2023-24 United Nations 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals

Planned initiatives

CIRNAC partners with other federal government departments to pursue the conclusion of treaties, self-government agreements and other constructive arrangements, including Incremental Treaty Agreements, as a way to build capacity and self-determination within Indigenous communities, enhancing economic wellbeing and helping close the socioeconomic gap between Indigenous people and non-Indigenous Canadians.

Note: An Incremental Treaty Agreement is a legally binding pre-treaty agreement intended to address section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982 Aboriginal rights by implementing certain treaty elements.

Canada negotiates treaties, self-government agreements and other constructive arrangements which reconcile Indigenous rights with the sovereignty of the Crown, and help co-create an enabling environment where Indigenous groups can exercise their right of self-determination which includes economic self-determination and the prioritization of poverty reduction, productive and meaningful employment and overall economic growth that is led by Indigenous Peoples. These Indigenous economic priorities are supported by treaty, self-government agreement and constructive arrangement processes through capital and land transfers as well as a new fiscal relationship with Canada.

Global or domestic targets and/or global or domestic indicators

Goal 1 of the Canadian Indicator Framework (CIF): End poverty in all its forms everywhere

Ambition: Reduce poverty in Canada in all its forms

Target 1.1.1: By 2030, a 50% reduction in the rate of poverty, compared to the 2015 level

Prevalence of asset resilience, defined as having enough savings to maintain well-being for a specified period of time (e.g. to cover unexpected expenses, or reduced income, by drawing from assets for a specific period of time).

GIF Target 1.4 By 2030, ensure that all men and women, in particular the poor and the vulnerable, have equal rights to economic resources, as well as access to basic services, ownership and control over land and other forms of property, inheritance, natural resources, appropriate new technology and financial services, including microfinance.

Planned initiatives

Nutrition North Canada

The Food Policy for Canada, which will help Canada meet its commitments under the UN SDGs, including to end hunger, promote good health, cut food waste and encourage a sustainable food system, includes the following programs:

• The Local Food Infrastructure Fund ($50 million over 5 years), is designed to improve access to safe, healthy, and culturally-diverse food
• Additional funding through the Northern Isolated Community Initiatives Fund ($15 million over 5 years), which focuses on increasing food security in Canada's northern and remote communities
• The Food Waste Reduction Challenge ($20M investment) to fund the most innovative food waste reduction proposals.

Global or domestic targets and/or global or domestic indicators

Goal 2 of the CIF: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture

Global Indicator Target (GIF) target 2.1: By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular the poor and people in vulnerable situations, including infants, to safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year round.

GIF target 2.4: By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought, flooding and other disasters and that progressively improve land and soil quality.

Planned initiatives

Canada's Healthy Eating Strategy aims to improve the food environment in Canada to make it easier for Canadians to make healthier choices. The strategy is made up of complementary initiatives to improve healthy eating information, improve the nutritional quality of foods, protect vulnerable populations and support increased access to and availability of nutritious foods.

Nutrition North Canada continues to improve the Harvesters Support Grant, developed in direct collaboration with Indigenous partners to increase their access to traditional foods by reducing the high costs associated with traditional hunting and harvesting. The grant supports the complete range of harvesting activities and traditions, from community decision making to ceremony and celebration of the harvest. The grant was expanded in 2022–23 to include support for country and market food sharing through the Community Food Programs Fund, as well as expended support for activities such as small infrastructure and backyard gardens. The grant respects the inherent hunting and harvesting rights of Indigenous Peoples in Canada.

By reducing risks to human health and safety through the elimination, containment, or mitigation of toxic substances in the air, water, and on land, the Northern Contaminated Sites Program contributes to the achievement of SDG 3, Good Health and Wellbeing. The program also contributes to SDG 3 by informing and increasing understanding of harmful substances and by working with partners to reduce the risks of harmful substances.

Canada's Collaborative Self-Government Fiscal Policy includes a component on social well-being which is intended to lead to fiscal arrangements that close social well-being gaps with successful, evidence-driven initiatives that recognize culture, language and heritage as foundational elements of social well-being well as a new fiscal relationship with Canada.

