Horizontal initiatives: Implementing the Federal framework to address the legacy of residential schools
Table of contents
- General information
- Shared outcome
- Performance information
- Horizontal initiative overview
- Theme horizontal initiative activities
- Theme A details
- Theme A horizontal initiative activities
- Theme B details
- Theme B horizontal initiative activities
- Theme C details
- Theme C horizontal initiative activities
- Theme D details
- Theme D horizontal initiative activities
- Total spending, all themes
General information
Lead department: Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC)
Federal partner organizations: Indigenous Services Canada (ISC), Library and Archives Canada (LAC), Parks Canada Agency (PC), Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Canadian Heritage (PCH), and Department of Justice (JUS)
Start date of the horizontal initiative: 2022
End date of the horizontal initiative: 2027
Description of the horizontal initiative: In 2006, in response to decades of litigation and action by survivors seeking justice for their experiences at residential schools, the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement (IRSSA) was approved with the aim of bringing a fair and lasting resolution to the legacy of residential schools. Created under the IRSSA, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) was mandated to document the history of residential schools. In its final report and 94 Calls to Action (CTA), the TRC outlined the far-reaching impacts of the residential schools system and identified the significant work remaining to address its ongoing legacy. Since 2015, with Canada's legal obligations under the IRSSA nearing completion, the Government of Canada has made implementation of the TRC's CTAs a central pillar of its reconciliation agenda, committing to fully implement the CTAs in partnership with Indigenous communities, governments, provinces, territories, and other partners.
In 2019, implementation of CTAs 72 and 73 (National Residential School Memorial Register and National Online Cemetery Register), was led by Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC) in partnership with the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR). In 2021, CIRNAC also launched the "Residential Schools Missing Children – Community Support Funding" initiative for the implementation of CTAs 74-76. This initiative provided funding to Indigenous communities to undertake community-led initiatives to locate, document, and memorialize burial sites associated with former residential schools, and honour families' wishes to bring children's remains home.
In August 2021, following the location of probable unmarked burial sites associated with former residential schools in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, the Government of Canada announced additional investments to support Indigenous community-led work. This includes:
- work surrounding burial sites
- commemoration activities
- the construction of a national residential schools monument to honour survivors and children who did not return home
- the provision of essential mental health services
- cultural and emotional services to support healing from intergenerational trauma
- the rehabilitation of existing residential school buildings on and off-reserve
The destructive legacy created by residential schools is complex. Addressing the intergenerational impacts requires whole-of-government, coordinated action across federal departments and agencies, as well as co-operative relationships with Indigenous communities and across all levels of government. To this end, Budget 2022 announced additional investments to support the implementation of the Federal Framework to Address the Legacy of Residential Schools, which includes initiatives to address the ongoing impacts of the residential schools system and commemorate its history and legacy.
This Horizontal Initiative has been anchored around 4 themes with the lead departments and agencies, as follows: (1) addressing missing children and burial information (CIRNAC with linkages to the work of the Special Interlocutor, as set out below); (2) commemoration and education (Parks Canada and Canadian Heritage); (3) supporting communities and Survivors (Indigenous Services Canada); and (4) sustained, streamlined support for reconciliation initiatives (CIRNAC, Library and Archives Canada, and Royal Canadian Mounted Police).
In June 2022, the appointment of Kimberly Murray as the Independent Special Interlocutor for Missing Children and Unmarked Graves and Burial Sites (Special Interlocutor) was part of the whole-of-government approach to the address the legacy of residential schools. At the end of her 2-year mandate, the Special Interlocutor will present final recommendations concurrently to the Minister of Justice and to First Nations, Inuit and Métis Survivors, families, communities and leadership, for a new federal legal framework to identify, protect and preserve unmarked graves and burial sites associated with former residential schools. In order to protect the integrity and independence of the Special Interlocutor's work, she will continue to operate independently of this horizontal initiative during her mandate. The recommendations she makes at the end of her mandate will inform the actions taken by the Government of Canada towards the implementation of a new federal legal framework and new needed initiatives and measures over and above those currently presented in this horizontal initiative. These new potential actions would be integrated into theme A of the Initiative: "Addressing Missing Children and Burial Information". Budget 2022 identified funding to support the work of the Special Interlocutor and her office. For more information regarding the Special Interlocutor's mandate, engagement activities and reports, please consult her website at Home | Office of the Special Interlocutor (osi-bis.ca).
