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

Logistics

Date: May 29, 2024
Time: TBD
Location: TBD
Subject: Main Estimates for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025

Appearing

Committee Membership

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)

Recent Correspondence

Eric Melillo (CPC): March 4, 2024 — Tragic fire in Cat Lake Cat First Nation that destroyed their nursing station

Bob Zimmer (CPC): January 29, 2024 — Transfer of parcels on the Summit Lake watershed

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 29, 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.

Main Estimates

As you know, Main Estimates are the first step in the fiscal cycle and do not include funding from Budget 2024 investments — those will happen through future Estimates.

This year, CIRNAC's Main Estimates total $10.9 billion, which reflects a net increase of $1.8 billion compared to last year. This increase is primarily attributed to a higher level of funding received for the settlement of claims and litigation. We can't undo the wrongs of the past, but we seek to address the harms that were caused by Canada's colonial legacy. This is key, in my opinion, to rebuilding trust in order to move forward such as:

• Land being given back
• Agriculture Benefits
• Advanced economic reconciliation by investing in Indigenous-led solutions

We plan to use those funds to settle claims more quickly as with the agricultural benefit claims under our Expedited Resolution Strategy. Last year alone we settled 9 of these claims for a total settlement of $975.4 million for communities such as Pine Creek First Nation and English River First Nation.

As we make amends for the past, we must stay focused on the future: where the rights of Indigenous Peoples are respected, and they have control over their governance, self-determination, their lands, their waters and their children. In that sense, I've seen how Modern Treaties have the power to deliver real results. Contributing to this, $2.2 billion will go toward managing and implementing agreements and treaties, targeting 93 additional arrangements by March 2025.

In this vein, I think of the Modern Treaties we are hoping to sign in the very near future in BC, which will tangibly make life better for people in those communities.

But signing agreements alone won't build trust. For over 20 years, partners have called for independent oversight to make sure we keep our treaty promises. On May 2, we took a step toward fixing that, when the Prime Minister announced a new Commissioner for Modern Treaty Implementation. Like the National Council for Reconciliation, it's another step to hold the government accountable as we continue on this path.

Budget 2024

I'd like to take a moment to go over new Budget 2024 investments not captured in the Main Estimates. They will contribute to our nation-to-nation work with communities:

• $918 million for housing and infrastructure, including: $62 million for Self-Governing and Modern Treaty First Nations; $370 million for Inuit communities; and $60 million for Métis.
• $96 million to document, locate, and memorialize burial sites at former residential schools, and to combat the harmful effects of denialism.
• Over $21 million for initiatives related to Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, including the development of a Red Dress Alert system.
• More than $12 million to empower Indigenous youth, meeting Call to Action 66.
• $5 Billion Loan Guarantee Program to support the participation of Indigenous communities in energy and natural resource projects

Contrast

From the place we are right now, there is only one way we can go: forward. Reconciliation is a one way street

That means sustaining this action, and sustaining these increased investments.

• Since 2015, investments in Indigenous priorities have increased threefold.
• Since 2015, Indigenous peoples have a partner in the federal government, one that takes their meetings and helps advance their priorities, such as finding their missing women, and seeking justice for those whose lives were stolen.

We know there is much more work to do. And we will continue that work with Indigenous partners from coast to coast to coast to accomplish the systemic change they want to see.

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

2024-25 Main Estimates

• The 2024-25 Main Estimates for Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC) is approximately $10.9 billion.
• In comparison to the 2023-24 Main Estimates of $9.1 billion, CIRNAC's total Main Estimates for 2024–25 have a net increase of $1.8 billion.
• The Main Estimates contain approximately $9.7 billion for programs under the portfolio of the Minister of Crown–Indigenous Relations.
• These funds are important to continue on the path to renewing the relationship with Indigenous peoples, to further its work to modernize institutional structures and governance to support self-determination, and to progress on righting wrongs from the past, towards Indigenous reconciliation.

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; and,
  • Consider alignment with government priorities, such as Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ peoples.
  • 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	%	2023-24 Main Estimates, net of TBS Exclusions	%
    Total	33,672,246	9,097,242,250	0.4%	805,946,136	4.2%

Key Messages

• The alarming number of incidences of violence, discrimination, and abuse in our country against Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people cannot be ignored.
• On March 2024, the Government of Manitoba announced $20 million to support a search of the Prairie Green Landfill for the remains of Morgan Harris and Marcedes Myran, two women from Long Plain First Nation who were murdered in Winnipeg. Budget 2024 announced a matching contribution from the Government of Canada of $20 million.
• Additionally, $200 thousand in federal funding has been made available to the Long Plain First Nation to support the families of Ms. Harris and Ms. Myran during the difficult days of the trial of the individual accused of their murders.

