Details of transfer payment programs

Transfer payments for Basic Organizational Capacity (BOC)

This program was removed in 2023–24. Program activities are included in the new Indigenous Engagement and Capacity Support Program to better support results-based management and reporting.

Start date/End date: Ongoing

Type of transfer payment: Contributions

Type of appropriation: Transfer payments are voted unless otherwise denoted with an (S) in below Financial information table.

Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program and fiscal year for terms and conditions:

Contributions to support the basic organizational capacity of Indigenous representative organizations: 2017–18

Link to departmental results: Indigenous Peoples determine their political, economic, social and cultural development

Link to department's Program Inventory: Basic Organizational Capacity

Results achieved: Performance results for this program are available in GC InfoBase.

Findings of audits completed in 2022–23: No audit was completed in 2022–23. Currently, there are no future audits planned for this program.

Findings of evaluations completed in 2022–23: No evaluation was completed in 2022–23. A planned Evaluation of Engagement and Capacity Support is expected to be completed by March 2027.

Engagement of applicants and recipients in 2022–23: In 2022-23, emerging priorities such as COVID-19 and the Papal visit took precedent over the planned review of the BOC authority. However, work was undertaken to hire an Indigenous consultant to conduct the engagements that will inform the process to align the BOC with the Consultation and Policy Development and the Federal Interlocutor Contribution Program while modernizing these funding authorities. It is anticipated that the engagements will take place in the fall of 2023 and that the program review will be completed by March 31, 2024.

Explanation of variances: The difference between planned spending and actual spending primarily reflects the internal realignment of funds between programs ($2.4 million).

Transfer payments for Consultation and Accommodation

Start date/End date: Ongoing

Type of transfer payment: Contributions

Type of appropriation: Transfer payments are voted unless otherwise denoted with an (S) in below Financial information table.

Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program and fiscal year for terms and conditions:

Contributions for the purpose of consultation and policy development: 2014–15

Federal Interlocutor's Contribution Program: 2021–22

Link to departmental results: Indigenous Peoples advance their governance institutions and regimes

Link to department's Program Inventory: Consultation and Accommodation

Results achieved: Performance results for this program are available in GC InfoBase.

Findings of audits completed in 2022–23: No audit was completed in 2022–23. Currently, there are no future audits planned for this program.

Findings of evaluations completed in 2022–23: A Horizontal Evaluation of the Impact Assessment and Regulatory Processes Horizontal Initiative, led by the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency, was completed in 2022–23. The findings for the evaluation were:

• The evaluation confirmed that the design of the Impact Assessment and Regulatory Processes Horizontal Initiative addresses the main concerns related to the previous Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA 2012) regime.
• Although roles, responsibilities, and accountabilities are well documented, there continue to be opportunities to provide further clarity, improve understanding, and minimize areas of potential overlap that have been observed to date. To some extent this is due to new or modified roles and responsibilities identified through the legislative reform, as well as limited experience with operationalizing and implementing a new, complex horizontal initiative.
• Interdepartmental communication and the current governance structures (i.e., interdepartmental committees at the Assistant Deputy Minister and Deputy Head levels) are helpful for understanding the work of individual departments/agencies, but there is sometimes a lack of coordination or leadership on key, interdepartmental work.
• Despite having the necessary systems and processes in place to collect financial and non-financial performance information, there are opportunities for improvement, particularly to better capture what external stakeholder and Indigenous input is collected throughout the implementation of the initiative, and how that input is used. The initiative also lacks mechanisms to gather feedback in a systematic way on engagement activities. Lastly, there are opportunities to improve performance measures to better monitor and report on progress towards achieving outcomes rather than reporting only on activities undertaken and outputs produced.
• Across the 6 themes (Impact Assessment; Partnering with Indigenous Peoples; cumulative Effects; Open Science and Evidence; Protection of Fish and Fish Habitat; Protection of the Public Right to Navigation; and Regulation of Energy) that comprise the horizontal initiative, the evaluation identified that progress is being made and revealed no significant gaps or obstacles to implementation.

A planned Evaluation of Consultation and Accommodation is expected to be completed by March 2025.

Engagement of applicants and recipients in 2022–23: CIRNAC engages with 19 signatory Indigenous communities and organizations and 5 Resource Centres providing annual funding under the Federal Initiative on Consultation. In accordance with the signed protocol agreements, CIRNAC meets on average 3 times a year with each of the 10 protocol agreement holders to review the agreement in order to inform improvements and efficiencies. CIRNAC, also in accordance with its program framework, meets quarterly with the 9 Indigenous communities negotiating Protocol Agreements in an effort to finalize each with Ministerial approval. As negotiations advance, and depending on stage and progress, the number of engagements increases on average to 6 per year. Finally, CIRNAC meets on average 2 times a year with each of the 5 Indigenous Resource Centres to review and inform improvements and efficiencies.

Explanation of variances: The difference between planned spending and actual spending primarily reflects incremental funding provided through Supplementary Estimates for the reprofiled funding to support the implementation of UNDRIP (+$11.6 million). The increase is offset by the deferral of funding to support the government's commitment to meaningful engagement and consultation with Indigenous people (-$613 000). The fund was not required in 2022-23 and will be re-profiled to future years.

Transfer payments for Consultation and Policy Development

This program was removed in 2023–24. Some program activities are included in the new Indigenous Engagement and Capacity Support Program, and other activities are included in the new Indigenous-led Services Program to better support results-based management and reporting.

Start date/End date: Ongoing

Type of transfer payment: Grants and contributions

Type of appropriation: Transfer payments are voted unless otherwise denoted with an (S) in below Financial information table.

Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program and fiscal year for terms and conditions:

Grant under the Innovative Solutions Canada program: 2020–21

Grants to implement comprehensive land claims and self-government agreements and other agreements to address section 35 rights: 2018–19

Grant to the Qikiqtani Inuit Association to establish the Saimaqatigiingniq Fund: 2021–22

Contributions for the purpose of consultation and policy development: 2014–15

Contributions to supply public services in Indian government support and to build strong governance, administrative and accountability systems: 2020–21

Contributions to promote social and political development in the North and for Northerners: 2019–20

Contributions for promoting the safe use, development, conservation and protection of the North's natural resources, and promoting scientific development: 2019–20

Contributions to support the establishment and revitalization of cultural spaces in Indigenous communities: 2021–22

Contributions to support the wellbeing of families and survivors of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people: 2020–21

Link to departmental results: Indigenous Peoples determine their political, economic, social and cultural development

Link to department's Program Inventory: Consultation and Policy Development

Results achieved: Performance results for this program are available in GC InfoBase.