Global or domestic targets and/or global or domestic indicators

Goal 3 of the CIF - Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages

Ambition: Canadians adopt healthy behaviours

Indicator: Consumption of sugars, sodium, saturated fat, sugar-sweetened beverages, and fruits and vegetables by Dietary Reference Intakes, per category

Goal 3.9 of the GIF: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination

In collaboration with 25 self-governing Indigenous governments, Canada is encouraging the development of indicators and baseline data that captures the outcomes of Indigenous governments' work towards closing the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations in Canada.

Planned initiatives

The Task Force on Northern Post-secondary Education was created as part of Canada's Arctic and Northern Policy Framework commitments. The Government of Canada and Framework partners nominated an independent task force with the aim to improve post-secondary education in Canada's North. The Task Force released its final report on March 31, 2022. The report highlights the challenges and barriers that exist across the North in accessing post-secondary education and identifies important strengths and new opportunities for culturally-relevant, northern-based, northern-focused and northern-led post-secondary programs and institutions. As well, it outlines 37 comprehensive Calls to Action that will serve to advance progress on the recommendations found in the report. Through engagement and collaboration with Framework partners, the Government of Canada is already in the process of addressing some of the issues raised in the report and the Calls to Action, with the overall objective to continue improving northern Canadians' access to inclusive and quality post-secondary education.

Global or domestic targets and/or global or domestic indicators

Goal 4 of the CIF: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all

Ambition: Canadians have access to inclusive and quality education throughout their lives.

Target 4.2.1: This indicator tracks the post-secondary education attainment rate but has no specific target.

Planned initiatives

National Action Plan to address violence against Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit and LGBTQQIA+

It's Time: Canada's Strategy to Prevent and Address Gender-Based Violence

Since 2015, the Government of Canada has worked across departments towards a Canada free of violence against Indigenous women, girls, 2-spirit and LGBTQQIA.

In June 2021, the product of collaborative work between the federal government, provincial and territorial governments, and Indigenous organizations and governments was released. The 2021 Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People National Action Plan contains key priorities and actions to end this violence. The Government will accelerate work with Indigenous partners to address the national tragedy of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People through the implementation of the Federal Pathway and the National Action Plan. Families, survivors and communities are, and will continue to be, at the center of the Government's efforts including direct support for family members of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people, as well as policy and programmatic innovation in key areas of priority.

Together with provincial, territorial and Indigenous partners, we are responding to the issues identified in the Calls for Justice, as part of the whole-of-Canada response to the Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. CIRNAC is also working with Women and Gender Equality Canada to ensure alignment between the National Action Plan and the Strategy in key areas of common interest, including human safety and security inclusive of environment and social infrastructure, violence prevention, support for survivors of violence and their families, and the promotion of access to justice and responsive legal systems. This work also extends to discussions on how progress will be measured for the future.

Global or domestic targets and/or global or domestic indicators

Goal 5 of the CIF: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls

GIF target 5.1 End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere

GIF target 5.2 Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation

GIF target 5.c Adopt and strengthen sound policies and enforceable legislation for the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls at all levels.

Domestic: A governance structure, primarily made up of Indigenous women, is in place to oversee the development of the National Action Plan. This interconnected structure features the Core Working Group and the National Family and Survivors Circle at the center that serves as a liaison with the broader federal, provincial and territorial governments and Indigenous organizations and communities through a series of sub-working groups which represent various distinctions and other components.

Planned initiatives

The Northern Contaminants Program supports research and monitoring of plastic pollution across the North, as well as related capacity development, through environmental monitoring and research projects; community-based monitoring and research projects; Regional Contaminants Committees/Inuit Research Advisor positions in Inuit regions, as well as workshops and contributions to the litter and microplastic activities of the Arctic Council's Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP). These projects laid a foundation for establishing baselines for long-term monitoring of microplastics in the following 10 environmental compartments: freshwater fish, sea-run Arctic Char, seabirds (Northern Fulmars, Thick-billed Murre, common Eider, Black-legged Kittiwake), air, snow, ice, fresh water, sea water, sediments and mammals (beluga, polar bear, ringed seal). The research advances the development of standard protocols/approaches for monitoring plastics in the North, explored potential wildlife health issues from plastic exposure, and begun to identify hotspots, sources and pathways for plastic pollution in the North.