Background

• On December 5, 2022, Winnipeg Police Service informed the families of Morgan Harris and Marcedes Myran that the women, both from Long Plain First Nation, were the victims of homicide and that it was believed their remains were located in the privately operated Prairie Green Landfill. Both families were also informed that evidence had been gathered to support first-degree murder charges and that Winnipeg Police Service did not plan to search the Prairie Green Landfill as part of the homicide investigation.
• The trial of Jeremy Skibicki, charged with first-degree murder in the deaths of four Indigenous women — Rebecca Contois, Morgan Harris, Marcedes Myran and an unidentified woman the community has named Mashkode Bizhiki'ikwe (Buffalo Woman) — began on April 29, 2024, and is expected to conclude in early June 2024.
• In response to calls from the families of the murder victims and Manitoba First Nations leadership, in March 2023, CIRNAC provided $500,000 to the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs to oversee a feasibility study to determine whether it is possible to recover human remains from the Prairie Green Landfill, and, if feasible, to provide direction in respect of an approach, associated timelines and related costs.
• On May 4, 2023, the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs submitted to CIRNAC the Prairie Green Landfill Feasibility Study Report (the Feasibility Study). The Feasibility Study concludes that a search of the landfill is feasible, but is not guaranteed to be successful, would be complex, and presents significant health and safety risks.
• On October 4, 2023, CIRNAC provided $740,000 to the Long Plan First Nation to develop detailed plans for undertaking a potential search of the Prairie Green Landfill. On January 24, 2024, CIRNAC received the Search the Landfill: Inter-Related Operational Planning Report (Planning Report).

Program-Level Data

Key Messages

• On June 3rd 2019, The National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls released its final report "Reclaiming Power and Place" that documents the systemic and interconnected causes of the violence that Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people experience. Alongside its report, the National Inquiry outlined the path forward to redress this violence through 231 Calls for Justice.
• The National Inquiry's Calls for Justice are aimed at both government and non-government actors and are wide-ranging, including calls for both long-term systemic changes and short-term immediate actions. Of the 231 Calls for Justice: 32 call upon the federal government exclusively; 83 call upon the federal, provincial, and territorial governments collectively; 6 call upon provincial and territorial governments exclusively; and 10 call upon non-government actors. Across the federal government, work is being done that advances progress on approximately 100 Calls for Justice. Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada is leading or involved in work that addresses 21 Calls for Justice.
• Addressing the disproportionate violence against Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people continues to be a key priority for the Government of Canada. The government is taking action to address the national crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people (MMIWG2S+). The Government of Canada publishes an Annual Progress Report on progress towards addressing the Calls for Justice on June 3rd each year. The Annual Progress Report details actions that respond to the Calls for Justice as well as actions that are preventative.

