Appearance before the Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs (INAN) - Main Estimates 2024-2025 (May 22, 2024)

Logistics

Date: May 22, 2024

Time: 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

Location: Room 415, Wellington Building, 197 Sparks Street

Subject: Main Estimates for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025

Committee Membership

• MP John Aldag (LIB – BC) (Chair)
• MP Jaime Battiste (LIB – NS)
• MP Ben Carr (LIB – MB)
• MP Anna Gainey (LIB – QC)
• MP Michael V. McLeod (LIB – NWT)
• MP Marcus Powlowski (LIB – ON)

• MP Jamie Schmale (CPC – ON) (Vice-Chair)
• MP Eric Melillo (CPC – ON)
• MP Martin Shields (CPC – AB)
• MP Bob Zimmer (CPC – BC)

• MP Sébastien Lemire (BQ – QC) (Vice-Chair)

• MP Lori Idlout (NDP – Nunavut)

Parliamentary Analysis

• MP John Aldag (LIB) (Chair) may ask questions about ensuring that mental wellness services are Indigenous specific and culturally appropriate. He may ask questions about legislation related to the Haida Nation.
• MP Michael V. McLeod (LIB) will likely ask questions that pertain to communities in his riding of the Northwest Territories, including the correlation between poor housing infrastructure and low school attendance. He may argue that funding for the Nutrition North Canada Program should be used to build roads to northern communities instead. He also may ask questions related to tuberculosis elimination strategies in Inuit and on-reserve areas, inconsistencies regarding medical travel escorts, and the inability for Métis children with autism to get support from Jordan's Principle. He could also raise questions pertaining to climate change response and mitigation in the North. During officials' appearance on Supps C, he asked about recovery and preparedness for fire season in the territories.
• MP Marcus Powlowski (LIB) may ask questions about tuberculosis rates in the north and the opioid crisis. He may ask questions about whether Indigenous people should be able opt out of the Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB), as well ask about additions to reserve land for First Nations' economy recovery. During officials' appearance on Supps C, he asked about funding for the chronic care homes in Fort Williams First Nation and Rainy River First Nations, as well as funding for land-based treatments for both addictions and mental health in Indigenous communities.
• MP Jaime Battiste (LIB), Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, has been a strong advocate for First Nations, Métis, and Inuit issues throughout his career. He may ask questions about Jordan's Principle.
• MP Ben Carr (LIB), may ask questions about child and family services, as well as the opioid crisis. During officials' appearance on Supps C, he asked about supports for Indigenous education and investments in Churchill, MB.
• MP Anna Gainey (LIB), asked about the state of the Canadian High Arctic Research Station during officials' appearance on Supps C.
• MP Jaime Schmale (CPC) (Vice-Chair), is also the CPC Critic for Crown-Indigenous Relations and Critic for Indigenous Services. He will likely highlight economic reconciliation in his questions. He may ask questions related to the department's progress on payments for out-of-court settlements. He may ask for information on the Nutrition North Canada Program's targets and timelines and tie questions to the carbon tax. He may ask for updates about MMIWG recommendations and a Red Dress Alert, and be critical of how slow the Government has been to act on this. He may also ask questions about the failure to provide Indigenous communities with support to manage environmental emergencies like floods and wildfires. He will likely ask questions related to remaining boil water advisories on reserves and ISC's failure to provide Indigenous communities with support to manage environmental emergencies like floods and wildfires. He has ask about measuring outcomes for Indigenous housing, and why increased funding has not lead to better outcomes. During officials' appearance on Supps C, he asked about the Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation not yet receiving funding for their medical centre.
• MP Eric Melillo (CPC), may ask questions about food insecurity, medical transportation in northern and remote communities, the Grassy Narrows care facility, and infrastructure gaps in indigenous communities. He may criticize the Nutrition North program. His questions will likely support an economic reconciliation approach. He may ask why recent PBO and AGO reports show that increased ISC spending has not led to increased departmental results.
• MP Bob Zimmer (CPC) is the CPC Critic for Northern Affairs and Arctic Sovereignty, as well as the Critic for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency. He has previously asked for breakdowns of funding for several Specific Claims by community. He may ask questions about the funding for the Nutrition North Canada Program needing to benefit people rather than corporations, as well as about Artic security and defense. He may ask questions regarding boil water advisories in Indigenous communities and cancelled or delayed critical infrastructure projects in Nunavut. During officials' appearance on Supps C, he asked about affordability and the carbon tax in the territories.
• MP Martin Shields (CPC) may ask questions about food insecurity, and may tie food insecurity to the carbon tax.
• MP Sébastien Lemire (BQ) (Vice-Chair), is also the BQ critic for Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs. He will likely ask questions related to funding for the TRC's Calls to Action, wildfires, water insecurity, and housing. He may ask about the lack of funding for Indigenous issues. During officials' appearance on Supps C, he asked about funding requests for the Yänonhchia' housing initiative, funding cuts to essential services for Indigenous peoples, supports for Indigenous businesses, legislation for First Nations policing, and the Chalk River nuclear waste disposal facility.
• MP Lori Idlout (NDP), the critic of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs, will likely ask questions that pertain to her riding in Nunavut. She will likely be critical about the sunsetting of funding for various ISC programs, including ones for mental health and wellness, the legacy of residential schools, Jordan's principle, the Inuit Child First Initiative, and housing, water, and community infrastructure. She will likely highlight the infrastructure gap in Indigenous communities and ask about the correlation between poor housing and health issues, a lack of affordable housing in Nunavut, funding for infrastructure, water infrastructure challenges on reserves, and the low funding for education infrastructures, including calling for the funding of 13 Inuit-language and cultural schools in the near future. She may also ask about health, tuberculosis rates, medical transportation in the North, and the Grassy Narrows care facility. She will likely be critical of the funding for the Nutrition North Canada Program benefiting corporations rather than people in the north. She may ask questions related to reconciliation, including on Bill S-16, Red Dress Alert, MMIWG, and unmarked graves.

Supps C Appearance

During officials' appearance on Supps C, MP Niki Ashton (NDP) subbed in for MP Lori Idlout (NDP). She asked questions about the sunsetting of funds for CIRNAC and ISC programs, including Jordan's Principle, and about the housing crisis and nursing shortages in Indigenous communities. She also asked about all-weather road infrastructure, including an airport for Wasagamack First Nation and road investments between St. Theresa Point and Berens River. She asked about the International Commission on Missing Persons working with the Pimicikamak First Nation and about Nutrition North not helping northerners. She also asked about the Sayisi Dene and Denesuline First Nations having issues related to the Nunavut devolution.