Findings of audits completed in 2022–23: No audit was completed in 2022–23. A planned Audit of the Consultation and Policy Development Program is expected to be completed by December 2024.

Findings of evaluations completed in 2022–23: No evaluation was completed in 2022–23. A planned Evaluation of Engagement and Capacity Support is expected to be completed by March 2027.

Engagement of applicants and recipients in 2022–23: The Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Secretariat held initial conversations with the National Family and Survivors Circle on the Support for the Wellbeing of Families and Survivors of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People Program, and the National Indigenous Data Advisory Group.

CIRNAC continued to engage Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami and Inuit land claims organizations on the design and delivery of funding and implementation of the Inuit Nunangat Housing Strategy through Inuit Crown Partnership Committee and through direct engagement on the advancement and execution of housing and infrastructure funding agreements.

As part of the Budget 2021 Supporting Indigenous Women's and 2SLGBTQI+ Organizations initiative, CIRNAC supported engagement with over 20 Indigenous women's and 2SLGBTQI+ organizations in 2022–23. CIRNAC held quarterly meetings with each funding organization to support capacity and discuss project budgets, work-plans, deliverables and outcomes. It was vital to the success of the initiative to maintain engagement to continue to build relationships, enhance participation, and learn about the impacts on the Indigenous women's and 2SLGBTQI+ grassroots communities.

Explanation of variances: The difference between planned spending and actual spending primarily reflects incremental funding provided through Supplementary Estimates for:

• funding for self-governing and modern treaty First Nation, Inuit, and Métis housing (+$386 million)
• reprofiled funding for the continued implementation of Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action 74 to 76: Missing Children and Burial Information (+$20.3 million)
• reprofiled funding for implementing Canada's contribution to the National Action Plan: the Federal Pathway – Canada's Response to Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls National Inquiry's Final Report "Reclaiming Power and Place" – Cultural Spaces in Indigenous Communities Program (+$20 million)
• funding for the investments in Indigenous youth for the advancement of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Call to Action 66 (+$6.25 million)
• the internal realignment of funds between programs (+$55 million)

Transfer payments for Federal Interlocutor's Contribution Program

This program was removed in 2023–24. Some program activities are included in the new Indigenous Engagement and Capacity Support Program, and other activities are included in the new Indigenous-led Services Program to better support results-based management and reporting.

Start date/End date: Ongoing

Type of transfer payment: Contributions

Type of appropriation: Transfer payments are voted unless otherwise denoted with an (S) in below Financial information table.

Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program and fiscal year for terms and conditions:

Federal Interlocutor's Contribution Program: 2021–22

Contributions to support Métis housing: 2018–19

Contributions to support the establishment and revitalization of cultural spaces in Indigenous communities: 2021–22

Contributions to support the wellbeing of families and survivors of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people: 2020–21

Link to departmental results: Indigenous Peoples determine their political, economic, social and cultural development

Link to Department's Program Inventory: Federal Interlocutor's Contribution Program

Results achieved: Performance results for this program are available in GC InfoBase.

Findings of audits completed in 2022–23: No audit was completed in 2022–23. Currently, there are no future audits planned for this program.

Findings of evaluations completed in 2022–23: No evaluation was completed in 2022–23. A planned Evaluation of Engagement and Capacity Support is expected to be completed by March 2027.

Engagement of applicants and recipients in 2022–23: CIRNAC continued its work with the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples (CAP) and other federal departments on the implementation of the Canada–CAP Political Accord. This included meetings of 6 working groups on issues related to justice, family programs, housing, post-secondary education, Indigenous languages, and Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. Work was undertaken on developing a progress reports for each of the working groups.

CIRNAC continued its work with other Métis and Non-Status Indian groups throughout the country, specifically in Alberta (Aseniwuche Winewak Nation) and British Columbia (BC Métis Federation), to understand gaps and priorities.

CIRNAC has undertaken a review of the Basic Organizational Capacity Program, the Consultation and Policy Development Program and the Federal Interlocutor's Contribution Program. In the context of this review CIRNAC plans to consult with diverse recipients and potential recipients, including national, regional, and local Indigenous women's and 2SLGBTQQIA+ organizations as the outreach part of the review is expected to take place in the fall of 2023.

Throughout 2022–23, CIRNAC worked in partnership with Les Femmes Michif Otipemisiwak to implement implementation of the whole-of-government relationship agreement, including supporting the organization's annual Métis Women's Policy Forum to identify areas of interest and priority. CIRNAC also managed the implementation 14 projects total value of $2.1 million from the Budget 2021 Indigenous Women's and 2SLGBTQI+ Organizations program under the FICP terms and conditions.

Explanation of variances: The difference between planned spending and actual spending primarily reflects incremental funding provided through Supplementary Estimates for:

• a transfer from the Department of Employment and Social Development to support Indigenous early learning and child care (+$73 million)
• funding for self-governing and modern treaty First Nation, Inuit, and Métis housing (+$5 million)
• the internal alignment of funds between programs (+$1.6 million)

Transfer payments for First Nation Jurisdiction over Land and Fiscal Management

Start date/End date: Ongoing

Type of transfer payment: Grants and contributions

Type of appropriation: Transfer payments are voted unless otherwise denoted with an (S) in below Financial information table.

Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program and fiscal year for terms and conditions:

Grant to the First Nations Finance Authority pursuant to the First Nations Fiscal and Statistical Management Act: 2013–14

Contributions to supply public services in Indian government support and to build strong governance, administrative and accountability systems: 2020–21

Contributions for the purpose of consultation and policy development: 2014–15

Link to departmental results:

• Indigenous Peoples determine their political, economic, social and cultural development
• Indigenous Peoples advance their governance institutions and regimes
• Past injustices are recognized and resolved

Link to department's Program Inventory: First Nation Jurisdiction over Land and Fiscal Management

Results achieved: Performance results for this program are available in GC InfoBase.