Background

• Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people continue to go missing and are murdered at alarming rates. Based on annual data from Statistics Canada, despite only making up 4 per cent of the Canadian population, Indigenous women and girls represent 28 per cent of homicides perpetrated against women in 2019 and are 12 times more likely to be murdered or missing than non-Indigenous women in Canada.
• Data from Statistics Canada's Homicide Survey show that the rate of homicide among Indigenous women in 2019 was more than 7 times higher than among non-Indigenous women, at 4.01 per 100,000 compared with 0.55 per 100,000. This number is even higher for Inuit women and Indigenous women in the North.
• To address this national crisis, a holistic approach of action and collaboration across all levels of government, with Indigenous partners, grassroots organizations, and many other partners is being taken. This collective approach is essential to addressing the persistent and deliberate human and Indigenous rights violations and abuses that are the root cause behind Canada's staggering rates of violence against Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQIA+ people.
• Below is a mere selection of examples of responsive and preventative federal measures reported through the Annual Progress Report and are advancing the National Inquiry's Calls for Justice:
  • A $12.5M ($2.5M ongoing) Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada investment has supported 34 Indigenous-led projects aimed at assisting healing journeys of Indigenous families and survivors of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people (advancing Calls for Justice 3.7, 5.24, 5.6);
  • A $55M Women and Gender Equality Canada investment provided support to over 100 First Nations, Métis, and Inuit organizations to bolster the capacity of Indigenous women's and 2SLGBTQI+ organizations to provide gender-based violence prevention programming aimed at addressing the root causes of violence against Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people (advancing Calls for Justice 1.3, 1.5 and 1.6);
  • A $1.5M Library and Archives Canada investment supported 25 First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Nation documentary heritage projects to digitize and preserve documentary heritage related to Indigenous languages and cultures (advancing Call for Justice 15.2);
  • A $7.1M Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada investment supported 18 new Indigenous-led projects that improve the collection of consistent and reliable data and address current gaps in knowledge to better develop and support Indigenous-led, evidence-based solutions to improving the safety of Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people in Canada (advancing Calls for Justice 16.44, 17.2, 18.4); and
  • Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation and Indigenous Services Canada investments have supported 35 new shelters and 35 new transitional housing projects as well as the operation of the new shelters and transition homes and to support violence prevention activities (advancing Call For Justice 4.7).
• Many broader actions are also addressing the socio-economic root causes of violence against Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people, such as improving access to education, health and wellbeing services for Indigenous people; supporting the improvement of infrastructure; and supporting Indigenous entrepreneurs and economies. Implementation of these actions continues to be monitored and reported on against the Calls for Justice to track our progress.
• New Budget 2024 measures that will contribute to advancing the Calls for Justice include a proposed investment of $1.3M over three years, starting in 2024-25, to co-develop with Indigenous partners, on a priority first phase, a regional Red Dress Alert system. On May 3, 2024, the Government of Canada and the Government of Manitoba announced their partnership to develop, alongside Indigenous partners, a Red Dress Alert pilot.

Current Status

• The Government of Canada's progress on the advancement of the Calls for Justice continues to be reported on in the Annual Progress Report on the Federal Pathway. The third Annual Progress Report is scheduled to be released on June 3, 2024.

Key Messages

• The Indigenous right to self-government is an inherent right recognized and affirmed in section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982, and the Government of Canada is committed to working with our Métis partners to achieve this vision of self-determination.
• Bill C-53 provides a legislative framework to give effect to future self-government Treaties that will address the same jurisdictions as the Self-Government Recognition and Implementation Agreements signed with each of the Métis Nation of Ontario, Métis Nation of Alberta and Métis Nation — Saskatchewan in February 2023. These jurisdictions are limited to internal governance, namely: citizenship, leadership selection and internal administration.
• Before concluding a future self-government Treaty with the Métis Nation of Ontario, the Métis — Nation Saskatchewan and the Métis Nation of Alberta, respectively, Canada will meaningfully undertake its duty to consult to ensure there are no adverse impacts on the rights of other Indigenous groups. These consultations, and any accommodations that may be required as a result, will precede those Treaties being given force and effect under Bill C-53, should the Bill ultimately be given Royal Assent.

Background

• Bill C-53 has the following purpose and objectives:
  • advancing the long-standing goal of the Métis people for recognition;
  • contributing to implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples;
  • advancing the recognition of the inherent right of self-government of certain Métis collectivities in Alberta, Ontario and Saskatchewan; and
  • providing a legislative framework for the implementation of future self-government Treaties entered into by these particular Métis Governments and the Government of Canada.
• The Bill does not address harvesting or land-related matters and rights.
• The future self-government treaties contemplated in the legislation will only apply to the registered citizens of the Métis Nation of Ontario, Métis Nation of Alberta and Métis Nation — Saskatchewan.