Recent INAN studies, reports and government responses

• Nutrition North Canada (last meeting on May 8, 2024)
• Report 14: "We Belong to the Land": The Restitution of Land to Indigenous Nations (presented on May 8, 2024)
• Report 13: Braiding Learning and Healing: A Pathway to Improving Graduation Rates and Successful Outcomes for Indigenous Students (presented on May 8, 2024)
• Report 2, Housing in First Nations Communities (last meeting on April 29, 2024)
• Report 3, First Nations and Inuit Policing Program (last meeting on April 29, 2024)
• Supplementary Estimates (C), 2023-24 (last meeting on March 20, 2024)
• Report 12 – Bill C-53, An Act respecting the recognition of certain Métis governments in Alberta, Ontario and Saskatchewan, to give effect to treaties with those governments and to make consequential amendments to other Acts (presented on February 8, 2024)
• Government Response to Report 11 – Food Security in Northern and Isolated Communities: Ensuring Equitable Access to Adequate and Healthy Food for All (presented on January 29, 2024)
• Government Response to Report 10 – Arctic Security and Sovereignty, and the Emergency Preparedness of Indigenous Communities (presented on October 19, 2023)
• Government Response to Report 9 – Reclaiming, Revitalizing, Maintaining and Strengthening Indigenous Languages in Canada (presented on October 16, 2023)
• C-51 – An Act to give effect to the self-government treaty recognizing the Whitecap Dakota Nation / Wapaha Ska Dakota Oyate and to make consequential amendments to other Acts (last meeting on June 19, 2023)
• Report 8 on Main Estimates 2023-24 (presented on May 30, 2023)
• Report 7 – Bill C-45, An Act to amend the First Nations Fiscal Management Act, to make consequential amendments to other Acts, and to make a clarification relating to another Act (presented on May 12, 2023)
• Government Response to Report 6 – Moving Towards Improving the Health of Indigenous Peoples in Canada: Accessibility and Administration of the Non-Insured Health Benefits Program (presented on April 17, 2023)

Correspondence

• Eric Melillo (CPC): March 4, 2024 – Tragic fire in Cat Lake Cat First Nation that destroyed their nursing station – Closed per MINO.
• Bob Zimmer (CPC): January 29, 2024 – Transfer of parcels on the Summit Lake watershed - Signed

In the Media

• Ontario spending more than $500K to support Eabametoong First Nation's recovery after devastating school fire (cbc.ca)
• Plastics industry treats Indigenous lands as 'sacrifice zones' | Canada's National Observer: Climate News
• Justin Trudeau highlights supports for Saskatchewan Indigenous communities | Globalnews.ca
• Indigenous healing lodges face chronic underfunding across Canada, critics say | Globalnews.ca
• Ottawa failing to meet Jordan's Principle deadlines for First Nations kids' care most of the time | CBC News
• Indigenous Services Canada says 'allegations' prompted forensic audit of FSIN | CTV News
• Indigenous Services, Crown-Indigenous Relations table plans to cut spending | CBC News
• $349B needed now to close infrastructure gap by 2030, Assembly of First Nations says in report | CBC News
• Ottawa gives $15M to N.W.T. Indigenous governments to deal with impact of 2023 wildfires | CBC News

Meeting Proceedings

The meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, May 22, 2024, from 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

The Chair will call the meeting to order and provide instructions for the meeting proceedings. They will then introduce the witnesses and invite the witnesses to deliver opening remarks (limit of 5 minutes). This will be followed by a Q&A period (details below).

It is recommended that all speakers speak slowly and at an appropriate volume to ensure they are heard by the interpreters. All witnesses are asked to mute their microphones unless they are speaking. A new practice that was recently instituted as a measure to protect interpreters from injury, is that when earpieces are not in use by witnesses, that they be placed on the designated white circles installed on the table.

Following the opening remarks, there will be rounds of questions from Committee members (as listed below). The rounds of questioning will repeat when the second panel commences in the second hour.

Committee members will pose their questions in the following order:

• First round (6 minutes for each Party)
  • Conservative Party of Canada
  • Liberal Party of Canada
  • Bloc Québécois
  • New Democratic Party of Canada
• Second round
  • Conservative Party of Canada (5 minutes)
  • Liberal Party of Canada (5 minutes)
  • Bloc Québécois (2.5 minutes)
  • New Democratic Party of Canada (2.5 minutes)
  • Conservative Party of Canada (5 minutes)
  • Liberal Party of Canada (5 minutes)

The meeting can be watched via ParlVU, however there may be an up to 70-second delay with the webcast.

Other Information for Appearing In-Person

Witnesses should arrive early to allow time for security screening. Screening could take 30 minutes or more for those without a Hill pass.

Food Security

One of the most pressing issues in the north is food security. The Main Estimates contain $133 million for Nutrition North Canada.

Additionally, we are helping northerners access affordable, healthy food with new Budget 2024 investments of $23.2 million for the grocery subsidy, and $101.1 million over three years for the Harvesters Support Grant, the Community Food Programs Fund as well as Food Security Research.

Nutrition North subsidizes food and household items like diapers, soap, and personal hygiene products. The list of subsidized items relies on direct input from Indigenous partners to reflect local priorities.

The Harvesters Support Grant – co-developed with Indigenous and Northern partners – supports traditional hunting, harvesting and food sharing. In its first year alone, the Grant supported over 15,000 harvesters, over 410 hunts and harvests, and over 717 food sharing initiatives.

The Community Food Programs Fund supports community food sharing activities that include locally grown, and country food. This program funds initiatives like community kitchens and meals for elders.

Nutrition North alone will not solve food insecurity, however it is a key piece of a long-term strategy to address factors that affect food security such as income, employment, and access to food distributors. We are grateful to Indigenous and Northern partners for their continuous work to improve Nutrition North programming.

Through the Nutrition North Canada Food Security Research Grant, launched in 2022, we are also supporting Indigenous-led research projects that will help improve the program.

Housing

Our government recognizes the challenges associated with northern housing. That's why we're making historic investments in collaboration with Indigenous and northern partners to build housing and address infrastructure gaps. Budget 2024 invests an additional $918 million over 5 years in Indigenous housing and infrastructure.

It is investments such as these which allow territorial governments to improve the overall housing conditions in the North and help create healthier, more prosperous communities.

Climate Change

Another critical challenge in the North is the dramatic impact of a changing climate, with the North warming roughly three times faster than the global average.

The Main Estimates contain $67 million for Climate Change Adaptation and Clean Energy, which will support community-led adaptation and clean energy projects in Northern and Arctic communities.

The federal government is working with communities to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change. For instance, the Climate Change Preparedness in the North program is working with Indigenous and Northern communities and organizations to develop Northern-led solutions to adapt to coastal erosion, permafrost degradation and increased floods and wildfires.

Contaminated Sites

I would like to highlight as well that our department is working to reduce the risk to human and environmental health associated with contaminated sites in the North.

The Main Estimates allocates $713.1 million for the Northern Contaminated Sites program to manage a portfolio of contaminated sites in the Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut. This Program demonstrates the Department's commitment to self-determination and economic reconciliation through Indigenous partners' participation in project governance and the creation of socio-economic benefits.