Findings of audits completed in 2022–23: No audit was completed in 2022–23. Currently, there are no future audits planned for this program.

Findings of evaluations completed in 2022–23: No evaluation was completed in 2022–23. A planned Evaluation of First Nation Jurisdiction over Land and Fiscal Management is expected to be completed by March 2024.

Engagement of applicants and recipients in 2022–23: The department engaged with the First Nations Fiscal Management Act institutions that represent participating First Nations and advocate on their behalf. Engagement with the institutions were done through regular ad hoc calls and meetings, correspondences, formal face-to-face meetings and discussions related to corporate plans and projects proposals.

Explanation of variances: The difference between planned spending and actual spending primarily reflects incremental funding provided through Supplementary Estimates for funding to enhance the First Nations Fiscal Management Act (+$9.8 million) and the internal alignment of funds between programs.(+$3.2 million). The increase is offset by the deferral of funding for Additions to Reserve Land for First Nations economic recovery (-$852 000). The fund was not required in 2022–23 and will be re-profiled to future years.

Transfer payments for Management and Implementation of Agreements and Treaties

Start date/End date: Ongoing

Type of transfer payment: Grants and contributions

Type of appropriation: Transfer payments are voted unless otherwise denoted with an (S) in below Financial information table.

Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program and fiscal year for terms and conditions:

Grants to implement comprehensive land claims and self-government agreements and other agreements to address section 35 rights: 2018–19

(S) Grants to Aboriginal organizations designated to receive claim settlement payments pursuant to comprehensive land claim settlement acts: Please refer to Final Agreements and Related Implementation Matters webpage.

Grants to First Nations to settle specific claims negotiated by Canada and/or awarded by the Specific Claims Tribunal, and to Indigenous groups to settle special claims: 2018–19

Grants to participating First Nations and the First Nation Education Authority pursuant to the First Nations Jurisdiction over Education in British Columbia Act: 2014–15

Grants to reimburse treaty negotiation loans to Indigenous groups who have settled a comprehensive land claim: 2019–20

Grant to the Métis Nation British Columbia from the Indigenous Community Infrastructure Fund: 2021–22

Contributions to support the negotiation and implementation of treaties, claims and self-government agreements or initiatives: 2018–19

Contributions to support the construction and maintenance of community infrastructure: 2016–17

Contributions for the purpose of consultation and policy development: 2014–15

Link to departmental results: Indigenous Peoples determine their political, economic, social and cultural development

Link to Department's Program Inventory: Management and Implementation of Agreements and Treaties

Results achieved: Performance results for this program are available in GC InfoBase.

Findings of audits completed in 2022–23: An Audit of the Oversight Mechanisms for Self-Government Financial Mandating was completed in 2022–23. The audit found that the design of most controls for the 3 in-scope sub-processes from the self -government financial mandating process (i.e., the renewal of existing self -government fiscal transfer agreements; the annual update of funding schedules for self-government activities; and the annual amendments to existing fiscal transfer agreements) was strong. There were adequate oversight controls in place in the 3 in-scope sub-processes; however, the performance of some controls was not documented.

An Audit of the Management and Implementation of Agreements and Treaties is planned to be completed by March 2025.

Findings of evaluations completed in 2022–23: An Evaluation of the Management and Implementation of Agreements and Treaties was completed in 2022–23. The findings for the evaluation were:

• There is a continued need to ensure full and honourable, whole-of-government implementation of treaties and agreements. Framing management and implementation activities as a 'program' and utilizing program authorities (grants and contributions) does not adequately reflect the whole-of-government responsibilities set out in treaties and agreements.
• There is a need for greater clarity around implementation roles and responsibilities within CIRNAC and across the federal government. There are also several challenges with the current performance measurement system that limit the ability to generate valid and reliable information to support decision-making.
• Management and implementation activities indirectly support Indigenous governments by responding to the needs and priorities of Indigenous partners, but there is an opportunity for CIRNAC to develop in-house subject matter expertise related to common implementation issues or to establish stronger links to other implicated government departments to develop issue-specific implementation expertise.
• The scope of activities that partners undertake to implement their Treaties and Agreements have grown significantly. Given the opportunity costs faced by Indigenous partners, there is a need to centre partners' priorities and cost-benefit considerations to support the intended nation-to-nation, Crown-Inuit, and government-to-government relationships and self-determination.

A Horizontal Evaluation of the Impact Assessment and Regulatory Processes Horizontal Initiative, led by the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency, was completed in 2022–23. The findings for the evaluation were:

• The evaluation confirmed that the design of the Impact Assessment and Regulatory Processes Horizontal Initiative addresses the main concerns related to the previous Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA 2012) regime.
• Although roles, responsibilities, and accountabilities are well documented, there continue to be opportunities to provide further clarity, improve understanding, and minimize areas of potential overlap that have been observed to date. To some extent this is due to new or modified roles and responsibilities identified through the legislative reform, as well as limited experience with operationalizing and implementing a new, complex horizontal initiative.
• Interdepartmental communication and the current governance structures (i.e., interdepartmental committees at the Assistant Deputy Minister and Deputy Head levels) are helpful for understanding the work of individual departments/agencies, but there is sometimes a lack of coordination or leadership on key, interdepartmental work.
• Despite having the necessary systems and processes in place to collect financial and non-financial performance information, there are opportunities for improvement, particularly to better capture what external stakeholder and Indigenous input is collected throughout the implementation of the initiative, and how that input is used. The initiative also lacks mechanisms to gather feedback in a systematic way on engagement activities. Lastly, there are opportunities to improve performance measures to better monitor and report on progress towards achieving outcomes rather than reporting only on activities undertaken and outputs produced.
• Across the 6 themes (Impact Assessment; Partnering with Indigenous Peoples; cumulative Effects; Open Science and Evidence; Protection of Fish and Fish Habitat; Protection of the Public Right to Navigation; and Regulation of Energy) that comprise the horizontal initiative, the evaluation identified that progress is being made and revealed no significant gaps or obstacles to implementation.