Current Status

• Bill C-53 was introduced to the House of Commons on June 21, 2023. In February 2024, it was adopted with amendments by the Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs.
• On March 28, 2024 the Federal Court granted applications filed by the Métis Settlements General Council and Fort McKay Métis Nation challenging the government's decision to enter into the 2023 agreement with the Métis Nation of Alberta on the basis that Canada had not fulfilled its duty to consult them.
• The Court quashed the definition of "Métis Nation within Alberta" (the collectivity represented by MNA) and the recognition chapter of that agreement.
• The Court also directed that Canada may renegotiate these provisions with the MNA, in consultation with the applicants.
• Absent renegotiation of the quashed provisions, the recognition section (s.8) of C-53 will not have the same legal effect for MNA. The bill implicitly relies on the definition of "Métis Nation within Alberta" included in that agreement. Because this definition was quashed by the Federal Court, it would not be clear who is being recognized as represented by MNA.
• On April 17, 2024, the Métis Nation — Saskatchewan publicly withdrew their support for Bill C-53; deciding instead to pursue self-government on their own, as well as their own implementing statute.
• In response, the Métis Nation of Alberta and Métis Nation of Ontario have indicated that they believe Bill C-53 should be advanced without Métis Nation — Saskatchewan.
• In light of these events, it is clear that the way forward for Bill C-53 needs to be reassessed. However, our next steps cannot be determined unilaterally.
• Canada is working in collaboration with our Métis partners to co-develop a path forward that is respectful of their visions for self-determination, and which ensures that recent challenges do not overshadow the extensive work that has been done to date in advancing the recognition and self-government of Métis peoples.

Key Messages

• Negotiations on the Red River Métis Self-Government Recognition and Implementation Treaty ("the Treaty") are nearing completion as federal officials undertake section 35 consultation and other engagement activities on the draft Treaty.
• The bilaterally negotiated Treaty recognizes the Manitoba Métis Federation's (MMF) inherent right of self-government under s. 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982. It also recognizes the Government of the Red River Métis and its jurisdiction and authority over core governance, which includes citizenship, elections and internal affairs. It does not address harvesting or land-related matters and rights.
• The Treaty will only apply to Red River Métis citizens, i.e. individuals who have elected to register to be a citizen of the Red River Métis.

Background

• On July 6, 2021, Canada signed the bilateral Self-Government Recognition and Implementation Agreement (SGRIA) with the MMF.
• The SGRIA was legally binding, as a contract, on the Parties upon signature and provided immediate recognition of the MMF as the Indigenous government of the Manitoba Métis, including recognition of their jurisdiction over core governance matters, such as citizenship, elections, and internal administration.
• The SGRIA committed the Parties to negotiate a treaty on core governance, which would replace the SGRIA and take effect via implementing legislation.
• Like the SGRIA, the Treaty recognizes the MMF as the Indigenous Government of the Red River Métis, with jurisdiction over core governance matters; with the addition of being given the force of law via federal implementing legislation.
• The Treaty is an incremental approach to self-government. It is currently limited to internal governance and operations, citizenship and elections, and sets out a process for negotiating additional jurisdictions that would be added to the Treaty by way of amendment. Should the MMF seek to negotiate additional jurisdictions, consultation will be undertaken with potentially impacted Indigenous groups.

Current Status

• On August 24, 2023, Canada initiated section 35 consultation and other engagement activities with potentially impacted Indigenous groups on the draft Treaty.
• Canada's consultation process is iterative and needs to be responsive to the scope and content of concerns raised by consultees. As such, there is no firm timeline on when the consultation process "ends". However, federal officials continue to work diligently to meet Canada's consultation obligations in a timely manner.

Key Messages

• The 2021 Supreme Court of Canada's decision in Desautel confirmed that Indigenous peoples residing in communities outside Canada may be considered "aboriginal peoples of Canada" under the Canadian Constitution and may therefore hold Section 35 Aboriginal rights in Canada in certain circumstances.
• Canada's intent is to address the Supreme Court's decision in a way that respects our commitment to reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, and is consistent with key interests such as constructive foreign relations.

Background

• In 2010, Richard Desautel, a United States citizen, was charged with hunting without a licence contrary to British Columbia's Wildlife Act after having shot and killed an elk in British Columbia. Mr. Desautel defended the charges arguing that he had an Aboriginal right to hunt, protected by s. 35(1) of the Constitution Act, 1982, as he is a member of the Lakes Tribe based in the State of Washington, a successor group of the Sinixt ("sin-ahy-xt") people who occupied Canadian territory.
• The Provincial Court of British Columbia acquitted Mr. Desautel and found that he was exercising an Aboriginal right to hunt in the Sinixt's traditional territory in British Columbia.
• On April 23, 2021, the Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) upheld the decision of the Provincial Court judge and concluded that the expression "aboriginal peoples of Canada" means the "modern-day successors of Aboriginal societies that occupied Canadian territory at the time of European contact."
• Canada previously considered "aboriginal peoples of Canada" to refer to Indigenous collectives located in Canada. Negotiations by Canada have, to date, only considered domestic rights-bearing collectives and not groups located outside of Canada. As a result of the SCC decision, Indigenous groups located outside of Canada can be "aboriginal peoples of Canada" and hold s. 35 rights.
• The Court stated that section 35 rights of those non-resident collectives are only exercisable in Canada and that the different circumstances of communities outside Canada may lead to different results.