Devolution

The Main Estimates contain $26.2 million towards implementing the Nunavut Lands and Resources Devolution Agreement. This historic agreement represents the largest land transfer in Canadian history and a historic step forward in self-determination for Nunavummiut.

Arctic and Northern Policy Framework

All our investments are grounded in inclusive engagement across the region and are consistent with the goals and objectives of Canada's Arctic and Northern Policy Framework, which was co-developed with Indigenous and Northern partners to reflect their needs and priorities.

The Framework guides our activities and investments in the Arctic to 2030 and beyond, and it aligns Canada's national and international objectives with the priorities of Northerners.

The 2024-25 Main Estimates will also strengthen our efforts to defend Canada's sovereignty as we accelerate progress on this and other fronts for the benefit of northern and Arctic residents, as well as everyone else in Canada.

Meegwetch. Qujannamiik [Koo-ya-na-meek]. Marci. Thank you. Merci.

If pressed on Expenditures by Type

• The 2024-25 Main Estimates for Northern Affairs are composed of $742 million in operating expenditures and $354 million in transfer payments.
• The majority of operating funds will be used for the remediation of Northern Contaminated Sites, to address the significant risks they pose to the environment and to human health and safety.
• Transfer payment resources will be used to support accessibility to nutritious food in isolated northern communities through the Nutrition North Program.
• Resources will also be used for continued support around key areas such as health care, infrastructure, natural resources conservation and climate change adaptation and monitoring.

If pressed on variations between 2024-25 Main Estimates and 2023-24 Main Estimates

• In comparison to the 2023-24 Main Estimates, the Northern Affairs Main Estimates for 2024-25 show a net increase of $128 million.
• The net increase of $128 million reflects variations in the funding profiles in key areas such as the Northern Abandoned Mine Reclamation Program and the Northern Housing and Infrastructure program.

If pressed on variations between 2024-25 Main Estimates and 2023-24 Estimates to date

• For Northern Affairs, there is a net increase of $26 million between the 2023-24 Estimates to date of $1,070 million and the 2024-25 Main estimates of $1,096 million.
• Estimates to date is based on funding received through Main and Supplementary Estimates for 2023-24.
• The net increase of $26 million reflects variations in the funding profiles in key areas such as northern contaminated sites, Northern Housing and Infrastructure, and Northern Food Security.

Key Messages

• The Loans to Indigenous Claimants program is an essential tool to enable Aboriginal groups to engage in negotiations and provide an informed consent when they sign a treaty.
• The majority of negotiation support funding (approximately 60%) is provided in the form of loans repayable from eventual settlement monies.
• With the combination of loan funding and contribution funding, Aboriginal groups have access to adequate funding to participate in these negotiations.

Background

• Loans to Indigenous Claimants program is intended for both specific claims and comprehensive claims negotiations.
• In 2018-19, comprehensive claims negotiations were no longer funded through loans but replaced by non-repayable contributions.
• Specific claims negotiations are still funded through loans using this loan authority, amounting to $25.9M.

Current Status

• Loans advanced prior to an Agreement-in-Principle are interest-free to the claimant group.
• Loan financing will be reviewed as part of specific claims reform and may be changed at a later date through the reform proposal.

Key Messages

• The Government of Canada has consistently expressed its strong commitment to advancing reconciliation and renewing the relationship with Indigenous Peoples based on recognition of rights, respect, cooperation and partnership.
• With this commitment top-of-mind, CIRNAC has taken a principle-based and careful approach to the Refocusing Government Spending initiative, which directed departments to reduce spending on consulting, professional services and travel by 18.5% starting in 2023-24, and Phase in a 3.3% reduction of eligible spending by 2026-27.
• The Department maintains its commitments to implement the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action, the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ peoples Calls for Justice, the Inuit Nunangat Policy, the Arctic and Northern Policy Framework, Canada's Collaborative Modern Treaty Implementation Policy and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act.
• To ensure continued progress on these key priorities and the broader reconciliation agenda, the Department focused its savings efforts on identifying efficiencies within its own operations, including internal services.
• Our approach was based on the following principles:
  • Prioritize direct benefits to Indigenous Peoples and Northerners;
  • Consider the department's mandate and whole-of-government leadership role;
  • Respect obligations arising from legislation or signed agreements;
  • Consider alignment with government priorities, such as Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ peoples; and,
  • Recognizing the critical importance of direct funding transfers provided to Indigenous governments, organizations and partners, the large majority of CIRNAC's funding was exempted by Treasury Board. These include settlements, claims, modern treaties, self-government and other recognition agreements.
• In addition, Treasury Board has provided more time for the Department to discuss its proposals with Indigenous partners to ensure all considerations have been noted. These discussions will take place over the coming months.

Background

• As part of the Refocusing Government Spending Exercise, CIRNAC is planning the following spending reductions:

  	($ Millions)
  	2023-24	2024-25	2025-26	2026-27 & Ongoing
  Total	3.9	15.7	23.2	33.7

• Recognizing the critical importance of direct funding transfers provided to Indigenous governments, organizations and partners, 90% of CIRNAC's funding was exempted by Treasury Board. These include funding for Childhood Claims Settlement, Northern Abandoned Mines Program and the Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan, Inuit and Métis housing and Grants and Contributions related to claims, settlements, Modern Treaties and Self-Governments, institutions, and transfers to territorial governments.
• CIRNAC has obtained approval from Treasury Board Secretariat to proceed in implementing the following measures starting fiscal year 2024-25:
  • Implementing efficiencies and increasing oversight in internal and external departmental operations;
  • Reducing travel by maximizing the use of communications technologies and focusing on work with partners where there is the greatest potential for resolution and advancement of shared priorities;
  • Prioritizing the use of professional services by focusing on the negotiation and reconciliation agenda; and,
  • Reducing grants and contributions following discussions with partners, by targeting areas that will minimize impacts on communities and/or in areas where the funding has not been fully utilized.

Current Status

• Due to the nature of CIRNAC's programming, any reductions will have direct and indirect impacts on Indigenous partners.
• Treasury Board has provided more time for the Department to discuss its proposals with Indigenous partners to ensure all considerations have been noted. These discussions will take place over the coming months.
• The reductions for 2023-24 are for travel and professionals services:
  • Travel: Expenditures were $5.2 million in 2022-23. Community meetings are important to renewing relationships with Indigenous partners and to support negotiations. CIRNAC plans to reduce its travel but recognizes that it must continue to ensure relationships are maintained.
  • Professional Services: Expenditures were $402.4 million in 2022-23. The majority of spending in this area was exempted from reductions. The remaining funding relates to contracts for expert witnesses, legal services and researchers to further claims negotiations.
  • CIRNAC's reductions:

    Spending review reductions in relation to the 2023-24 Main Estimates

    	Ongoing Reductions	2023-24 Main Estimates	Percentage	2023-24 Main Estimates, net of TBS Exclusions	Percentage
    Total	33,672,246	9,097,242,250	0.4%	805,946,136	4.2%

Key Messages

• The Government of Canada recognizes the importance of addressing housing and infrastructure needs in Inuit Nunangat, and in Métis, Modern Treaty and Self-Governing First Nations, and northern communities. Since 2016 CIRNAC has invested:
  • $2.5B to help address critical housing; and,
  • $1.3B to address community infrastructure
• The investments in housing and infrastructure are helping Indigenous and Northern partners to construct, purchase and renovate homes, including improving energy efficiency; enhance housing programs and support rental assistance; construct community and cultural facilities; acquire and develop land for future infrastructure projects; and invest in training and apprenticeship programs.
• To complement the distinctions-based investments, CIRNAC is also working with federal, territorial, and provincial partners to support Indigenous and Northern partners in accessing sustainable and safe housing.