Global or domestic targets and/or global or domestic indicators

GIF target 6.b: Support and strengthen the participation of local communities in improving water and sanitation management

Planned initiatives

Northern Responsible Energy Approach for Community Heat and Electricity (REACHE) Program

The program objective is to reduce northern communities' reliance on diesel for heating and electricity by increasing the use of local renewable energy sources and energy efficiency. This will result in environmental, social and economic benefits to support developing healthier, more sustainable northern communities.

Global or domestic targets and/or global or domestic indicators

GIF 7.2: By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix

CIF 7.3.1: By 2030, 90% and in the long term, 100% of Canada's electricity is generated from renewable and non-emitting sources

Planned initiatives

Through the implementation of the Framework Agreement on First Nation Land Management and the review of the additions to reserve process, CIRNAC creates strong Indigenous-led partnerships which foster self-sustainability and economic prosperity.

CIRNAC partners with other federal government departments to pursue the conclusion of treaties, self-government agreements and other constructive arrangements, including Incremental Treaty Agreements, as a way to build capacity and self-determination within Indigenous communities, enhancing economic wellbeing and helping close the socioeconomic gap between Indigenous people and non-Indigenous Canadians.

Note: An Incremental Treaty Agreement is a legally binding pre-treaty agreement intended to address section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982 Aboriginal rights by implementing certain treaty elements.

Canada negotiates treaties, self-government and other constructive arrangements which reconcile Indigenous rights with the sovereignty of the Crown, and help co-create an enabling environment where Indigenous groups can exercise their right of self-determination which includes economic self-determination and the prioritization of poverty reduction, productive and meaningful employment and overall economic growth that is led by Indigenous Peoples. These Indigenous economic priorities are supported by treaty, self-government and constructive arrangement processes through capital and land transfers as well as a new fiscal relationship with Canada.

Global or domestic targets and/or global or domestic indicators

Goal 8 of the CIF: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all

Ambition: Canadians contribute to and benefit from sustainable economic growth (targets 8.5 and 8.6)

GIF target 8.3: Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises, including through access to financial services.

Planned initiatives

CIRNAC's northern housing funding supports Northerners (Indigenous and non-Indigenous) in responding to their critical housing and infrastructure needs.

Global or domestic targets and/or global or domestic indicators

Goal 9 of the CIF: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation.

Ambition: Canadians have access to modern and sustainable infrastructure

Planned initiatives

Implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in Canada

On June 21, 2021, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act received Royal Assent. The Act affirms the Declaration as a universal international human rights instrument with application in Canadian law and provides a framework for the Government of Canada's implementation of the Declaration.

Specifically, the Act requires the Government to work in partnership with Indigenous Peoples to take measures necessary to ensure federal laws are consistent with the Declaration, and to develop an action plan to achieve its objectives.

Collaborating with First Nations, Inuit and Métis on the action plan is an opportunity to put in place concrete measures to address injustices, combat prejudice and eliminate all forms of violence, racism and discrimination, including systemic racism and discrimination.

National Action Plan on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls in response to the National Inquiry's Calls for Justice

Arctic Council: Sustainable Development Working Group: The guiding principle running throughout the work of this group is to pursue initiatives that provide practical knowledge and contribute to building the capacity of Indigenous Peoples and Arctic communities to respond to the challenges and opportunities in the Arctic region.

The First Nations Fiscal Management Act, its institutions and the on-going enhancements to the regime are contributing towards addressing historical barriers and gaps experienced by Indigenous people, including jurisdictional, capacity, and access to capital gaps, and they are contributing to SDG 10 to reduce inequality.

Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action

The Government of Canada has been working towards full implementation of the 94 Calls to Action delivered by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to redress the legacy of residential schools and advance the process of reconciliation. Of the 76 federally-led or shared Calls to Action, 19 are complete, 47 are well underway, and 10 are in the planning phase as of December 2022. All 94 Calls to Action aim to reduce inequality between Indigenous people and non-Indigenous Canadians, and close the socioeconomic gaps.

