination.”
To create this policy, the OHRC will engage with Indigenous health professionals, organizations, and communities across Ontario. These discussions help the Commission understand the systemic issues, barriers, and priorities related to Indigenous-specific discrimination in healthcare delivery.
Additionally, the OHRC is launching an online survey to collect data on the lived experiences of First Nations, Inuit, Métis, and urban Indigenous individuals who have faced discrimination in the healthcare system. Family members, caregivers, service providers, and others who have witnessed such discrimination are encouraged to participate in the survey. The findings from these engagements and the survey will be compiled into an engagement report by the Commission.
According to the OHRC, the necessity for this policy is underscored by the detrimental impact of anti-Indigenous discrimination and racism on health outcomes. Tragic cases like those of Brian Sinclair, Joyce Echaquan, Brent Sky, and Heather Winterstein illustrate the fatal consequences of systemic bias in healthcare.
Furthermore, data revealed significant disparities in health metrics between Indigenous populations and the general Ontario populace. For instance, as of 2013, life expectancy for Indigenous individuals was about ten years lower than that of their non-Indigenous counterparts. Additionally, Indigenous people suffer disproportionately from chronic conditions, with 63 percent of First Nations people off-reserve and 61 percent of Métis reporting one or more chronic diseases, compared to 47 percent of the non-Indigenous population.
According to the OHRC, these health disparities are exacerbated by experiences of racism and discriminatory treatment from healthcare professionals, leading to a mistrust of the healthcare system and reluctance among Indigenous people to seek necessary care. This has been a significant concern raised by participants in the OHRC’s 2018 Indigenous Peoples and Human Rights dialogue.