Engagement of applicants and recipients in 2022–23: CIRNAC engaged and participated in over 100 implementation Committees, working groups and discussions with modern treaty and self-governing Indigenous governments on implementation obligations, annual fiscal arrangement amendments, financial allocations, collaborative fiscal implementation initiatives, such as life-cycle infrastructure, agreement renewal negotiations and Budget 2022 Indigenous housing investments.

Additionally, CIRNAC consulted and supported other federal departments in building engagement opportunities with modern treaty and self-governing Indigenous governments, on new initiatives and programs and services transfers, in support of government-to-government relationships and overall implementation of federal obligations.

Explanation of variances: The difference between planned spending and actual spending primarily reflects incremental funding provided through Supplementary Estimates for:

• Funding for self-governing and modern treaty First Nation, Inuit, and Métis housing (+$64 million)
• Funding for early deliverables to advance reconciliation with the Haida Nation (+$53 million)
• Funding to support the lifecycle infrastructure approach for existing self-government agreement holders (+$40 million)

Transfer payments for Negotiations of Treaties, Self-Government Agreements and other Constructive Arrangements

Start date/End date: Ongoing

Type of transfer payment: Grants and contributions

Type of appropriation: Transfer payments are voted unless otherwise denoted with an (S) in below Financial information table.

Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program and fiscal year for terms and conditions:

Grants to implement comprehensive land claims and self-government agreements and other agreements to address section 35 rights: 2018–19

Grants to reimburse treaty negotiation loans to indigenous groups who have settled a comprehensive land claim: 2019–20

Contributions to promote social and political development in the North and for Northerners: 2019–20

Contributions to supply public services in Indian government support and to build strong governance, administrative and accountability systems: 2020–21

Contributions to support the negotiation and implementation of treaties, claims and self-government agreements or initiatives: 2018–19

Contributions to support Indigenous Nation Rebuilding Initiative: 2021–22

Contributions to support the establishment and revitalization of cultural spaces in Indigenous communities: 2021–22

Contributions for the purpose of consultation and policy development: 2014–15

Link to departmental results: Indigenous Peoples determine their political, economic, social and cultural development

Link to department's Program Inventory: Negotiation of Treaties, Self-Government Agreements and other Constructive Arrangements

Results achieved: Performance results for this program are available in GC InfoBase.

Findings of audits completed in 2022–23: An Audit of the Oversight Mechanisms for Self-Government Financial Mandating was completed in 2022–23. The audit found that the design of most controls for the 3 in-scope sub-processes from the self -government financial mandating process (i.e., the renewal of existing self-government fiscal transfer agreements; the annual update of funding schedules for self –government activities; and the annual amendments to existing fiscal transfer agreements) was strong. There were adequate oversight controls in place in the 3 in-scope sub-processes; however, the performance of some controls was not documented.

An Audit of Negotiation of Treaties, Self-Government Agreements and Other Constructive Arrangements is planned to be completed by March 2025.

Findings of evaluations completed in 2022–23: No evaluation was completed in 2022–23.

An Evaluation of CIRNAC's Negotiation of Treaties, Self-Government Agreements and Other Constructive Arrangements Program from 2013–14 to 2020–21 was completed in April 2023.

Engagement of applicants and recipients in 2022–23: No engagement initiatives took place in 2022–23.

Explanation of variances: The difference between planned spending and actual spending primarily reflects incremental funding provided through the Supplementary Estimates:

• for funding to renew support for Recognition of Indigenous Rights and Self-Determination (RIRSD) (+$28.3 million)
• for a transfer from Indigenous Services Canada to support funding to ratify and implement self-government agreements' sectoral education for 13 First Nations in British Columbia (+$17.5 million)
• for funding for negotiations with Treaty 8 First Nations to modernize past annuities under the numbered treaties (+$8.2 million)
• for reprofiled funding to advance reconciliation on Aboriginal rights issues and fisheries with Atlantic and BC First Nations and the Labrador Innu (+$5.5 million)

Transfer payments for Other Claims

Start date/End date: Ongoing

Type of transfer payment: Contributions

Type of appropriation: Transfer payments are voted unless otherwise denoted with an (S) in below Financial information table.

Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program and fiscal year for terms and conditions:

Contributions for the purpose of consultation and policy development: 2014–15

Federal Interlocutor's Contribution Program: 2021–22

Link to departmental result(s): Past injustices are recognized and resolved

Link to Department's Program Inventory: Other Claims

Results achieved: Performance results for this transfer payment program are available in GC InfoBase.

Findings of audits completed in 2022–23: No audit was completed in 2022–23. A planned Audit of Other Claims is expected to be completed by March 2024.

Findings of evaluations completed in 2022–23: No evaluation was completed in 2022–23. Currently, there are no future evaluation planned for this program.

Engagement of applicants and recipients in 2022–23: There were no engagement initiatives in 2022–23.

Explanation of variances: The difference between planned spending and actual spending reflects the internal realignment of funds between programs (+$63.3 million).

Transfer payments for Residential Schools Legacy

Start date/End date: Ongoing

Type of transfer payment: Grants and contributions

Type of appropriation: Transfer payments are voted unless otherwise denoted with an (S) in below Financial information table.

Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program and fiscal year for terms and conditions:

Grant to the University of Manitoba to support the construction of the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation's new headquarters: 2022–23

Residential Schools Legacy Contribution Program: 2022–23

Link to departmental result(s): Past injustices are recognized and resolved

Link to Department's Program Inventory: Residential Schools Legacy

Results achieved: Performance results for this transfer payment program are available in GC InfoBase.

Findings of audits completed in 2022–23: No audit was completed in 2022–23. Currently, there are no future audits planned for this program.

Findings of evaluations completed in 2022–23: No evaluation was completed in 2022–23. Currently, there are no future evaluation planned for this program.

Engagement of applicants and recipients in 2022–23: Ongoing partnership with the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation continued in 2022–23, including the establishment of the National Advisory Committee on Residential Schools Missing Children and Unmarked Burials in July 2022. The National Advisory Committee has held 2 webinars for communities and released a Navigator Document to support communities.

