Politic?

This is a blog dedicated to a personal interpretation of political news of the day. I attempt to be as knowledgeable as possible before commenting and committing my thoughts to a day's communication.

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Missed Understandings

"Confirming the reconciliation of the 4 million accounting which I hopefully get by tomorrow."
Regional Health Canada executive

"I would not be so specific regarding discrepancies. Suggest I would just indicate that discrepancies identified have been reconciled (I have modified the proposed message.)"
Health Canada communications advisor

"There has never been an issue of misappropriation of funds or unaccounted expenditures. But rather one of properly reconciling funds between two organizations who transferred funding and responsibilities. Independent auditors reported no concerns with the quality of documentation or accounting procedures and systems for either organization. Accountants from both organizations have been working on a detailed reconciliation report and Health Canada was recently advised by the First Nations Health Authority that the previously identified differences have been reconciled."
Health Canada

No mention, no explanation of a $4-million accounting discrepancy. So, obviously it never happened. And this worries people at Health Canada who deliver comprehensive health-care coverage to roughly 127,000 status Indians in British Columbia. That speaks as well to $180-million of annual, non-insured health benefits. Like dental and vision care, prescription drugs, counselling and health-related travel expenses.

But British Columbia's First Nations insist they are best capable to take over the job. And that assertion has been accepted by Health Canada. Which is preparing to transfer funding to the First Nations Health Authority, enabling them to take over responsibility for all aboriginal health services in the province. Representing a transition of power and money inclusive of $2.5-billion over the following five years from government agency care to that of the FNHA.

Jim Rogers, Health Canada's regional dental officer for First Nations and Inuit Health is skeptical. "This hasn't been a transparent process. I'm very concerned about the way we're moving forward with the delivery of health care for First Nations, but it's politically incorrect to ask questions. I'm glad someone is finally asking them."

Questions are being raised fuelled by an episode of $4-million transferred to the FNHA since 2007 which hasn't been accounted for, according to a Health Canada review. Internal Health Canada documents reveal that amounts as large as $5-million have been directed by the FNHA to programs with "no clear rationale"; including for activities "to be determined" at a later date.

Substantial "surplus" sums representing money that was to have been spent on health-related programs remain unexplained. Which seem to point rather eloquently to procedures that have not been adequately planned, documented or carried through to completion. And while the FNHA agreed it held as "surplus" $33-million in government program funding, explanations are absent.

The FNHA response to these puzzling incidents is simple enough. Their organization uses a different accounting system than does Health Canada, and this has resulted in confusion about the supposed surplus funds. They anticipate a mere $1.8-million surplus at the end of their fiscal year. Health Canada is anxious to complete the transfer of funds and responsibility.

However, the 2012 internal review appears to trouble a retired Health Canada executive. The review, he says represents "a real worry. This [FNHA] is an organization being groomed to take over a huge chunk of money, and in the run-up, they aren't dotting the i's. It's not supposed to go this way." But obviously, it is.

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