An ad hoc health and wellness governance committee was recently established by the Chiefs Advisory Committee. Its creation stems from a resolution unanimously adopted by the AFNQL Chiefs on March 26, 2025.

This resolution entrusted the Chiefs Advisory Committee, in collaboration with the First Nations of Quebec and Labrador Health and Social Services Commission (FNQLHSSC), with the mandate to create and implement this committee. The appointment process is now complete.

Committee composition
The committee is composed of 14 representatives from various First Nations communities and organizations:

• Three elected officials;
• Three executive directors;
• Three health and/or social services directors;
• Two members representing regional organizations, including the First Nations Education Council (FNEC) and the AFNQL Secretariat;
• Two members of the FNQLHSSC’s health and wellness collective.

Committee mandate
The committee’s mandate is to guide the preparatory work for the negotiations, as well as the actual negotiations, with the governments of Canada and Quebec.

In the news release announcing the committee’s composition, the Chiefs Advisory Committee emphasized the contributions of everyone who expressed interest in this process.

The creation of this committee follows the resolution adopted by the AFNQL and constitutes a crucial step in the ongoing process of transferring health and social services responsibilities to First Nations in Quebec.

For more information, please visit https://gouvernance.cssspnql.com/en/.