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Ottawa, Northwest Territories sign $51-million health funding agreement
Ottawa will also provide more than $100 million to build or rehabilitate health facilities in 12 communities, officials said.
On Monday, The Northwest Territories signed a $51.2 million health care funding agreement with Ottawa spanning seven years to improve access to primary care and mental health services.
The territory plans to utilize the funding to address critical health service gaps, specifically targeting improved access to primary care and mental health support across the region.
Infrastructure investments include more than $100 million earmarked for 12 communities to build or rehabilitate health facilities, and the territory has reduced staffing vacancies by one-third since the original agreement.
Provincial and territorial health ministers warned in recent weeks that the end of targeted mental health and addictions funding next year will lead to reduced services across regions.
This agreement aligns with Ottawa's 2023 commitment of $200 billion over 10 years to strengthen primary care and mental health services, as the federal government negotiates extensions for expired three-year funding agreements.