Governance structures: The Horizontal Initiative Results Framework (HIRF) to Address the Legacy of Residential Schools (LRS) will be reported in the Departmental Plan and Departmental Results Report of the lead department (CIRNAC) and will be implemented through a horizontal governance structure, including the Assistant Deputy Minister Oversight Committee (ADMC), which includes representation from 7 core departments and agencies (CIRNAC, Indigenous Services Canada, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Parks Canada Agency, Department of Justice, Canadian Heritage, and Library and Archives Canada). The ADMC is supported by a Director General Steering Committee (DGSC) and is responsible for the overall governance and coordination of the Horizontal Initiative. It will ensure horizontal results monitoring, reporting, and assessment, including the collection of consistent data. The governance structure is supported by resources within CIRNAC's Resolution and Partnerships Sector.
CIRNAC, through the leadership of the LRS Secretariat, will continue to be the lead department and convener of working-level groups, as well as these committees. All partner departments will continue their participation in establishing the governance structure and the financial parameters for the Horizontal Initiative, provide a complete list to CIRNAC of their activities associated with addressing the legacy of residential schools, and provide information on relevant departmental activities as required by the ADMC to implement their respective activities connected to the Horizontal Initiative. Going forward, interdepartmental results working group(s), alongside the ADMC and DGSC, will work collaboratively to ensure:
- the development of results and resource frameworks
- data collection and consolidation
- monitoring of performance indicators
- addressing unforeseen issues and course corrections that arise during the life of these initiatives
- developing communication strategies
| Federal organizations | Total federal funding allocated (from start to end date) |
Total federal planned spending to date | Total federal actual spending to date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CIRNAC | $299,101,127 | $193,508,819 | $128,409,056 |
| ISC | $227,600,000 | $113,800,000 | $111,850,000 |
| LAC | $25,000,000 | $2,400,000 | $400,460 |
| PCH | $38,117,808 | $13,807,902 | $13,407,138 |
| PC | $25,000,000 | $5,000,000 | $4,558,219 |
| RCMP | $5,089,545 | $1,017,909 | $221,564 |
Date of last renewal of the horizontal initiative: Not applicable
Total federal funding allocated at the last renewal, and source of funding: Not applicable
Additional federal funding received after the last renewal: Not applicable
Total planned spending since the last renewal: Not applicable
Total actual spending since the last renewal: Not applicable
Fiscal year of planned completion of next evaluation: Not applicable. No evaluation is currently planned.
Performance highlights
CIRNAC: The Residential Schools Missing Children Community Support Fund, launched in June 2021, supports local research, knowledge gathering, commemoration, memorialization, and field investigation work, all crucial steps towards healing and reconciliation related to the 140 schools included in the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement or the 5 schools in the Newfoundland and Labrador Residential Schools Settlement Agreement. This includes engaging, coordinating, developing and providing capacity support for initiatives, conducting research and knowledge gathering, memorializing and commemorating burial sites, and undertaking fieldwork investigation, identification, and repatriation of remains.
As of March 2023, 109 applications have been approved for funding totaling $124.6 million. From 2021–22 to 2022–23, funding project proposals have increased by 102 percent. As communities make progress toward technical phases of their projects, funding requirements increase due to cost of fieldwork, identification, and repatriation preparation which requires expertise, significant engagement and time. Of the applications approved, 91% include activities related to local research, engagement and knowledge gathering. Many communities have identified these activities as a critical first step to their overall project relating to locating, documenting, and memorializing burial sites and graves of missing children who attended residential schools. 85% of initiatives include commemorations and memorialization, and 57% of initiatives include fieldwork investigation (e.g. ground-penetrating radar, mapping and light detection and ranging [LIDAR]).
ISC: In 2022–23, ISC continued to ensure that survivors of Indian Residential Schools and their family members, former students of Indian Day Schools and their family members, and those impacted by the ongoing tragedy of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people have access to free, professional mental health counselling services.
Budget 2022 funding for mental wellness supports was also available to communities undertaking the painful work of searching for unmarked burials and missing children at the sites of former Indian residential schools. In this regard, in 2022–23, recognizing that the impacts of intergenerational trauma from the legacy of residential schools is broad and complex, eligibility for community-based trauma-informed health and cultural supports (e.g., peer counsellors, trained health workers, Elders, traditional healers) was expanded to include all Indigenous people, while preserving specialized supports for survivors of residential schools, day schools, and missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people.