Explanation of variances: The difference between planned spending and actual spending primarily reflects incremental funding provided through Supplementary Estimates for funding to implement the Federal Framework to address the legacy of residential schools (+$113.6 million) and the internal reallocation of +$5.9 million from other programs. This increase is offset by the deferral of funding to future years for the Residential Schools Legacy program (-$59.9 million).

Transfer payments for Specific Claims

Start date/End date: Ongoing

Type of transfer payment: Grants and contributions

Type of appropriation: Transfer payments are voted unless otherwise denoted with an (S) in below Financial information table.

Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program and fiscal year for terms and conditions:

Grants to First Nations to settle specific claims negotiated by Canada and/or awarded by the Specific Claims Tribunal, and to Indigenous groups to settle special claims: 2019–20

Contributions for the purpose of consultation and policy development: 2014–15

Contributions to support the negotiation and implementation of treaties, claims and self-government agreements or initiatives: 2018–19

Link to departmental results: Past injustices are recognized and resolved

Link to department's Program Inventory: Specific Claims

Results achieved: Performance results for this program are available in GC InfoBase.

Findings of audits completed in 2022–23: No audit was completed in 2022–23. Currently, there are no future audits planned for this program.

Findings of evaluations completed in 2022–23: An Evaluation of the Specific Claims Assessment and Settlement Process from 2013–14 to 2019–20 was completed in 2022–23. The findings for the evaluation were:

• Resolution of specific claims remains a clear priority for First Nations, and Canada has a continued obligation to right past wrongs.
• The Specific Claims Process has the potential to advance reconciliation, however, aspects of its current design as it relates to impartiality, fairness and transparency should be reviewed.
• Greater collaboration, communication and information sharing has led to improvements in accountability and transparency. A continued focus on improving these areas is still needed.
• Capacity and resource constraints have impacted the Specific Claims Branch's ability to meet expectations such as legislated timeline targets and First Nation calls for accelerated resolution, and hindered the ability of First Nations to participate in the specific claims process on an equal footing with Canada.
• Performance on meeting the legislated 3-year timeframe for determining whether claims will be accepted for negotiation fell slightly short of expectations. However, the last 3 years demonstrated a significant improvement and the target was met.

A planned Evaluation of Specific Claims is expected to be completed by March 2028.

Engagement of applicants and recipients in 2022–23: Canada and the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) launched the Specific Claims Implementation Working Group in Halifax, Nova Scotia in November 2022, which holds regular discussions to co-develop a reform of the specific claims process. Additionally, Canada has initiated its own engagement with First Nations, mainly through discussions at national and regional gatherings. Further engagement will continue in 2023–24 to solicit views from rights holders throughout the country in co-developing a reformed specific claims resolution process.

Explanation of variances: The difference between planned spending and actual spending primarily reflects incremental funding provided through Supplementary Estimates:

• for reprofiled Specific Claim Settlement fund (+$1,197 million)
• for the replenishment of the Specific Claim Settlement fund (+678 million)
• for the settlement of the Blueberry River, Doig River, Halfway River and West Moberly First Nations Treaty 8 land entitlement specific claims (+$674 million)

The increase is offset by the deferral of funds for specific claims (-$1,345 million).

Transfer payments for Climate Change Adaptation and Clean Energy

Start date/End date: Ongoing

Type of transfer payment: Grants and contributions

Type of appropriation: Transfer payments are voted unless otherwise denoted with an (S) in below Financial information table.

Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program and fiscal year for terms and conditions:

Grants for promoting the safe use, development, conservation and protection of the North's natural resources, and promoting scientific development for Indigenous peoples and the North: 2022–23

Contributions for promoting the safe use, development, conservation and protection of the North's natural resources, and promoting scientific development: 2020–21

Contributions for the purpose of consultation and policy development: 2014–15

Contributions to support the construction and maintenance of community infrastructure: 2016–17

Link to departmental results: Northern and Indigenous communities are resilient to changing environments

Link to department's Program Inventory: Climate Change Adaptation and Clean Energy

Results achieved: Performance results for this program are available in GC InfoBase.

Findings of audits completed in 2022–23: No audit was completed in 2022–23. An Audit of the Climate Change Adaptation Program is planned to be completed by June 2024.

Findings of evaluations completed in 2022–23: An Evaluation of the Climate Change Adaptation and Clean Energy Program 2016-17 to 2020–21 was completed in 2022–23. The findings for the evaluation were:

• The Climate Change Adaptation and Clean Energy is highly relevant in terms of its alignment with the needs of Indigenous and northern communities related to climate change by supporting planning and implementation of adaptation and mitigation measures.
• The Climate Change Adaptation and Clean Energy is an effective and well-conceived, designed, managed, and delivered program that embraces Indigenous climate leadership, contributes to positive impacts at the community-level, and displayed strong program delivery and governance.
• Climate Change Adaptation and Clean Energy oversubscription is substantial and widespread, and the full breadth and depth of the climate change-related needs of Indigenous and northern communities extend far beyond what the Climate Change Adaptation and Clean Energy has been positioned and resourced to achieve.
• Improving community resilience to the impacts of climate change and transitioning communities off-diesel is a whole-of-government challenge, which CIRNAC and the Climate Change Adaptation and Clean Energy cannot address in isolation.

A horizontal Evaluation of Adapting to Impacts of Climate Change (roll-up of departmental evaluations, led by Environment and Climate Change Canada) is planned to be completed by March 2027.

Engagement of applicants and recipients in 2022–23: 1) First Nation Adapt program, 2) Indigenous Community-Based Climate monitoring program and 3) Climate Change Preparedness in the North program — The programs' review and advisory committees were used to engage recipients and provided guidance on program priorities and approaches. The adaptation programs continued to use the Indigenous Climate Hub to engage recipients and as a community network tool. The website provides information on programming, links to resources, inspiring community projects and news about upcoming climate change events.