Background

• Work continues with partners through the implementation of co-developed housing strategies and the delivery of current investments. Higher costs and other challenges are having a compounding impact on housing delivery in Indigenous and northern communities. For example, the cost of constructing a basic residential home in Inuit Nunangat has gone up dramatically and estimates are now in the range of $700,000 to $1 million per unit. This varies for multi-unit buildings, but costs have increased and remain extremely high which has an impact on overall effectiveness of current investments.
• Most recent federal investments supporting infrastructure and housing include:
  • Budget 2021 announced historic investments for Indigenous communities to support critical infrastructure through the Indigenous Community Infrastructure Fund, totalling $4.3 billion over four years. Investments are helping to address immediate infrastructure needs, including multi-purpose community buildings, improved transportation infrastructure, day care facilities, and social housing. This funding sunsets in fiscal year 2024-25.
  • Budget 2022 included $1.6 billion over seven years for dedicated housing investments. This funding will help further address the critical housing needs of Indigenous communities to ensure adequate and affordable housing to achieve better health and socio-economic outcomes.
  • Budget 2024 announced $918 million for Indigenous Housing and Community Infrastructure investments to accelerate work to narrow housing and infrastructure gaps in First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities as follows:
    • $426 million for First Nations on reserve;
    • $62 million for Modern Treaty and Self-Governing First Nations;
    • $370 million for Inuit communities; and,
    • $60 million for Métis communities.
• Through dedicated investments made through Budget 2021 and Budget 2022 and ongoing partnerships with the territorial governments, Canada is also empowering territorial partners to support Northerners in accessing sustainable and safe housing. Specifically, investments that are going directly to territorial governments to respond to their call for greater support to address the northern housing crisis that is driven by geographic challenges, unique building conditions, climate change, and often challenging economic conditions.

Current Status

• Since 2016, Inuit have constructed over 626 new housing units, repaired over 469 existing units, enhanced Inuit-led housing programs, and have undertaken critical land acquisition and development work with the direct, distinctions-based investments.
• Since 2018-19, Métis governments helped with the construction or purchase of 1,575 houses; provided downpayment assistance to 1,537 households; renovated 4,600 houses; and provided rent supplements to 9,528 families.
• Modern Treaty and Self-Governing First Nations received funding through Budgets 2021 and 2022 for infrastructure and housing. These were first-of-their-kind investments for Modern Treaty and Self-Governing First Nations who are not part of existing National Housing Strategies. To access these funds, Modern Treaty and Self-Governing First Nations submitted Action Plans identifying their proposed projects in these areas as well as reporting indicators. CIRNAC will receive updates from Modern Treaty and Self-Governing First Nations partners by the end of these funding initiatives.
• CIRNAC is currently working through the Collaborative Fiscal Policy Development process with Modern Treaty and Self-Governing First Nations to develop a second stage life-cycle infrastructure funding model. This model will be based on infrastructure standards prevailing in comparable communities and will support partners who are economically disadvantaged catch up to those standards over time.
• In 2022-23, CIRNAC amended fiscal arrangements with 24 Modern Treaty and Self-Government First Nations to implement a lifecycle infrastructure funding approach developed through the Collaborative Fiscal Policy Process. This resulted in $39.8M in incremental funding for their agreements on an ongoing basis which represented a 154% increase.
• CIRNAC has also established a dedicated Intergovernmental Housing Steering Committees for Nunavut and the Northwest Territories to advance solutions and recommendations in response to the critical housing and infrastructure needs.
• Territorial government investments have focused on new and replacement public housing units, repairs to existing public housing units, making housing stock more energy efficient, and continued investment in people through training and apprenticeship. Results to date include:
  • Delivery of 109 new public housing units;
  • 22 modular housing units were purchased and delivered to communities where new housing projects are underway;
  • Remediation initiatives, minor repairs and maintenance projects to existing housing stock and infrastructure facilities; and,
  • 116 major modernization and improvement (repair) projects to sustain and preserve existing public housing stock.

Key Messages

• The Framework provides "a shared vision of the future where Arctic and northern people are thriving, strong and safe". The Framework is intended to guide the Government of Canada's priorities, activities and investments in the Arctic to 2030 and beyond, and to better align Canada's national and international policy objectives with the priorities of Northerners.
• We continue to work with Framework partners to ensure that Northerners priorities are reflected in federal policies. Housing and infrastructure needs were key priorities raised by Framework partners at the 2023 Leadership Committee meeting. Other priorities noted by partners included the need for a formalized mechanism for sharing information with territorial and First Nation governments; mental health and addictions supports; economic development (including clean energy/green economic measures); climate change; measures to address the high cost of living; and northern security and defence.
• Since the release of the Framework, the Government of Canada has made significant investments to support northern economies and move forward on social and political self-determination. These investments have been in areas that reflect both the co-developed Framework goals and the direct advocacy of partners.

Background

• Released in 2019, the Arctic and Northern Policy Framework was co-developed with Inuit, First Nations, and northern Métis, the territorial governments of the Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Yukon, and the provincial governments of Manitoba, Quebec, and Newfoundland and Labrador.
• The Framework builds on 8 overarching and interconnected goals – people and communities, strong economies, comprehensive infrastructure, environment and biodiversity, science and Indigenous knowledge, global leadership, safety, security and defence, and reconciliation.
• Targeted federal investments in Budgets 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 are contributions toward the achievement of the co-developed Framework goals and objectives.

Current Status

• Reflecting the whole-of-government nature of the Framework, the last Leadership Committee meeting, held in October 2023, included presentations on northern security and defence, international chapter implementation, and on housing and infrastructure as Framework priority areas. Discussions regarding the possible timing (an early fall date is currently envisioned), location and agenda for the 2024 meeting have been initiated at the officials' level with Framework partners.
• Securing resources specifically allocated for Framework implementation remains, for partners, a foremost concern. Partners expect ongoing collaborative work to finalize the governance approaches which will be utilized to determine regional priorities for new investments and to contribute to co-implementation.