Current Status

• Canadian officials are working to develop an approach that will balance a number of interests, including:
  • adopting processes to respond to assertions by non-resident groups who are determined to be "aboriginal peoples of Canada";
  • ensuring that the rights and interests of resident Indigenous groups are respected; and
  • ensuring compatibility with other key national interests, including foreign relations, international obligations and border considerations.

Key Messages

• Honouring the treaty relationship and working in partnership with First Nations is key to advancing lasting reconciliation. Negotiated settlements provide fair compensation to First Nations to help address past wrongs and honour treaty obligations.
• Canada, Ontario and 21 Robinson Huron Treaty First Nations have reached a final settlement to resolve claims related to past annuities raised in the Restoule litigation.
• This settlement — which includes $5 billion each from Canada and Ontario – pays an outstanding debt to the First Nations that dates back to 1850 and is a key step forward in delivering on an unfulfilled treaty promise.

Background

Current Status

• Canada and Ontario have each paid their portion of the compensation funds as per the terms of the Settlement Agreement, which remains confidential.
• Any decision by the Supreme Court of Canada arising from Ontario's appeals will not have an impact on the settlement agreement on past annuities negotiated between Canada, Ontario and the 21 Robinson Huron Treaty First Nations.
• CIRNAC continues to have a mandate to resolve claims for past annuities with the Robinson Superior Treaty First Nations and remains open to these discussions.
• As a next step, the parties will begin to explore and co-develop a framework for the future augmentation of annuities. Once discussions are sufficiently advanced, CIRNAC will be required to seek additional instructions and approvals.

Key Messages

• In the Fall of 2023, Quebec asked Canada and the Regroupement Petapan to renegotiate elements of the treaty.
• The parties are working collaboratively to find a way forward.
• Our Government is optimistic we can reach an agreement and is committed to working toward the completion of this Modern Treaty.

Background

• The Regroupement Petapan includes three Innu communities in Québec: Mashteuiatsh, Essipit, and Nutashkuan, with a combined population of over 14,000 members. Tripartite negotiations began in 1980 on the Innu's comprehensive land claim.
• On March 31, 2004, Canada, Quebec, and the Mamuitun mak Nutashkuan Tribal Council (now Regroupement Petapan) signed a general agreement in principle. In 2004, four Innu communities signed the agreement, but one of them (Pessamit) has since left the negotiation table.
• Negotiations on a final treaty have since been pursued. In March 2023, Canada and Regroupement Petapan reached an agreement on federal issues of the draft tripartite treaty. However, Quebec is still seeking clarification on certain aspects of the draft treaty and a tripartite consensus still needs to be achieved.
• This situation is exasperating the Innu Chiefs who repeatedly asked Quebec to conclude the negotiation. The Chiefs have publicly expressed their frustration towards Quebec demands. They have accused Quebec of bad faith negotiations.

Current Status

• Negotiations remain confidential at this time. Canada must respect its commitment to confidentiality in negotiations with Quebec and the Regroupement Petapan.
• Once the parties reach a consensus on a draft, they will begin an extensive consultation process with neighboring First Nations before submitting the draft agreement to the members of the three First Nations of the Regroupement Petapan Inc. to ratify the proposed agreement

Key Messages

• The Government of Canada has been working in partnership with the Haida Nation and British Columbia to renew and strengthen our nation-to-nation relationship through negotiations.
• Bill S-16 implements commitments made by Canada in the Nang K̲'uula • Nang K̲'úulaas Recognition Agreement, the first reconciliation agreement reached between the parties under a renewed process of negotiations.
• The Bill is an important step toward future reconciliation agreements between the Haida Nation and the Crown – "people working together to make it right".