Northern REACHE program — The program is part of 'Wah-ila-toos' – a single-window initiative that employs a community-centred and relationship-based approach to streamline access to clean energy funding and resources for Indigenous and remote communities. In 2022–23, Wah-ila-toos established an Indigenous Council to center and elevate Indigenous voices through providing advice and guidance on policy and program design and to direct engagement and implementation of Indigenous Climate Leadership.

Explanation of variances: The difference between planned spending and actual spending primarily reflects incremental funding provided:

• for transitioning diesel-reliant Indigenous communities onto clean energy (+$6.1 million)
• for funding renewal of the First Nations Adapt – Floodplain Mapping Program (+$5 million)
• for funding to co-develop an Indigenous Climate Leadership Agenda (+$1 million)
• through an internal realignment of funding (+$1.9 million)

This increase is offset by the deferral of funds for transitioning diesel reliant Indigenous communities onto clean energy (-$3.3 million). These funds were not required in 2022-23 and will be re-profiled to future years.

Transfer payments for Northern and Arctic Environmental Sustainability

Start date/End date: Ongoing

Type of transfer payment: Contributions

Type of appropriation: Transfer payments are voted unless otherwise denoted with an (S) in below Financial information table.

Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program and fiscal year for terms and conditions:

Contributions for promoting the safe use, development, conservation and protection of the North's natural resources, and promoting scientific development: 2020–21

Link to departmental results: Northern and Indigenous communities are resilient to changing environments

Link to department's Program Inventory: Northern and Arctic Environmental Sustainability

Results achieved: Performance results for this program are available in GC InfoBase.

Findings of audits completed in 2022–23: No audit was completed in 2022–23. Currently, there are no future audits planned for this program.

Findings of evaluations completed in 2022–23: A Horizontal Evaluation of the Impact Assessment and Regulatory Processes Horizontal Initiative, led by the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency, was completed in 2022–23. The findings for the evaluation were:

• The evaluation confirmed that the design of the Impact Assessment and Regulatory Processes horizontal initiative addresses the main concerns related to the previous Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA 2012) regime.
• Although roles, responsibilities, and accountabilities are well documented, there continue to be opportunities to provide further clarity, improve understanding, and minimize areas of potential overlap that have been observed to date. To some extent this is due to new or modified roles and responsibilities identified through the legislative reform, as well as limited experience with operationalizing and implementing a new, complex horizontal initiative.
• Interdepartmental communication and the current governance structures (i.e., interdepartmental committees at the Assistant Deputy Minister and Deputy Head levels) are helpful for understanding the work of individual departments/agencies, but there is sometimes a lack of coordination or leadership on key, interdepartmental work.
• Despite having the necessary systems and processes in place to collect financial and non-financial performance information, there are opportunities for improvement, particularly to better capture what external stakeholder and Indigenous input is collected throughout the implementation of the initiative, and how that input is used. The initiative also lacks mechanisms to gather feedback in a systematic way on engagement activities. Lastly, there are opportunities to improve performance measures to better monitor and report on progress towards achieving outcomes rather than reporting only on activities undertaken and outputs produced.
• Across the 6 themes (Impact Assessment; Partnering with Indigenous Peoples; cumulative Effects; Open Science and Evidence; Protection of Fish and Fish Habitat; Protection of the Public Right to Navigation; and Regulation of Energy) that comprise the horizontal initiative, the evaluation identified that progress is being made and revealed no significant gaps or obstacles to implementation.

A Horizontal Evaluation of the Federal Leadership Towards Zero Plastic Waste in Canada Initiative, led by Environment and Climate Change Canada, was completed in 2022–23. The findings for the evaluation were:

• There is a societal and environmental need to address plastic waste and a clear requirement for federal leadership.
• Most planned activities are on track for completion or have been implemented. Various internal and external factors have caused some delays or changes to planned implementation dates and activities.
• The overall design of the Initiative is appropriate. Increased emphasis on certain key areas and inclusion of additional federal department and agency partners could help advance progress toward outcomes and improve the coherence of the government's approach to plastic waste reduction.
• Gender-based analysis Plus was considered in the design and implementation of the initiative. Additional focus on Gender-based analysis Plus will be important going forward, since it is anticipated that some activities will impact certain population groups differently.
• All departments underspent on initiative activities between fiscal year 2019-2020 and fiscal year 2020-2021 for a number of reasons, including human resource constraints, delays in staffing full-time equivalents, delays or changes to activities due to COVID-19 and the late release of some funding. Though resources were generally sufficient to deliver planned activities, some departments were tasked with additional unplanned activities, which put a strain on resources. Various efficiency measures have been implemented, but there are opportunities for further improvement. Additional resources are likely required for any future iteration of the Initiative in light of new federal commitments and priorities, greater numbers of federal departments involved and emerging issues.
• Initiative partners' efforts to engage external stakeholders are viewed as comprehensive and effective. Areas for improvement centered on addressing some internal constraints to engagement.
• A formal governance structure is in place that supports collaboration among program partners. Opportunities for improving the effectiveness of governance structures were identified.
• A logic model and performance measurement strategy have been developed for the Initiative and performance measurement is occurring. Complexity and the lack of a clear theory of change are challenges to support effective performance reporting.
• Scientific and socio-economic information on plastics is being generated, and there is evidence that it has been used to inform policy.
• While there is some evidence that plastics have been diverted from landfills and the environment, the total amount of waste diverted or its relative impact on the total amount of plastic waste to date is not available due to data limitations.

An Evaluation of Northern and Arctic Environmental Sustainability is expected to be completed by March 2024.

Engagement of applicants and recipients in 2022–23: Engagement and decision-making around conservation: Engagement with Inuit organizations has continued during 2022–23. The Qikiqtani Inuit Association, the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation and the Nunatsiavut Government have workplans in place to conduct studies around marine spatial planning and conservation. They have also identified research priorities for their own areas. A work plan is in development for the Kivalliq Inuit Association and research priorities need to be identified. No engagement has been initiated in Nunavik and Kitikmeot regions for now. As the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) is the lead on the Marine Conservation Targets, discussions between DFO and these Inuit organizations need to occur prior to CIRNAC engagement.