ISC-funded crisis lines responded to a record number of calls and chats in 2022–23, with the 3 crisis lines providing immediate support to an average of 7,488 calls or chats per month.
Furthermore, in 2022–23, the department supported Indigenous-led service delivery organizations serving 2SLGBTQI+ people, women, youth, and 60s Scoop survivors to develop specialized training for service providers and build new pathways for access to services. As a result, ISC was able to fund new service providers and respond to the increasing demand for services related to MMIWG2S+.
LAC: In 2022–23, LAC focused on the preparation phase of digitizing and creating culturally-appropriate descriptions of the records held in its collections relating to Indian day schools, which included classifying the organizational chart for the project team and staffing key positions on the project team, such as the project lead, lead archivist and 2 managers. The digitization began at the end of fiscal year, with 8,080 pages digitized, and is on track to reach the target of 6 million images digitized by March 2025. The description work is expected to start in 2023–24.
PCH: To mark the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Canadian Heritage supported 278 community-based commemoration activities and 2 large-scale national projects.
In April 2022, the survivor-led steering committee was announced for the Residential Schools National Monument. This committee guides work on the monument and includes members from First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples. In March 2023, the project achieved its first major milestone with the committee selecting a site for this important monument.
PC: Parks Canada continued to engage with survivors, communities, and Indigenous organizations to build awareness of and advance commemorative opportunities related to the history and legacy of residential schools. Two workshops were hosted with more than 50 survivors and Indigenous representatives to discuss commemorative opportunities in Quebec and British Columbia. Further engagement was undertaken with specific nations and communities to support Indigenous-led efforts to commemorate the legacy of residential schools, including commemorating the former Kamloops residential school as a national historic site.
Opportunities for Indigenous Peoples to share and communicate their history in their own voices at heritage places administered by Parks Canada across the country was supported through Parks Canada's Stories of Canada program. In 2022–23, Stories of Canada supported over 25 projects at more than 30 sites administered by Parks Canada, with 12 projects completed. Parks Canada continued working with Indigenous partners to produce short testimonial videos for the 4 designated residential schools to date: former Muscowequan Indian Residential School National Historic Site, former Shingwauk Indian Residential School National Historic Site, former Portage La Prairie Indian Residential School National Historic Site, and the former Shubenacadie Indian Residential School National Historic Site.
Parks Canada partnered with the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR) to support community-led projects related to residential school commemoration through the NCTR's Na-mi-quai-ni-mak Community Support Fund. This partnership has been ongoing since 2020, and in 2022–23 this partnership provided over $800 000 in funds to the NCTR and supported 35 different community-led projects in 8 different provinces.
Parks Canada continues to work with the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada to review existing designations of national significance associated with residential school history in the National Program of Historical Commemoration and continue to support Indigenous communities with new nominations associated with residential school history. To date, the Board has completed the review of 12 subjects.
RCMP:
Increased availability of tools, training, systems and databases: The RCMP's National Centre for Missing Persons and Unidentified Remains (NCMPUR) initiated consultations with Contract and Indigenous Policing and subject matter experts to improve and revamp the National Missing Persons training. These modernization efforts consider recommendations made from various inquiries. In turn, improved training gives investigators a better understanding of the new technologies that are available to assist them in missing persons and unidentified remains investigations.
The Missing Children/Persons and Unidentified Remains Database and Canada's Missing website were both identified for modernization over the next few fiscal years. These efforts were proposed to replace an aging technical base that was nearing obsolescence, and to add desirable features that expand functionality and usefulness, including improvements to comparison algorithms that detect patterns and match missing persons to unidentified remains.
Enhanced RCMP capacity to provide specialized services: The creation of 2 new positions within the NCMPUR, an outreach coordinator and an Indigenous liaison, allowed the unit to enhance collaboration and strengthen their support of missing persons and unidentified remains investigations with Police of Jurisdiction and coroners/medical examiners. The outreach coordinator will begin visiting police agencies in 2023–24 to provide information on current and historical missing persons cases and ways in which the NCMPUR can be engaged to assist.
