Alberta’s Smith calls on federal government to help Indigenous communities with opioid crisis

At the premiers' conference in Winnipeg, Smith said the federal government needs to better support Indigenous communities dealing with the mental-health and addiction crisis.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says the federal government is failing when it comes to some of the big issues in its jurisdiction, particularly Indigenous health care.

At the annual premiers’ conference in Winnipeg, Smith said provincial leaders are frustrated that Ottawa is interfering in issues that are provincial jurisdiction rather than focusing on its own areas.

Smith said the federal government needs to better support Indigenous communities in urban areas as well as those that are dealing with the mental-health and addiction crisis.

On Monday, Treaty 6 First Nations in Western Canada declared a state of emergency over rising opioid deaths.

They called on all levels of government for immediate support and funding to address the crisis.

Grand Chief Leonard Standingontheroad said the confederacy is asking the federal government to intervene and offer more “effective, flexible and long-lasting support.”

The confederacy said in a statement that the treaty’s medicine chest clause dictates that the federal government has an obligation to provide health care on an ongoing basis.

It said it expects all levels of government to adhere to and respect their treaty obligations.