Northern Contaminants Program (NCP): Engagement with the 5 Regional Contaminants Committees (Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Nunavik, Nunatsiavut) continued throughout 2022–23. Spring meetings provided opportunities for committees to lead on annual social-cultural reviews in preparation for the Management Committee meeting. Engagement continues between the Regional Contaminants Committees, the NCP Secretariat and project leaders to provide guidance and/or address issues.

The NCP Secretariat initiated meetings with the project leaders for both the Polar Data Catalogue and the NCP Publications Database in October, 2022. Both websites are being updated to improve functionality and appearance. Updates are expected to be completed by the end of the second quarter of 2023-2024, increasing accessibility and transparency of project activities and data, while ensuring that access to data (i.e. human biomonitoring) is protected.

ArcticNet brought the northern research and science community together for the first time in person in 2 years. From December 4-8, 2022, the NCP Secretariat participated in the 18th Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM2022) in Toronto, Ontario, hosting both an information booth and topical session. A special plenary session, "Sensitivity of Arctic Regions to Contaminants and Pollutants", featured NCP supported researchers. Approximately 420 northern participants (35%) attended, many with support from CIRNAC, resulting in the most representative conference to date.

Explanation of variances: The difference between planned spending and actual spending primarily reflects incremental funding provided through Supplementary Estimates for circular plastic economy (+$596 000). This increase is offset by the internal realignment of funding to other programs (-1.5 million) and the deferral of funds for circular plastic economy (-$536 000). These funds were not required in 2022-23 and will be re-profiled to future years.

Transfer payments for Northern and Arctic Governance and Partnerships

Start date/End date: Ongoing

Type of transfer payment: Grants and contributions

Type of appropriation: Transfer payments are voted unless otherwise denoted with an (S) in below Financial information table.

Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program and fiscal year for terms and conditions:

Grants to the Government of the Northwest Territories and the Government of Nunavut for health care of Indians and Inuit: 2020–21

Grants for the political evolution of the Territories, particularly as it pertains to devolution: 2014–15

Grants to promote social and political development in the North and for Northerners: 2021–22

Grants to implement comprehensive land claims and self-government agreements and other agreements to address section 35 rights: 2018–19

Grants to the governments of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut for the health care of Indigenous people and grants to the governments of the Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Yukon for emergency response to the global 2020 COVID-19 pandemic: 2020–21

Contributions to promote social and political development in the North and for Northerners: 2019–20

Contributions for promoting the safe use, development, conservation and protection of the North's natural resources, and promoting scientific development: 2019–20

Contributions to support the construction and maintenance of community infrastructure: 2016–17

Link to departmental results: Political, economic and social development in Canada's Arctic and North are advanced

Link to department's Program Inventory:

• Northern and Arctic Governance and Partnerships
• Northern Strategic and Science Policy

Results achieved: Performance results for this program are available in GC InfoBase.

Findings of audits completed in 2022–23: No audit was completed in 2022–23. Currently, there are no future audits planned for this program.

Findings of evaluations completed in 2022–23: No evaluation was completed in 2022–23. A planned Evaluation of Northern and Arctic Governance and Partnerships is expected to be completed by March 2024.

Engagement of applicants and recipients in 2022–23:

Northwest Territories Devolution: The department continued its ongoing engagement with the Government of the Northwest Territories and 9 Indigenous parties to the Northwest Territories Land and Resources Devolution Agreement. Funding agreements with Indigenous parties to the Northwest Territories Lands and Resources Devolution Agreement were completed in Summer 2022. This funding helps Indigenous parties play a role in managing post-devolution land and resources with the Government of the Northwest Territories.

Nunavut Capacity-Building Contribution: The department engaged with the Government of Nunavut to discuss that government's financial management systems. In September 2022, CIRNAC entered another funding agreement with the Government of Nunavut to help the territory undertake activities such as developing their public accounts strategy and financial information system during the fiscal year necessary to improve its financial management capacity.

Hospital and Physician Services Grant: The department had regular ongoing engagements with the Government of Nunavut and Government of the Northwest Territories. In Spring 2022, the department signed a grant agreement with the governments of Nunavut and the Northwest Territories that would reimburse each territorial government a portion of costs incurred to provide hospital and physician services to Indigenous residents during the year.

Housing and Infrastructure funding: The department had regular engagements with each the Government of Yukon, Government of the Northwest Territories and Government of Nunavut pertaining to matters necessary to address immediate housing and infrastructure priorities. In Summer 2022, the department signed a grant agreement with the governments of Nunavut, the Northwest Territories and Yukon that provided funding announced in Budget 2022 for those governments to address their immediate housing and infrastructure needs and priorities. Furthermore, through Budget 2022, the department signed contribution agreements with First Nations communities on non-reserve lands (and without a modern treaty or self-government agreement) and Métis communities in the Northwest Territories to respond to urgent critical infrastructure and housing needs.

Explanation of variances: The difference between planned spending and actual spending primarily reflects incremental funding provided for closing the northern housing and infrastructure gap ($+75 million) and through an internal realignment of funds between programs (+$481 000). The increase is offset by the deferral of funds for Nunavut Devolution (-$346 000). The fund was not required in 2022–23 and will be reprofiled to future years. 

Transfer payments for Northern Contaminated Sites

Start date/End date: Ongoing

Type of transfer payment: Grants and contributions

Type of appropriation: Transfer payments are voted unless otherwise denoted with an (S) in below Financial information table.

Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program and fiscal year for terms and conditions:

Grant to support the Giant Mine Oversight Board and research on arsenic trioxide: 2018−19

Transfer payments to the Government of Yukon for the care and maintenance, remediation and management of the closure of contaminated sites in Yukon: 2013−14

Contributions for promoting the safe use, development, conservation and protection of the North's natural resources, and promoting scientific development: 2019–20

Transfer payments to the Government of Yukon for the remediation of the Marwell Tar Pit Site to support the Contaminated Sites Program: 2013−14

Link to departmental results: Northern lands and resources are sustainably managed

Link to department's Program Inventory: Northern Contaminated Sites

Results achieved: Performance results for this program are available in GC InfoBase.

Findings of audits completed in 2022–23: No audit was completed in 2022–23. An Audit of the Northern Contaminated Sites Program is planned to be completed in 2023–24.