Improved relationships with and outcomes for Indigenous people: The NCMPUR's Indigenous liaison began its outreach/engagement work with Indigenous communities to better understand their needs in relation to missing persons investigations. The Program also continued to develop strategies to advance missing persons investigations within Indigenous communities.
| Organization | Name and title | Address | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|
| CIRNAC | Kristi Carin, Director General, Settlement Agreement and Childhood Claims Branch | 25 Eddy Street, Gatineau, QC K1A 0H4 |
873-455-2798 Kristi.Carin@rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca |
| ISC | Sean Somers, Director, Infrastructure Policy Modernization and Change Management, Community Infrastructure Branch | 10 Wellington St, Gatineau, QC K1A 0H4 |
819-953-4966 Sean-Somers@sac-isc.gc.ca |
| LAC | Amy Buckland, Assistant Deputy Minister, Collections | 550 de la Cité Boulevard, Gatineau, QC J8T 0A7 |
Amy.Buckland@bac-lac.gc.ca |
| PC | Patricia Kell, Executive Director, Cultural Heritage Directorate | 30 Victoria Street, Gatineau, QC J8X 0B3 |
613-240-4979 Patricia.Kell@pc.gc.ca |
| RCMP | Cynthia Taylor, Director General, Strategic Direction and Integration, Specialized Policing Services | 73 Leikin Drive, Ottawa, ON K1A 0R2 |
Cynthia.Taylor@rcmp-grc.gc.ca |
| PCH | Tristan Landry, Deputy Director General, Major Events, Commemorations and Capital Experience | 15 Eddy Street, Gatineau, QC, K1A 0M5 |
819-665-3955 Tristan.Landry@pch.gc.ca |
| JUS | Pamela Rudiger-Prybylski, Director General and Deputy Chief Financial Officer, Finance and Planning Branch | 284 Wellington Street, Ottawa, ON K1A 0H8 |
Pamela.Rudiger-Prybylski@justice.gc.ca |
Shared outcome
Progress is made in addressing the legacy of residential schools and reconciling with survivors and their families
| Name of theme | Theme A Addressing missing children and burial information |
Theme B Commemoration and education |
Theme C Supporting communities and survivors |
Theme D Sustained and streamlined support for reconciliation initiatives |
Internal services |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Theme outcomes | Residential school survivors, families and communities have access to information on the death and burial locations of their relatives | Indigenous Peoples' heritage in Canada is protected for future generations Canadians have access to Indigenous commemorations that contribute to reconciliation |
Indigenous Peoples are mentally well | Residential school survivors and communities have access to complete archival records on the history of residential schools Access to Library and Archives Canada's collection is increased Improved relationships with and outcomes for Indigenous people |
Not applicable |
| CIRNAC | $223.5 million over 5 years Continued Implementation of CTAs 72-76 $1.2 million over 4 years Missing Children and Burial Information Associated with Non-IRSSA Federal Institutions Included in Indigenous Childhood Claims Litigation |
Not applicable | Not applicable | $71.0 million over 5 years Support to NCTR operations $1.5 million for 2022–23 Documents identification and sharing |
$1.8 million |
| ISC | Not applicable | Not applicable | $224.3 million over 2 years Renewal of Expanded Trauma-Informed Health and Cultural Supports |
Not applicable | $3.3 million |
| LAC | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | $25 million over 3 years |
Included in the amount identified under Theme D* |
| PC | Not applicable | $25 million over 3 years Commemorating the history and legacy of residential schools |
Not applicable | Not applicable | $1.7 million |
| RCMP | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | $5.1 million over 5 years Culturally-appropriate policing responses |
Included in the amount identified under Theme D |
| PCH | Not applicable | $18,150,233 over 3 years, Commemorate Canada: Commemorating the history and legacy of residential schools $20 million Residential Schools National Monument |
Not applicable | Not applicable | $1.0 million |
| * Internal services costs included in the total $25 million reported under Theme D represent $2.6 million. | |||||
Performance information
Horizontal initiative overview
Name of horizontal initiative: Implementing the Federal Framework to Address the Legacy of Residential Schools
Horizontal initiative shared outcome: Progress is made in addressing the legacy of residential schools and reconciling with survivors and their families
Total federal funding allocated: $614,785,519
2022–23 planned spending: $321,551,871
2022–23 actual spending: $251,150,455
| Performance indicators | Targets | Date to achieve targets | 2022–23 actual results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action under federal or shared jurisdiction related to the legacy of residential schools that are completed* | 66% | March 2027 | Not applicable |
| * This indicator pertains to Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action (CTAs) related to the residential schools legacy activities captured in this horizontal framework, where the word "completed" means that the mechanisms or structures required from federal government to address the recommendation have been put in place. It is however recognized that ongoing efforts will be needed by federal government and its partners to maintain these mechanisms and structures towards full implementation, so they may continue being accessed by Indigenous survivors, their families and/or communities. | |||