Key Messages

• In November 2023, The Parliamentary Budget Officer published a Supplementary Estimates (B) report, spotlighting Indigenous reconciliation in the context of increasing contingent liability (CL) balances for the Government of Canada. This amount has grown significantly in the past few years but represents progress as the Department advances a reconciliation agenda.
• CIRNAC continues to renew the relationships with First Nations, Inuit and Métis and to make meaningful progress toward reconciliation and self-determination.
• The increase in Indigenous claim expenses represents our unwavering commitment as part of the reconciliation process to resolve past harms to pave the way for a more respectful and constructive relationship with Indigenous Peoples.

Background

• The Public Accounts of Canada for the year ended March 31, 2023, were tabled in the House of Commons on October 24, 2023.
• Volume I presents the audited consolidated financial statements of the government, as well as additional financial information and analyses. Section 1 of Volume I includes the 2023 Financial Highlights, which noted the government recorded expenses totalling approximately $26 billion related to Indigenous claims; absent these expenses, the budgetary deficit would have been roughly $9 billion, or 0.3% of gross domestic product (GDP).
• On October 26, 2023, the Parliamentary Budget Officer requested detailed information on the $26 billion expenses related to Indigenous claims by the claim categories referenced in the Public Accounts of Canada. This includes an expense breakdown by new claims and the revaluation of existing claims and historical information from fiscal years 2020-21 and 2021-22.
• Of the $26 billion for Indigenous claims recorded in the Public Accounts of Canada, $22.7 billion relates to CIRNAC. The increase in contingent liabilities is mainly due to the revaluation of existing claims for specific and litigation claims in light of new information that became available during the fiscal year.

Current Status

• As required by Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, the Department updates its contingent liability balance on a quarterly basis. It is expected that contingent liability balances will continue to rise as we advance the reconciliation agenda.
• It is expected there will be continued focus on our contingent liability and we need to ensure that the messaging supports our progress toward reconciliation – righting past wrongs and is not viewed simply as increased spending.

Key Messages

• The government is working with Indigenous and northern communities to support climate change adaptation, advance Indigenous Climate Leadership, and to reduce reliance on diesel in the North by helping communities shift to renewable sources of energy.
• The National Adaptation Strategy provided an additional $50 million over five years starting in 2023-2024 to enhance support for Indigenous adaptation projects and priorities through CIRNAC's existing climate adaptation programs. These programs are supporting communities in building the skills, knowledge and resources they need to enhance their climate resilience. Since 2016, CIRNAC has supported 800 adaptation projects totaling $173 million, including 49 wildfire and emergency preparedness projects.
• The Emissions Reduction Plan and Budget 2022 reaffirmed Canada's commitment to supporting Indigenous self-determination on climate action, by providing $29.6 million over three years to advance the co-development of an Indigenous Climate Leadership Agenda with First Nation, Inuit, and Métis governments and representative organizations.

Background

• CIRNAC delivers 5 climate change programs that support Indigenous Peoples and northerners to take a leadership role in climate action, through clean energy, adaptation, and climate policy engagement. Projects are community-led, build capacity and skills, and yield economic opportunities for communities.
• Canada's Strengthened Climate Plan and Canada's Emissions Reduction Plan supports Indigenous Climate Leadership which invests in the agency of Indigenous communities and rights-holders on addressing climate change. The Indigenous Climate Leadership Agenda will establish a transformational, long-term partnership with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis partners on climate change, and will help to ensure that Indigenous Peoples have the resources and authorities necessary to take self-determined climate action on adaptation and mitigation. The Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada jointly lead this initiative.
• Canada's Strengthened Climate Plan and Budget 2021 delivered $300 million to transition Indigenous and remote communities from diesel to clean, renewable and reliable energy. To deliver this funding, the Government has established Wah-ila-toos – a single-window initiative to better support communities in accessing federal funding and expertise to support their self-determined clean energy priorities.

Current Status

• Through its climate change programs, CIRNAC continues to support Indigenous and northern communities, in addressing climate change impacts and developing clean energy projects. Since 2016, CIRNAC's climate change programs have supported more than 1125 projects/initiatives across Indigenous and northern communities with investments totaling more than $327 million.
• In collaboration with 13 federal departments, CIRNAC and Environment and Climate Change Canada are working with Indigenous partners across Canada to co-develop the Indigenous Climate Leadership Agenda, including distinctions-based strategies. Funding is being provided to over 40 national and regional Indigenous governments and representative organizations to support an Indigenous-led engagement process with communities and rightsholders. At a national-level, distinctions-based co-development processes are ongoing.
• Under the federal Action Plan to implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, the Government of Canada has committed to action plan measure 1.46 to advance an Indigenous Climate Leadership Agenda, that vests the resources and authorities necessary for Indigenous peoples to fully exercise their right to self-determination on climate.

Program-Level Data (if applicable)

Key Messages

• The Western Arctic Tariuq Accord establishes a direct role for Indigenous peoples in natural resources development in the Arctic offshore.
• We are co-developing with northern governments and Indigenous peoples toward a science-based approach to oil and gas in the Arctic.
• Canada's approach to Arctic offshore oil and gas directly advances Indigenous self-determination in economic development.

Background

• The Western Arctic – Tariuq (Offshore) Accord was signed on August 10, 2023, between Canada, the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, the Government of Yukon and the Government of the Northwest Territories. The Accord established an offshore oil and gas co-management agreement and resource revenue sharing arrangement with northern partners. The Inuvialuit are an equal management partner that will benefit directly from resource revenues generated in the Accord area. The signing of the Accord fulfilled a lands and resources devolution agreement commitment in the 1993 Canada-Yukon Oil and Gas Accord and the 2013 Northwest Territories Lands and Resources Devolution Agreement. Budget 2022 announced $2.5 million over five years to support Inuvaluit participation in the management and administration of the Accord.
• In December 2016 Canada announced and indefinite moratorium on oil and gas in Canada's Arctic waters, to be reviewed every five years through a climate and marine science-based review. CIRNAC works with the territorial governments, the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation and the Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated to co-develop the review. In summer 2023, the "Report of the Western Arctic Review Committee" and the "Report of the Committee on the Science-Based Assessment of Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration and Development in the Eastern and Central Arctic" were finalized. Canada maintained the moratorium for five more years and launched another science-based review that is being co-developed with northern partners. Budget 2023 announced $6.9 million to continue to advance the science-based review and to implement the Tariuq Accord.

Current Status

• CIRNAC is working with the Department of Justice to draft the implementing legislation for the Western Arctic – Tariuq (Offshore) Accord, in consultation with northern Accord partners.
• CIRNAC is working with the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation and the Government of Yukon and the Government of the Northwest Territories in the western Arctic, and the Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated and the Government of Nunavut in the eastern Arctic, to plan and co-develop another five-year climate and marine science-based review.

