Accessing COVID-19 public health supports for the territories, Nunavik and Nunatsiavut
Find out the government that leads the COVID-19 public health response in your Northern region, and access its support. Find out how Indigenous Services Canada supports the response in your region.
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About COVID-19 public health supports
Each territory has a universal health care system that provides services for all its residents, including Indigenous peoples. As a result, addressing COVID-19 is the responsibility of territorial governments with their public health systems leading the response across Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities.
Territorial governments are responsible for primary care and public health for all residents of the territories. The Government of Quebec is responsible for Nunavik. The Nunatsiavut Government delivers public health whereas the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is responsible for primary care.
First Nations communities in the North should consult: Accessing COVID-19 public health support for First Nations communities
Supporting partners in the territories in responding to COVID-19
The Government of Canada has been responding to requests from Indigenous governments, communities and organizations, and territorial governments for increased public health measures to respond to COVID-19. Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) coordinates between federal departments and territorial governments to provide solutions, such as surge capacity and isolation structures, and is in regular communication through various working groups to address other issues such as food security, transport and medivacs.
The support focuses on following 3 areas:
1. Federal funding
ISC continues to work with Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada and other federal departments to support funding to territorial governments and Indigenous governments and communities for both their COVID-19 response and for ongoing funding arrangements, including the:
- Indigenous Community Support Fund
- re-purposing existing contribution funding to address critical needs
- additional supports to address the unique needs of Northern, Indigenous and remote communities
- COVID-19 public health funding. For more details on this funding, including eligibility requirements and the importance of coordinating public health activities with territorial and provincial governments, consult:
2. Supplies and equipment
How to submit a request for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), health, medical or social services:
- Yukon: contact covid19info@gov.yk.ca
- Northwest Territories:
- for requests related to health or social services, contact the Health and Social Services (HSS) System Navigator at hss_navigator@gov.nt.ca or 1-855-846-9601
- for education-related requests, contact Colleen Eckert, Department of Education, at colleen_eckert@gov.nt.ca
- Nunavut: contact Susan Noseworthy at Community and Government Services: SNoseworthy@GOV.NU.CA. PPE requests should specify if they are health or social services related or if they are general in nature.
If territorial PPE stockpiles are low, territorial governments can reach out to the Public Health Agency of Canada, to access the National Emergency Strategic Stockpile for urgent health care needs.
If the territorial government denies a request or has not responded in over 48 hours, ISC can assist Indigenous communities in the territories with their requests for PPEs through the national ISC stockpile. Contact: sac.regiondunord-northernregion.isc@canada.ca.
3. Targeted territorial working groups
ISC works closely with territorial and Indigenous partners through a number of working groups to support Northern communities and facilitate the release of federal funding in response to COVID-19.
ISC will continue to collaborate with territorial governments and Indigenous partners to help respond to COVID-19. Contact information for the ISC Northern Region is Heather MacPhail: heather.macphail@sac-isc.gc.ca.
Supporting the Nunatsiavut government response to COVID-19
The Nunatsiavut Government is leading the response to COVID-19 in Nunatsiavut. By supporting linkage with provincial public health, as well as providing funding and information, ISC Atlantic region is assisting the Nunatsiavut Government with its response. ISC has also invited the Nunatsiavut Government to identify any additional supports that might be available for unique needs.
Supporting the Nunavik response to COVID-19
The Nunavik Regional Board of Health and Social Services, as an integral part of the Quebec health network, has the responsibility for public health and the pandemic response in Nunavik. ISC collaborates with the Board and with Makivik Corporation to help respond to COVID-19.
Specific requests related to the COVID-19 response can be addressed to: sac.covid-19dgspni-fnihbqc.isc@canada.ca or by telephone: 1-833-978-2331.