Background

• The traditional territories of the Haida Nation encompass Haida Gwaii, a group of over 200 large and small islands off the north coast of British Columbia.
• In August 2021, the Haida Nation, British Columbia and Canada entered into the GayG̱ahlda • Kwah.hlahl.dáyaa "Changing Tide" Framework for Reconciliation, setting out an incremental approach to the negotiation of reconciliation agreements.
• In July 2023, the parties concluded the signing of the Nang K̲'uula • Nang K̲'úulaas Recognition Agreement (Nang K̲'uula • Nang K̲'úulaas), the first tripartite agreement reached through this renewed process of negotiations.
• Through Nang K̲'uula • Nang K̲'úulaas, Canada and British Columbia recognized the Haida Nation as the holder of inherent rights of governance and self-determination, and the Council of the Haida Nation as the governing body of the Haida Nation.
• Canada and British Columbia agreed to develop legislation required to implement sections of Nang K̲'uula • Nang K̲'úulaas that relate to the legal status and capacity of the Council of the Haida Nation, and the liabilities of Haida representatives and public officials.
• British Columbia passed provincial legislation in May 2023. The federal Bill S-16, An Act respecting the recognition of the Haida Nation and the Council of the Haida Nation, was introduced in the Senate on February 8, 2024.

Current Status

• The first reading of Bill S-16 took place in the Senate on the date the Bill was introduced. Third reading of the Bill is in progress.
• If the legislation is passed in the Senate, it would proceed to the House of Commons. If passed in the House of Commons, the Bill would then receive Royal Assent and become federal law that is binding on governments and other parties.
• In the meantime, work is continuing at the reconciliation table on the next set of negotiation priorities, focused on the terrestrial area of Haida Gwaii.

Key Messages

• Addressing the ongoing legacy of residential schools is a priority for the Government of Canada.
• The Residential Schools Missing Children Community Support Fund allows Indigenous communities and families to undertake community-led and Survivor-centric initiatives to research, locate, and document burial sites associated with former residential schools.
• Communities are in varying stages of readiness to address this work. Many communities have already completed, or are in the process of undertaking, steps to locate missing children through archival research, oral statement gathering, various geophysical and survey methods, and in some cases, findings have been publicly announced.

Background

• The Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action 74 to 76 sets out an approach to honour missing children and undocumented burial sites of Indian Residential Schools.
• On May 27, 2021, Tk'emlúps te Secwepemc announced over 200 potential unmarked burials of children at the site of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School. This event triggered Indigenous communities and residential school Survivors across the country to look to finding the missing children at other residential schools.
• On June 7, 2021, Crown-Indigenous Relations (CIR) launched the Residential Schools Missing Children Community Support Fund to provide support to Indigenous communities and partners to develop and implement community-led initiatives to locate, document, and memorialize undocumented burial sites associated with Residential Schools and to honour families' wishes to identify and repatriate children's remains. These include 140 residential schools included in the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement and the 5 included in the Newfoundland and Labrador Residential Schools Settlement Agreement.

Current Status

• The Government of Canada has invested $323.1 million to date to support the implementation of Calls to Action 74 to 76 including
  • Budget 2019 investment of $27.1 million over 3 years beginning in 2021-22;
  • August 2021 off-cycle investment of $83 million over 3 years beginning in 2021-22;
  • Budget 2022 investment of $122 million over 3 years beginning in 2022-23; and
  • Budget 2024 proposal to invest $91 million over 2 years, starting in 2024-25.
• As of May 9, 2024, CIRNAC has received 176 formal requests for funding from Indigenous communities and organizations under the Residential Schools Missing Children Community Support Fund, totaling over $578.8 million, and 146 funding requests for a total of $216.6 million have been approved. Budget 2024 ensures continued progress on community-led initiatives until March 2026.
• The program is currently accepting applications for the 2024-2025 fiscal year.

Program-Level Data

Key Messages

• A whole of government process is underway to identify potentially relevant documents and develop options for a federal approach to support the sharing of additional Indian Residential Schools-related documents with the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation.
• The Government of Canada is committed to taking the steps necessary to share additional Indian Residential Schools-related documents, while respecting Survivors' wishes, legislation, court orders, settlement agreements and ongoing litigation processes.

Background

• Reconciliation requires that the Government of Canada take responsibility for the role it played in the creation and administration of the Indian Residential School system. Central to this acceptance of responsibility is ensuring that survivors, Indigenous communities and the Canadian public have access to the full history and truth around the Indian Residential Schools and the Government of Canada's response to the harms they caused.
• An important first step in this process was the provision of over 4 million documents to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission between 2013 and 2015. This exercise focused on the identification and sharing of documents directly related to the history and administration of Indian Residential Schools recognized under the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement.
• In 2021, the former Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations directed CIRNAC to conduct a broader internal review of existing documents to ensure transparency and sharing of all relevant documents, where possible, and to establish a committee that would develop recommendations on the identification and sharing of documents with the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation. The Indian Residential Schools Documents Advisory Committee is the result of this direction.