Key Messages

• The Arctic and Northern Policy Framework, launched in 2019 with territorial, Indigenous and provincial partners, and now focused on implementation, includes a Safety, Security and Defence chapter led by the Department of National Defence.
• The 2023 Leadership Committee meeting – held on October 13th in Whitehorse, Yukon – served as an important opportunity for the Minister of Northern Affairs and his colleagues to hear directly from partners on their key priorities, including a presentation by the Parliamentary Secretary for the Minister of National Defence on Arctic and northern security and defence.
• Canada's new defence policy, Our North, Strong and Free: A Renewed Vision for Canada's Defence, released on 8 April 2024, commits to investments in detecting and understanding threats across all domains and strengthening the Canadian Armed Forces' ability to robustly respond to threats when and where they materialize.
• Implementation of the investments announced in Our North, Strong and Free, and of the commitments made on NORAD modernization and through Canada's 2017 defence policy, will continue to involve proactive engagement with Northern and Arctic provincial, territorial and Indigenous peoples as a priority.
• Northern partners, through engagements on their priorities, have reinforced the link between strong, healthy and resilient Northern communities and Canadian sovereignty.
• Conversations with Framework partners related to Arctic security, such as the meeting with northern premiers held in Iqaluit in May 2024, are important and will continue, to ensure that their priorities and contributions to a safe and secure North and to Canada's overall strength are appropriately reflected.

Background

• Goal 7 of the Framework is that "the Canadian Arctic and North and its people are safe, secure and well-defended." The Framework goals also reflect a broad definition of security, encompassing goals and objectives that address the human dimension of security.
• The Minister of Northern Affairs has been mandated to work with the Minister of National Defence, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and partners to assert Canada's Arctic sovereignty and implement the Framework to create a future where Canada's Northern and Arctic residents are thriving, strong and safe.
• Since its release, the Government of Canada has made significant investments in areas reflective of both Framework priorities and the direct advocacy of Framework partners. Defence related investments apply across Canada but have implications for the North and Arctic; they have included investments in NORAD modernization and continental defence; and, more recently, a range of new investments through a renewed defence policy, Our North, Strong and Free.

Current Status

• Security and defence, including infrastructure and site selection, was one of the most-identified priorities noted by Framework partners at the Leadership Committee meeting held in Whitehorse on October 13, 2023, chaired by the Minister of Northern Affairs and co-hosted by the Grand Chief of the Council of Yukon First Nations.
• Discussions regarding the possible timing (an early fall date is currently envisioned), location and agenda for the 2024 Leadership Committee meeting have been initiated at the officials' level with Framework partners.
• At the officials' level, Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs continues to support National Defence in engaging with Framework partners on issues with direct implications for the north, such as NORAD modernization and continental defence, and the renewed defence policy, Our North, Strong and Free.
• Since the 2023 meeting, the Yukon has established an Yukon Arctic Security Advisory Council to help the territory assess security risks and provide advise to ensure the territory's needs are considered in federal decision making about Arctic security.
• In February 2024, the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly announced that the safety of residents and communities will be one of the territorial government's top priorities, reflecting the broader understanding of security.
• On April 8, the Prime Minister and the Minister of National Defence announced Canada's new defence policy, Our North, Strong and Free: A Renewed Vision for Canada's Defence. Building on the 2017 defence policy Strong, Secure, Engaged, and on investments in NORAD modernization, this policy reaffirms the defence of Canada and North America as a priority, and places significant emphasis on Arctic and Northern approaches as a critical part of globally integrated deterrence.
• Our North, Strong and Free announces increased spending of $8.1 billion over the next five years and $73 billion over the next 20 years. The Government projects that Canada's defence spending will reach 1.76% of GDP in 2029-2030, a significant step towards reaching the NATO commitment of 2%. Initiatives under this policy also put Canada on track to exceed NATO's target of 20% for major equipment expenditures as a proportion of defence funding.
• Amongst newly announced capabilities and commitments, key defence policy investments with an Arctic nexus include: Northern Operational Support Hubs; airborne early warning and control aircraft; specialized maritime sensors, including some that can be employed by our Arctic Offshore Patrol vessels; a new fleet of tactical helicopters; and a new satellite ground station in the Arctic to enhance the use of Canadian, US and other allied space capabilities.
• In May 2024, in Iqaluit, in advance of the Northern Premiers' Forum, territorial premiers met with the Minister of National Defence, the Minister of Northern Affairs, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs. The premiers reaffirmed their commitment to collaboration, and emphasized the unique infrastructure, security, and sovereignty needs of the North and the need for further and ongoing engagements with Indigenous governments and organizations in all three territories.
• The Department of National Defence has established a dedicated funding program to support Indigenous partners and advance engagement activities where partners' resources are constrained and as part of its commitment to building in a distinctions-based, nation-to-nation approach to Indigenous engagement.

Key Messages

• The Government of Canada recognizes the importance of a Land Use Plan for Nunavut and continues to support a strong and viable co-management regime across the North.
• The release of a recommended Plan by the Nunavut Planning Commission is a positive step forward for the planning process in Nunavut and for Nunavummiut.
• Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada is leading the Government of Canada's review of the 2023 Recommended Nunavut Land Use Plan and conducting joint Crown consultation with the Government of Nunavut, which will be part of the decision package for the Minister.

Background

• The Nunavut Planning Commission (the Commission) is responsible for the development, implementation and monitoring of land use plans. Pursuant to the Nunavut Agreement and the Nunavut Planning and Project Assessment Act, the land use plans provide for the conservation and use of land as well as guide and direct resource use and development in the Nunavut Settlement Area.
• Two regional plans were approved in 2000, and are still in force: the Keewatin Regional Land Use Plan and the North Baffin Regional Land Use Plan. Other regions of Nunavut are not covered by an approved land use plan. In 2007, the Commission began developing a single plan for the entire Nunavut Settlement Area which, when approved, will replace the two regional plans.
• Four drafts of the territory-wide Nunavut Land Use Plan have been prepared, and released in 2011/2012, 2014, 2016, and 2021. The most recent 2021 draft plan was publicly reviewed from July 2021 to March 2023, including three rounds of written submissions and five regional public hearings.
• On June 20, 2023, the Commission submitted the final Recommended Nunavut Land Use Plan to the federal Minister of Northern Affairs, the Nunavut Minister of Environment and the President of Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated (the Decision Parties) to either accept the Plan or reject it with written reasons.
• This is the first time a draft Nunavut-wide Plan has been submitted for a decision.
• Under the Nunavut Planning and Project Assessment Act, the Decision Parties must, as soon as practicable, either accept the Plan jointly or any of them may reject it with written reasons.
  • If all three Parties accept the Plan, the federal and territorial Ministers must recommend its approval to Cabinet and Executive Council, respectively. If approved by these bodies, the Plan would come into force.
  • If rejected by any of the Parties, the Commission must review the reasons (and may hold further public hearings) and resubmit a revised Plan for the decision of the Parties.