Theme horizontal initiative activities
Theme A details
Name of theme: Addressing missing children and burial information
Total federal theme funding allocated: $224,712,469
2022–23 federal theme planned spending: $131,431,468
2022–23 federal theme actual spending: $67,700,975
| Theme outcomes | Theme performance indicators | Theme targets | Date to achieve theme targets | 2022–23 actual results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residential school survivors, families and communities have access to information on the death and burial locations of their relatives | Percentage of former residential schools for which investigation work has been conducted* | 86% | March 2025 | Not applicable |
| Percentage of residential school survivors and families that have received requested materials from the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR) archives | To be determined** | March 2025 | Not applicable | |
| * This indicator pertains to residential schools included in the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement and the Newfoundland and Labrador Residential Schools Settlement Agreement. ** The document collection held by the NCTR is projected to expand significantly over the next few years. A target for responding to requests from survivors and families will be set once the NCTR has more precise knowledge of the volume of documents potentially targeted by these requests. |
||||
Theme A horizontal initiative activities
Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada
Link to the department's program inventory: Residential Schools Legacy Program
Horizontal initiative activity: Continued implementation of Calls to Action (CTAs) 72-76
Total federal funding allocated to the horizontal initiative activity: $223,538,918
2022–23 planned spending for the horizontal initiative activity: $131,124,579
2022–23 actual spending for the horizontal initiative activity: $67,394,086
| 2022–23 horizontal initiative activity expected results | 2022–23 horizontal initiative activity performance indicators | 2022–23 horizontal initiative activity targets | Date to achieve horizontal initiative activity targets | 2022–23 actual results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Partners and communities have timely access to information to plan and implement CTAs 72-76 initiatives | Percentage of requests for program information responded to by the department within two (2) business days of receipt | 85% | March 2023 | 72%* |
| Percentage of funding requests for which engagement between the department and the partner/community is underway within thirty (30) calendar days of receipt | 85% | March 2023 | 97% | |
| Percentage of received documents that have been reviewed and classified by the NCTR | To be determined** | To be determined | Not applicable | |
| Partners and communities successfully secure funding to plan and implement CTAs 72-76 initiatives | Percentage of eligible funding requests from eligible partners / communities approved under the Residential Schools Legacy Contribution Program | 60% | March 2025 | Not applicable |
| Partners and communities implement initiatives to locate, document, and commemorate / memorialize missing children and burial sites associated with former residential schools | Percentage of planned activities funded through the Residential Schools Legacy Contribution Program that have been implemented | 75% | March 2025 | Not applicable |
| * The target was not met because the program's low human resource capacity did not allow for a timely response. ** The document collection held by the NCTR is projected to expand significantly over the next year. A target and timeframe for completion will be set once the NCTR has more precise knowledge of the number of documents requiring review and classification. |
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Link to the department's program inventory: Other Claims
Horizontal initiative activity: Missing children and burial information associated with non-IRSSA federal institutions included in Indigenous childhood claims litigation
Total federal funding allocated to the horizontal initiative activity: $1,173,551 over 4 years
2022–23 planned spending for the horizontal initiative activity: $306,889
2022–23 actual spending for the horizontal initiative activity: $306,889
| 2022–23 horizontal initiative activity expected results | 2022–23 horizontal initiative activity performance indicators | 2022–23 horizontal initiative activity targets | Date to achieve horizontal initiative activity targets | 2022–23 actual results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The unique historical contexts of childhood claims non-IRSSA (e.g. federally-operated day schools and Indian hospitals) and other federal institutions are considered in the development of options to address missing children and burial sites | Percentage of research projects completed to inform options to address missing children and burial sites in the context of childhood claims | 100% | March 2025 | Not applicable |