Findings of evaluations completed in 2022–23: No evaluation was completed in 2022–23. A planned Horizontal Evaluation of Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan, Phase IV, led by Environment and Climate Change Canada, is expected to be completed by March 2024. An Evaluation of the Northern Contaminated Sites Program is planned to be completed by March 2026.

Engagement of applicants and recipients in 2022–23: In the spirit of reconciliation, affected Indigenous and northern communities continued to be engaged in contaminated sites projects. In 2022–23, engagement was completed at various stages of contaminated sites projects. These engagements aimed to understand the historical impacts of the contaminated sites on Indigenous lands and culture and consult on different aspects of the selection and implementation of remedial options, the creation and implementation of socio-economic benefits, and participation in the co-developed governance model for some projects. There was also engagement on agreements that promote employment, training and business opportunities for affected communities. The department continues to advance agreement negotiations with several other affected groups.

Explanation of variances: The difference between planned spending and actual spending primarily reflects incremental funding provided for Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan: Phase IV (+$250 000) and through an internal realignment of funds between programs (+$219 000). The increase is offset by the deferral of funds for the Northern Abandoned Mine Reclamation Program (-$30.5 million).

Transfer payments for Northern Regulatory and Legislative Frameworks

Start date/End date: Ongoing

Type of transfer payment: Contributions

Type of appropriation: Transfer payments are voted unless otherwise denoted with an (S) in below Financial information table.

Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program and fiscal year for terms and conditions:

Grants for the political evolution of the Territories, particularly as it pertains to devolution: 2014–15

Contribution for promoting the safe use, development, conservation and protection of the North's natural resources and promoting scientific development: 2019–20

Link to departmental results: Political, economic and social development in Canada's Arctic and North are advanced

Link to department's Program Inventory: Northern Regulatory and Legislative Frameworks

Results achieved: Performance results for this program are available in GC InfoBase.

Findings of audits completed in 2022–23: No audit was completed in 2022–23. Currently, there are no future audits planned for this program.

Findings of evaluations completed in 2022–23: No evaluation was completed in 2022–23. A planned Evaluation of Northern Regulatory and Legislative Frameworks is expected to be completed by March 2025.

Engagement of applicants and recipients in 2022–23: There were no engagement initiatives in 2022–23.

Explanation of variances: The difference between planned spending and actual spending reflects the internal realignment of funds between programs ($255 000).

Transfer payments for Nutrition North

Start date/End date: Ongoing

Type of transfer payment: Grants and contributions

Type of appropriation: Transfer payments are voted unless otherwise denoted with an (S) in below Financial information table.

Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program and fiscal year for terms and conditions:

Grants to land claim organizations, self-government agreement holders and First Nations organizations to support harvesting of country foods: 2019–20

Grants to Universities and Indigenous Institutions for the Purpose of Research Related to Food Security and its Causal Factors: 2022–23

Contributions to support access to healthy foods in isolated northern communities: 2019–20

Contributions for the purpose of consultation and policy development: 2014–15

(S) Contributions to support access to healthy foods in isolated northern communities: 2020–21

Link to departmental results: Northern and Indigenous communities are resilient to changing environments

Link to department's Program Inventory: Nutrition North

Results achieved: Performance results for this program are available in GC InfoBase.

Findings of audits completed in 2022–23: No audit was completed in 2022–23. Currently, there are no future audits planned for this program.

Findings of evaluations completed in 2022–23: No evaluation was completed in 2022–23. A planned Horizontal Evaluation of Nutrition North Canada, led by CIRNAC, is expected to be completed by March 2025.

Engagement of applicants and recipients in 2022–23: Nutrition North Canada engaged regularly with Indigenous and northern partners. Virtual meetings with the Advisory Board, Indigenous Working Group, Inuit-Crown Food Security Working Group and Harvesters Support Grant recipient organizations were held on a regular basis. Discussions with Indigenous partners focused on how the program has been implementing Budget 2021 program expansions to better address food security in the north. Part of this work included 2 co-development sessions with HSG recipients to develop performance indicators for the Harvesters Support Grant.

Explanation of variances: The difference between planned spending and actual spending primarily reflects incremental funding provided:

• through Supplementary Estimates for Northern Food Security: Seeding Local Food Systems in the North (+$86.2 million)
• for continuing local food security efforts in northern isolated communities (+$20 million)

The increase is offset by the deferral of funds from these same initiatives (-$18.5 million). These funds were not required in 2022–23 and will be re-profiled to future years.

Transfer payments for Northern Strategic and Science Policy

Start date/End date: Ongoing

Type of transfer payment: Grants and contributions

Type of appropriation: Transfer payments are voted unless otherwise denoted with an (S) in below Financial information table.

Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program and fiscal year for terms and conditions:

Grants to promote social and political development in the North and for Northerners: 2021–22

Contributions for promoting the safe use, development, conservation and protection of the North's natural resources, and promoting scientific development: 2019–20

Link to departmental results: Political, economic and social development in Canada's Arctic and North are advanced

Link to department's Program Inventory: Northern Strategic and Science Policy

Results achieved: Performance results for this program are available in GC InfoBase.

Findings of audits completed in 2022–23: No audit was completed in 2022–23. Currently, there are no future audits planned for this program.

Findings of evaluations completed in 2022–23: No evaluation was completed in 2022–23. A planned Evaluation of Northern Strategic and Science Policy is expected to be completed by March 2026.

Engagement of applicants and recipients in 2022–23:

Arctic and Northern Policy Framework: the Arctic and Northern Policy Framework working groups continued to engage regularly with partners on their priorities. This collaborative work led to the September 2022 Leadership Committee meeting that identify partners priorities.

Northerners on post-secondary education: there was continued engagement with active funding recipients, including Yukon University, the Dechinta Centre for Research and Learning, and Aurora College to distribute funding announced in Budgets 2019 and 2021. The Task Force on Northern Post-Secondary fulfilled its mandate and delivered its final report, entitled A Shared Responsibility: Northern Voices, Northern Solutions, on March 23, 2022.

Explanation of variances: The difference between planned spending and actual spending reflects the internal realignment of funds between programs ($185 thousand).