Current Status

• CIRNAC is coordinating the Government of Canada's review of the Plan through a federal working group. Analysis is ongoing.
• Overall, the Commission has made changes to the Plan text, requirements and zoning that reflect a variety of suggestions from multiple parties (communities, Indigenous governments and organizations, the Government of Canada, the Government of Nunavut, Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, regional Inuit associations, environmental and non-governmental organizations and industry). Departmental officials have noted that some of the Government of Canada's recommendations have been incorporated and others have not.
• To date, reactions to the Plan have been mixed, with some key parties (e.g., mining industry) indicating they have serious concerns and urging rejection, and others (e.g., environmental non-governmental organizations) expressing that the Plan represents a solid foundation for land management in Nunavut and urging its approval.
• Next steps:
  • CIRNAC continues to seek the views of Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated and the Government of Nunavut on the decision.
  • CIRNAC is conducting Crown consultation jointly with the Government of Nunavut. Meetings are being scheduled with the following five Indigenous Governments: Inuvialuit Regional Council, Délı̨nę Got'ınę Government, Akaitcho Dene First Nations, Ghotelnene K'odtineh Dene, and Athabasca Denesųłiné.
  • Once Crown consultation is complete and a recommended decision is reached, a decision package (including a Crown consultation assessment report) will be routed to the Minister of Northern Affairs.

Key Messages

• Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada provided funding to Indigenous organizations in the Northwest Territories for expenses incurred during the 2023 wildfire crisis in support of their members.
• Allocated funding in the amount of $15M was distributed before March 31, 2024 to all affected Indigenous organizations which funding proposals were approved.
• This one-time emergency funding allowed Indigenous organizations to continue their governance responsibilities without interruption to regular services to their members.

Background

• The Northwest Territories experienced an unprecedented wildfire season in 2023. There were numerous evacuation orders resulting in the displacement of thousands of individuals, including a large number of Indigenous communities in the territory.
• During this crisis, Indigenous organizations across the Northwest Territories financially supported their members by providing culturally relevant supports during the evacuation, and drawing funds from core governance allocations.
• To an extent, all Indigenous organizations and governments in the Northwest Territories have been impacted by the wildfires. As a result, Indigenous organizations have seen unprecedented needs to support their governance and memberships during and after the wildfire evacuation events.

Current Status

• Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada disbursed funding to all affected Indigenous groups whose proposals were accepted for funding.
• Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada is working with Indigenous Services Canada, Public Safety Canada and Territorial and Indigenous partners to develop a strategy for the 2024 wildfire season and a long-term strategy to address future emergency management support in a culturally relevant manner.

Key Messages

• Devolution is a long-standing federal policy objective which seeks to ensure greater local control and accountability for decisions.
• The Prime Minister, the Minister of Northern Affairs, the Premier of Nunavut, and the President of Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated signed the Nunavut Lands and Resources Devolution Agreement on January 18, 2024 in Iqaluit.
• The Government of Canada remains committed to working with partners in support of a seamless and collaborative devolution of roles, responsibilities, and authorities with the transfer date set for April 1, 2027.

Background

• Nunavut is the last territory without control of its own lands and resources. Completing devolution places the Government of Nunavut at par with provinces and territories in this respect.
• Devolution enables the federal government to increase its focus on other core federal responsibilities, such as intergovernmental relations, sovereignty and defence, land claims implementation, climate change, remediation of contaminated sites and economic development.
• Devolution is reconciliation in action as it is a key step for the self-determination of Nunavummiut, closing the last steps for a fully federated Canada. It follows through on the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement in 1993, and the creation of the territory of Nunavut in 1999.
• Devolution creates stronger public governments that are more responsive to local issues and priorities while ensuring that social, economic and other benefits of resource development in the region are shared with Nunavummiut.
• The Transitional Human Resource Development Strategy was co-developed to support capacity building within the Government of Nunavut, with a primary goal of maximizing Inuit education and employment opportunities to ensure a viable workforce on the transfer date. This will further build capacity to ensure that responsibilities carried out currently by the Government of Canada will transfer to the Government of Nunavut seamlessly.
• The Government of Canada has committed $15 million to co-implement the Transitional Human Resources Development Strategy. $6 million of this was transferred during the negotiation phase, the remaining $9 million will be transferred over the next three years.

Current Status

• The signing of the Nunavut Lands and Resources Devolution Agreement launched a three-year implementation phase towards bringing the Devolution Agreement into effect on April 1, 2027. Initial reactions from media and external stakeholders to the signing of the Nunavut Lands and Resources Devolution Agreement has been largely positive.
• On February 14, 2024, the Government of Nunavut, Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated and the Government of Canada launched Inunnguqsaivik: Learning for a purpose. This new learning support initiative is one of several planned under the Transitional Human Resources Development Strategy to provide opportunities for Nunavut Inuit and other northerners to access supports to build the skills and knowledge to manage and steward Nunavut's lands, waters, and resources when these roles and responsibilities are transferred from the federal government to the Government of Nunavut.
• Nunavut Devolution will require legislative amendments to give effect to land and resource authorities being assumed by the Government of Nunavut. Mirroring legislation will be established by the Government of Nunavut to ensure a predictable regulatory environment immediately following transfer on April 1, 2027.
• Next steps for implementation include: establishment of the required internal and external implementation governance; drafting and passing of legislation to give effect to the final agreement; provision of implementation funding to the Government of Nunavut and Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated; and planning for and first deliverables related to the transfer of lands, human resources, properties and assets.
• Section 35 consultations with Indigenous Groups with established or asserted Aboriginal and/or treaty rights within Nunavut will continue over the course of the implementation of the Devolution Agreement.

Program-Level Data (if applicable)

Key Messages

• On April 16, 2024, it was announced that NNC's expanded funding through B2021, was to sustain the Harvesters Support Grant and Community Food Programs Fund for another three years, with additional funding for the Food Security Research Grant for three years, and funding for the subsidy for one year.
• Collectively, these recent investments in Nutrition North Canada's expanded food security programs have been lauded by Indigenous and northern partners, who view sustained investments in these shared solutions as a core requirement to continued progress.