In November 2022, Bill C-29 – An Act to provide for the establishment of a national council for reconciliation – was passed through the House of Commons and is currently in the Senate. The Bill establishes an Indigenous-led National Council for Reconciliation to provide oversight and monitor progress on reconciliation across Canada in all sectors, and support sustained action on long-term reconciliation, including the implementation of the Calls to Action. The Council will be stood up in March 2023 and will act as an independent, non-political, permanent institution that will monitor and report on government actions supporting reconciliation, and be a catalyst for innovative thought, dialogue and action. As part of the Council's mandate, it will be responsible for issuing an annual report on the state of reconciliation which is to be tabled in both Houses of Parliament by the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations. It further provides that the Government of Canada must answer the Council's annual report on items that are under its authority by issuing an annual report outlining its plans for advancing reconciliation.

Global or domestic targets and/or global or domestic indicators

Goal 10 of the CIF: Reduce inequality within and among countries

Ambition: Canadians live free of discrimination and inequalities are reduced (target 10.1.1)

GIF target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status

Total number of Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action that are under federal or shared purview that have been implemented. 

Planned initiatives

CIRNAC's 3 climate change adaptation programs (First Nation Adapt, Climate Change Preparedness in North and Indigenous Community-Based Climate Monitoring Program) support Indigenous and northern communities in adapting to climate change impacts through climate change risk assessments, adaptation planning projects and support projects that facilitate the collection and co-application of scientific data and Indigenous knowledge for community-based climate monitoring.

Global or domestic targets and/or global or domestic indicators

Goal 13 of CIF: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts

Ambition: Canadians are well-equipped and resilient to face the effects of climate change

Planned initiatives

Implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in Canada

On June 21, 2021, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act received Royal Assent. The Act affirms the Declaration as a universal international human rights instrument with application in Canadian law and provides a framework for the Government of Canada's implementation of the Declaration.

As the next step, the Government of Canada will engage with Indigenous partners to understand their priorities for the action plan and to identify potential measures for aligning federal laws with the Declaration over time.

This Act – and the ongoing dialogue it promotes – will help us turn the page on colonial structures, build stronger relationships, close socio-economic gaps, and promote greater prosperity for Indigenous Peoples and all Canadians.

Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action

National Action Plan on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls in response to the National Inquiry's Calls for Justice

Many of the Calls to Action and the Calls for Justice propose specific measures for increased access to justice, culturally-relevant supports, an increase in the use of restorative justice practices for Indigenous Peoples within the Canadian justice system, as well as support for Indigenous justice.

Many of the Calls to Action and the Calls for Justice propose specific measures to reduce inequalities in key areas such as employment, training, housing, and health. The Government of Canada has been working towards full implementation of the 94 Calls to Action delivered by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to redress the legacy of Indian residential schools and advance the process of reconciliation. Of the 76 federally led or shared Calls to Action: 19 are complete, 47 are well underway, and 10 are in the planning phase as of December 2022.

In November 2022, Bill C-29 – An Act to provide for the establishment of a national council for reconciliation – was passed through the House of Commons and is currently in the Senate. The Bill establishes an Indigenous-led National Council for Reconciliation to provide oversight and monitor progress on reconciliation across Canada in all sectors, and support sustained action on long-term reconciliation, including the implementation of the Calls to Action. The Council will be stood up in March 2023 and will act as an independent, non-political, permanent institution that will monitor and report on government actions supporting reconciliation, and be a catalyst for innovative thought, dialogue and action. As part of the Council's mandate, it will be responsible for issuing an annual report on the state of reconciliation which is to be tabled in both Houses of Parliament by the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations. It further provides that the Government of Canada must answer the Council's annual report on items that are under its authority by issuing an annual report outlining its plans for advancing reconciliation.

As part of the implementation of the 2021 Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People National Action Plan, programs, policy changes, and legislative initiatives are moving forward into implementation, and a corresponding results framework is being developed.

Global or domestic targets and/or global or domestic indicators

GIF target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere

GIF target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children

GIF target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all

GIF target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels

GIF target 16.10: Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements

GIF target 16.a: Strengthen relevant national institutions, including through international cooperation, for building capacity at all levels, in particular in developing countries, to prevent violence and combat terrorism and crime

GIF target 16.b: Promote and enforce non-discriminatory laws and policies for sustainable development

Total number of Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action that are under federal or shared purview that have been implemented.