| Percentage of discussions or negotiations with plaintiffs and their representatives conducted to inform options to address missing children and burial sites in the context of childhood claims | 100% | March 2025 | Not applicable |
Theme B details
Name of theme: Commemoration and education
Total federal theme funding allocated: $63,117,808
2022–23 federal theme planned spending: $11,924,717
2022–23 federal theme actual spending: $11,137,658
| Theme outcomes | Theme performance indicators |
Theme targets |
Date to achieve theme targets |
2022–23 actual results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indigenous Peoples' heritage in Canada is protected for future generations | Percentage of new and revised designations of national historic sites, persons and events related to Indigenous history | 12% | March 31, 2025 | Not applicable |
| Canadians have access to Indigenous commemorations that contribute to reconciliation | Percentage of respondents that report a positive outcome for commemoration activities related to residential schools and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation | 75% | March 31, 2024 | Not applicable |
Theme B horizontal initiative activities
Parks Canada Agency
Link to the department's program inventory: Heritage Places Establishment
Horizontal initiative activity: Commemorating the history and legacy of residential schools
Total federal funding allocated to the horizontal initiative activity: $25,000,000 over 3 years (top-up)
2022–23 planned spending for the horizontal initiative activity: $5,000,000
2022–23 actual spending for the horizontal initiative activity: $4,558,219
| 2022–23 horizontal initiative activity expected results | 2022–23 horizontal initiative activity performance indicators | 2022–23 horizontal initiative activity targets | Date to achieve horizontal initiative activity targets | 2022–23 actual results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indigenous Peoples actively participate in, and contribute to, the establishment of heritage places | Number of targeted Indigenous partners that participate in planning and development pertaining to the establishment of heritage places related to the history and legacy of residential schools | 5 | March 31, 2025 | Not applicable |
| Indigenous voices and perspectives are reflected in designations and commemorations | Number of new nominations pertaining to Indigenous history that are submitted to the National Program of Historical Commemoration | 15 | March 31, 2025 | Not applicable |
| Number of existing designations pertaining to Indigenous history that are reviewed by the National Program of Historical Commemoration | 10 | March 31, 2025 | Not applicable |
Canadian Heritage
Link to the department's program inventory: National Celebrations, Commemorations and Symbols
Horizontal initiative activity: Commemorate Canada: Commemorating the history and legacy of residential schools
Total federal funding allocated to the horizontal initiative activity: $18,150,233 over 3 years, starting in 2021–22 ($8,533,848 as part of ongoing funding and top-up of $9,616,385)
2022–23 planned spending for the horizontal initiative activity: $5,811,630
2022–23 actual spending for the horizontal initiative activity: $5,778,585
| 2022–23 horizontal initiative activity expected results | 2022–23 horizontal initiative activity performance indicators | 2022–23 horizontal initiative activity targets | Date to achieve horizontal initiative activity targets | 2022–23 actual results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canadians participate in Indigenous commemorations | Number of participants in Indigenous commemoration activities related to residential schools, including those linked to the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation | 200,000 participants | March 31, 2023 | 201,201 participants |
Link to the department's program inventory: National Celebrations, Commemorations and Symbols
Horizontal initiative activity: Residential Schools National Monument
Total federal funding allocated to the horizontal initiative activity: $19,967,575 (new initiative)
2022–23 planned spending for the horizontal initiative activity: $1,113,087
2022–23 actual spending for the horizontal initiative activity: $800,854
| 2022–23 horizontal initiative activity expected results | 2022–23 horizontal initiative activity performance indicators | 2022–23 horizontal initiative activity targets | Date to achieve horizontal initiative activity targets | 2022–23 actual results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canada's capital region features interpretive content, monuments, commemorations and public art that reflect Canadian identity, culture and values | Issuance of a certificate of final completion by the National Capital Commission* | Received certificate | Implementation timelines for this project will depend on the work of the Steering Committee | Not applicable** |
| * Updates will be provided as work continues. In 2022–23, the survivor-led steering committee for the Residential Schools National Monument was formed and began discussions concerning governance and processes required to develop the monument, including choosing a site. ** A certificate will only be issued upon completion of the monument. Therefore, this indicator does not apply for 2022–23. |
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Theme C details
Name of theme: Supporting Communities and Survivors