Background

• Traditionally, the Nutrition North Program's primary focus was not food security, but health and nutrition as a function of northern development.
• The Program adjusted its mandate through Budget 2021 to include food security as a policy driver in both northern and southern Canada's remote communities.
• Since its inception in 2011, Nutrition North Canada's retail subsidy has helped to lower the prices of eligible food and essential items in isolated northern communities, while increasing the amount of perishable nutritious food available. The number of eligible communities has increased from 79 to 124.
• Recent use of the retail subsidy has been unprecedented. Between 2011 and March 2023, the average volume of eligible items shipped to northern isolated communities increased by approximately 106 percent. About 324.9 million kilograms of eligible items were subsidized, with an average increase of about 4.2 million kilograms annually.
• Budget 2021 provided necessary funding to improve and expand the retail subsidy program. This included allowing food banks and registered charities to join the program and subsidize donated food and essential items at a flat rate of $3 per kg. This advancement is now providing real help to those who need it most.
• Through Budget 2022, an additional $20 million was invested to be allocated towards the retail subsidy. The funding is being used to address the rising cost of food due to inflation.
• Budget 2024 is providing $124 million into NNC's expanded programming:
  • Harvesters Support Grant: $36M over 3 years
  • Community Food Programs Fund: $60.8M over 3 years
  • Subsidy: $23.2M in 2024-2025
  • Food Security Research Grant: $2.1M over 3 years
• Nutrition North Canada's newly implemented food security programming was co-developed with Indigenous and community partners, and included involvement from all four Inuit modern treaty holders organizations and is the first formal federal recognition of the Inuit Nunangat Food Security Strategy.
• The Harvesters Support Grant & Community Food Programs Fund promote local decision making and increase access to country foods by providing funding to support traditional hunting, harvesting and food sharing in 112 eligible communities.
• In the first two years, the Harvesters Support Grant supported 15,000 harvesters, 410 hunts and harvests, and over 717 food sharing initiatives in over 110 isolated communities.
• Late in 2022-2023, five agreements were signed with successful Food Security Research Grant applicants, totaling $1.25M. The Research Grant is driving Indigenous-led research on food access and the high costs of living in the North. Results are expected throughout the 2024/2025 fiscal year and will inform ongoing improvements to the retail subsidy program, including subsidy pass-through.

Current Status

• Program officials are working closely with key partners, including the Nutrition North Canada Advisory Board, Indigenous Working Group, the Inuit Food Security Working Group, community and community leaders to further expand the retail subsidy to food banks, non-for-profits, and local food producers.
• NNC is currently working with an additional 6 food banks to register them for the program.
• Clear opportunities exist to profile the innovative food security work being led by communities, and enhance communication efforts on Nutrition North Canada's four programming areas. Through a series of proposed engagements northerners stand to learn more about how Nutrition North Canada works with its Indigenous and northern partners to co-develop and deliver new food security programming to northerners. As always, these engagements will also focus on listening to valuable feedback from northerners on how Nutrition North Canada can continue to improve.
• Nutrition North Canada is committed to on-going improvements of the program. In order to comprehensively assess the effectiveness of the Nutrition North Canada program, a Departmental internal evaluation has been launched that is targeted to be completed by Spring 2025.
• Two additional projects on subsidy pass-through and retailer accountability measures are being undertaken by Wilfred Laurier University and York University. The program is eagerly waiting for the initial findings from these projects and the five grant projects to leverage improvements to the subsidy program. Looking ahead, Nutrition North is continuing to work with its partners and hear from northerners to continuously improve the program and make it work better for northerners. Additionally, using Budget 2024 investments, will launch Phase II of the Food Security Research Grant to focus on developing policy options to make the subsidy work better for those it serves.
• Through Budget 2024 investments, NNC will be entering into new Harvesters Support Grant & Community Food Programs Fund agreements with recipients representing over 110 eligible communities across the 3 territories and northern parts of 6 provinces.

Program-Level Data (if applicable)

Key Messages

• The OAG Audit on Contaminated Sites in the North was publicly released on April 30, 2024. Departmental officials appeared at the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development to discuss on May 2, 2024.
• The Report includes six recommendations addressed to Environment and Climate Change Canada, Treasury Board Secretariat, and CIRNAC. These include improving project cost estimates, better-addressing government priorities such as reconciliation and climate change, improving liability and risk reduction, and increasing public reporting. Departments are preparing management response action plans to respond to these recommendations.
• CIRNAC is supportive of the audit's focus – testing the effectiveness of contaminated sites management in the north – and "agreed" with all the recommendations directed at CIRNAC.

Background

• The Commissioner conducted an audit of contaminated sites in the north. The objective of this audit was to determine whether CIRNAC and Transport Canada, working with Environment and Climate Change Canada and the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat (the Treasury Board), effectively managed federal contaminated sites in the north by reducing the risks to the environment and human health and associated financial liability for current and future generations.
• Environment and Climate Change Canada was the lead department audited, with findings and recommendations also provided to the Treasury Board and CIRNAC.
• The most significant findings were that contaminated sites in northern Canada have not been managed to reduce the financial liability under the Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan and Northern Abandoned Mine Reclamation Program. Financial liability for federal contaminated sites is now over $10 billion, and Environment and Climate Change Canada was found to have not effectively led the Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan.
• Other findings relate to missing performance targets for climate adaptation and Indigenous engagement and a lack of reporting and meaningful information on contaminated sites.
• CIRNAC has concerns with the overall message that contaminated sites have not been managed to reduce financial liability and risk to human health and the environment. Rather, the increases in financial liability are directly attributable to carrying out our professional responsibilities of contaminated site assessments and remedial planning.
• Although CIRNAC agrees to further advance socio-economic benefits and reconciliation with Indigenous People, as written, the report understates CIRNAC's work already taking place to advance reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples. Current efforts exceed the legal minimum standards and build upon the well-established co-management regime across the north.
• CIRNAC acknowledges that there could be improvements to liability estimating, application of climate change considerations, long-term planning for sites requiring perpetual care, and the accessibility and quantity of publicly available information on projects. CIRNAC maintains that the report misrepresents the evolution of environmental liability over time. A balanced report would recognize that underlying liability exists whether or not it has been recorded in the Public Accounts of Canda. Liability would be $4.6 billion higher without the remediation work of the Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan and Northern Abandoned Mine Reclamation Program.

Current Status

• The report provides CIRNAC with valuable insights and recommendations, providing clear direction for improvement in many areas.
• CIRNAC will address recommendations by bolstering existing practices and exploring new ways to more effectively:
  • reduce risks to the environment and human health;
  • reduce environmental liabilities;
  • consider long-term sustainability issues;
  • increase the availability and frequency of public information; and,
  • enhance opportunities for Indigenous Peoples to participate in and benefit from the management of contaminated sites in the north.
• CIRNAC supports Environment and Climate Change Canada and the Treasury Board Secretariat in delivering on the management actions responding to their recommendations.
• CIRNAC has committed to creating a Management Response Action Plan and presenting this plan to the Standing Committee on Public Accounts by October 31, 2024.

If pressed on how the carbon price applies to air and marine travel

• All inter-jurisdictional air travel in Canada is not subject to the federal fuel charge in the jurisdictions where it applies (AB, SK, MB, ON, NB, NS, NL, PEI, NU, YK) nor to a provincial or territorial carbon pricing system (BC, QC, NWT).
• The federal fuel charge does not apply to fuel used for inter-jurisdictional marine voyages.

Nutrition North Canada

Contaminated Sites

Northern Governance and Policy

Climate Change and Clean Energy

Question Number

Q-2447

By

Mr. Zimmer (Prince George-Peace River-Northern Rockies)

Date

March 18, 2024

Question

With regard to the items listed in the Supplementary Estimates (C), 2023-24, under Department of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs: what are the details of the $9 million listed under "Contributions to Promote Social and Political Development in the North and for northerners", including which organizations received funding, how much each organization received, what criteria were used to determine which organizations would receive funding, how the funds were used, and the details of each project funded with the money?

Reply