Senate Canada. (2012). Time for Transformative Change A Review of the 2004 Health Accord Standing. Ogilvie, K.K., & Eggleton, A.: Ottawa, ON. Retrieved from http://www.parl.gc.ca/Content/SEN/Committee/411/soci/rep/rep07mar12-e.pdf.

“On January 31, 2011, the Minister of Health requested that the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology initiate the second parliamentary review of the 10-Year Plan to Strengthen Health Care (10-Year Plan), an agreement reached by First Ministers on September 16, 2004 that focuses on federal/provincial/territorial (F/P/T) collaboration in the area of health care reform. The committee’s study is undertaken pursuant to section 25.9 of the Federal-Provincial Fiscal Arrangements Act, which requires that a parliamentary committee review progress towards the implementation of the 10-Year Plan on or before March 31, 2008 and three years thereafter. The committee’s review also includes an examination of the separate Communiqué on Improving Aboriginal Health, which was released by First Ministers and Leaders of National Aboriginal Organizations1 on 14 September, 2004.

This report presents the committee’s findings regarding progress towards the implementation of the 10-Year Plan and the Communiqué on Improving Aboriginal Health and identifies further actions that could be taken in support of the objectives outlined in these documents. It reflects the testimony presented by witnesses over the course of 13 hearings and one roundtable discussion, as well as many written submissions received from interested organizations and individuals.

The key themes raised by these witnesses provide the basis and spirit of the recommendations outlined in this report. Witnesses emphasized to this committee the central importance of adopting a holistic understanding of health that sees physical and mental wellbeing as inextricably linked and equally important to the efficiency and quality of health care systems. This holistic concept of health has become a framing principle for this report.”