Total federal theme funding allocated: $224,300,000 over 2 years
2022–23 federal theme planned spending: $113,800,000
2022–23 federal theme actual spending: $111,850,000
| Theme outcomes | Theme performance indicators | Theme targets | Date to achieve theme targets | 2022–23 actual results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indigenous Peoples are mentally well | Percentage of First Nations adults on reserve who reported "excellent" or "very good" mental health | 55% | March 31, 2028 | Not applicable |
| Percentage of Inuit adults living within Inuit Nunangat who reported "excellent" or "very good" mental health | 50% | March 31, 2028 | Not applicable | |
| Percentage of Métis adults who reported "excellent" or "very good" mental health | 58% | March 31, 2028 | Not applicable | |
| Percentage of First Nations off-reserve who reported "excellent" or "very good" mental health | 55% | March 31, 2028 | Not applicable |
Theme C horizontal initiative activities
Indigenous Services Canada
Link to the department's program inventory: Mental Wellness Program
Horizontal initiative activity: Renewal of expanded trauma-informed health and cultural supports
Total federal funding allocated to the horizontal initiative activity: $224,300,000 over 2 years
2022–23 planned spending for the horizontal initiative activity: $113,800,000
2022–23 actual spending for the horizontal initiative activity: $111,850,000
| 2022–23 horizontal initiative activity expected results | 2022–23 horizontal initiative activity performance indicators | 2022–23 horizontal initiative activity targets | Date to achieve horizontal initiative activity targets | 2022–23 actual results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indigenous people and communities have continued access to mental wellness services | Percentage of new health and cultural support positions filled | 80% | March 31, 2024 | Not applicable |
| Indigenous people have improved social services that respond to community needs | Number of interactions between clients of the trauma-informed Health and Cultural Support Programs and the cultural/emotional support workers | 1,200,000 annual interactions | March 31, 2024 | Not applicable |
| Percentage of First Nations adults who have consulted a traditional healer in the past 12 months | 24% | March 31, 2026 | Not applicable |
Theme D details
Name of theme: Sustained and Streamlined Support for Reconciliation Initiatives
Total federal theme funding allocated: $102,655,242
2022–23 federal theme planned spending: $64,395,686
2022–23 federal theme actual spending: $60,461,822
| Theme outcomes | Theme performance indicators | Theme targets | Date to achieve theme targets | 2022–23 actual results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residential school survivors and communities have access to complete archival records on the history of residential schools | Percentage of federal departments and agencies that have completed a scoping of their Indian residential schools-related records | 90% | May 15, 2023 | Not applicable* |
| Access to Library and Archives Canada's collection is increased | Number of pages related to Indian day schools digitized | 6 million pages | March 2025 | Not applicable |
| Improved relationships with and outcomes for Indigenous people | Percentage of surveyed Canadians who self-identify as Indigenous and agree with the statement "I feel safer because of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police" | 60% | March 2024 | Not applicable |
| * Results for this indicator will be reported in the 2023–24 Departmental Results Report. In 2022–23, 98% of phase 1 was completed, which consists of scoping all residential schools documents held by the 12 stakeholder departments and CIRNAC. | ||||
Theme D horizontal initiative activities
Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada
Link to the department's program inventory: Residential Schools Legacy Program
Horizontal initiative activity: Support to National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation operations
Total federal funding allocated to the horizontal initiative activity: $71,011,242 over 5 years
2022–23 planned spending for the horizontal initiative activity: $59,665,068
2022–23 actual spending for the horizontal initiative activity: $59,665,068
| 2022–23 horizontal initiative activity expected results | 2022–23 horizontal initiative activity performance indicators | 2022–23 horizontal initiative activity targets | Date to achieve horizontal initiative activity targets | 2022–23 actual results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation has enhanced capacity to provide ongoing research support to Indigenous families and communities | Percentage of National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation positions funded by CIRNAC that are fully staffed | 100% | March 31, 2024 | Not applicable |
Link to the department's program inventory: Residential Schools Legacy Program
Horizontal initiative activity: Documents identification and sharing
Total federal funding allocated to the horizontal initiative activity: $1,544,000 for 2022–23
2022–23 planned spending for the horizontal initiative activity: $1,544,000
2022–23 actual spending for the horizontal initiative activity: $174,730
| 2022–23 horizontal initiative activity expected results | 2022–23 horizontal initiative activity performance indicators | 2022–23 horizontal initiative activity targets | Date to achieve horizontal initiative activity targets | 2022–23 actual results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indigenous representatives are engaged in developing a strategy for the identification and sharing of Indian residential schools-related records | Percentage of stakeholder members of the Advisory Committee for the identification and sharing of Indian residential schools-related records who are Indigenous | 50% | March 31, 2023 | 100% |
Library and Archives Canada
Link to the department's program inventory: Acquisition and Processing of Government Records
Horizontal initiative activity: Records digitization
Total federal funding allocated to the horizontal initiative activity: $25,000,000 over 3 years
2022–23 planned spending for the horizontal initiative activity: $2,168,709
2022–23 actual spending for the horizontal initiative activity: $400,460
| 2022–23 horizontal initiative activity expected results | 2022–23 horizontal initiative activity performance indicators | 2022–23 horizontal initiative activity targets | Date to achieve horizontal initiative activity targets | 2022–23 actual results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indian day schools records are searchable for access with a culturally-competent description | Percentage of digitized records related to Indian day schools system and its legacy with a culturally-competent description | 100% | March 2025 | Not applicable |
| Indigenous communities access their documentary heritage | Percentage of requests to access Indian day schools records responded to within the statutory time (30 days) | 30% | March 2025 | Not applicable |
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Link to the department's program inventory:
- Specialized Policing Services
- Sensitive and Specialized Investigative Services
- Forensic Science and Identification Services
Horizontal initiative activity: Culturally-appropriate policing responses
Total federal funding allocated to the horizontal initiative activity: $5,100,000 over 5 years
2022–23 planned spending for the horizontal initiative activity: $1,017,909
2022–23 actual spending for the horizontal initiative activity: $221,564
| 2022–23 horizontal initiative activity expected results | 2022–23 horizontal initiative activity performance indicators | 2022–23 horizontal initiative activity targets | Date to achieve horizontal initiative activity targets | 2022–23 actual results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Increased availability of tools, training, systems and databases | Number and type of newly developed, co-developed and acquired tools, techniques and solutions for missing persons and unidentified remains investigations | 8 | March 2024 | Not applicable |
| Improved timeliness of screening capabilities* | Percentage of fingerprint-based criminal record check results for federal government employment requiring manual processing returned within 30 days | 90% | March 2024 | Not applicable |
| Percentage of fingerprint-based criminal record check results for federal government employment not requiring manual processing returned within 3 days | 90% | March 2024 | Not applicable | |
| Enhanced Royal Canadian Mounted Police capacity to provide specialized services | Percentage of partners and stakeholders who strongly agree or agree with the statement "I am satisfied with the assistance or investigational support provided by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police's Sensitive and Specialized Investigative Services" | 80% | March 2024 | Not applicable |
| Modern specialized services and technology support Canadians and law enforcement | Percentage of respondents who strongly agree or agree with the statement "The Royal Canadian Mounted Police places emphasis on providing quality service to the public" | 80% | March 2024 | Not applicable |
| * The RCMP provides fingerprint-based criminal record checks for civil purposes, including in support of legal name change applications. In September 2022, the RCMP sought and was granted a remission order for 5 years to extinguish the debt resulting from waiving the Federal fee payable under the Financial Administration Act, under section 2 of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Fingerprinting for Visa, Licensing or Security Clearance Purposes Fee Regulations and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Criminal Record Verification for Civil Purposes Fee Regulations for residential school Survivors and their families to reclaim names changed by the residential school system. | ||||
Total spending, all themes
| Themes | Total federal funding allocated | 2022–23 total federal planned spending | 2022–23 total federal actual spending |
|---|---|---|---|
| Theme A: Addressing missing children and burial information | $224,712,469 | $131,431,468 | $67,700,975 |
| Theme B: Commemoration and education | $63,117,808 | $11,924,717 | $11,137,658 |
| Theme C: Supporting communities and survivors | $224,300,000 | $113,800,000 | $111,850,000 |
| Theme D: Sustained and streamlined support for reconciliation initiatives | $102,655,242 | $64,395,686 | $60,461,822 |
| Total, all themes | $614,785,519 | $321,551,871 | $251,150,455 |