Current Status

• A preliminary identification exercise has been undertaken by CIRNAC in conjunction with other federal departments holding information of historical interest related to Indian Residential Schools and the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement.
• To date, through this scoping exercise, federal departments have identified as many as 23 million additional documents related to Residential Schools and the implementation of the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement. These documents will include duplicate material, material covered by various restrictions to sharing documents that have been previously disclosed.
• Canada will continue to support the Indian Residential Schools Documents Advisory Committee in its work to provide recommendations on more transparent document sharing with the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation. This is a step toward accountability and a stronger understanding of the legacy of Residential Schools.

Key Messages

• Canada deeply regrets past actions and policies that harmed Indigenous children, their families, and communities, and is committed to reconciliation and laying the foundation for intergenerational healing.
• As of May 2024, Indigenous Childhood Claims Litigation class actions have provided compensation to over people 183,500, for a total of over $9.5 billion.

Background

• Indigenous Childhood Claims stem from litigation related to historic policies and programs related to educational and care settings.
• This includes class actions, individual and multi-plaintiff litigation related to Sixties Scoop, Indian Residential Schools Day Scholars, Federal Day Schools, Federal Indian Hospitals, Federal Boarding Homes, Non-Federal Residential Schools and Hostels, Provincial, Territorial and Mission Day Schools, Continuing Indian Residential Schools Claims and Off-reserve Indigenous Child Welfare.
• Since 2016, the settlements achieved to date include:
  • Newfoundland and Labrador Residential Schools (Anderson) settlement (2016);
  • Sixties Scoop (Status Indian and Inuit) settlement (2018);
  • Federal Indian Day Schools (McLean) settlement (2019);
  • Indian Residential Schools Day Scholars (Gottfriedson) Survivor and Descendant classes settlement (2021);
  • Indian Residential Schools Day Scholars (Gottfriedson) Band class settlement (2023)
  • Federal Boarding Homes (Percival) settlement (2023); and,
  • the settlement of 42 individual and multi-plaintiff actions (144 individual plaintiffs).
• These settlements focus on balancing individual compensation for past wrongs with forward-looking initiatives to support healing, wellness, education, language, culture and commemoration. In support, Canada has provided funding to support the creation of the Sixties Scoop Healing Foundation, McLean Day Schools Corporation and Day Scholars Revitalization Society aimed at promoting healing for survivors and their families.

Current Status

• Implementation of the Federal Indian Day Schools (McLean), Sixties Scoop and Indian Residential Schools Day Scholars (Gottfriedson) settlement agreements is ongoing.
• The Federal Boarding Homes (Percival) settlement agreement was approved by the Federal Court on December 11, 2023. Class members will be able to begin applying for compensation on August 21, 2024. Currently any class member that does not wish to participate in the settlement will have until July 22, 2024, to opt out.

Key Messages

• All aspects of an out-of-court settlement agreement, including the compensation amounts, claims process and timelines, are approved by the overseeing court to ensure they are fair, just and in the best interest of class members.
• Class members that are not satisfied with the terms of any settlement agreement have the opportunity to opt-out of participating.
• Canada will continue to work collaboratively with the parties across all settlements to ensure all processes move forward in an efficient and timely manner.

Background

• On April 10, 2024, Lori Idlout, MP for Nunavut and Jonathan Pedneault, Deputy Leader for the Green Party of Canada, wrote a letter to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister calling for the Government of Canada to pass an Indigenous Survivors Act that would pay compensation money to whoever deserves it whether or not their legal claims have been technically extinguished in an out-of-court court settlement.

Current Status

• In the context of Indigenous Childhood Claims Litigation, the parties continue to work collaboratively to implement the various settlements and build on lessons learned to minimize the burden on and avoid the re-traumatization of survivors as a result of the claims process.

Key Messages

• Since 2016, 297 specific claims have been resolved, for close to $11.1 billion in compensation going to First Nations. Last fiscal year alone, 42 claims were settled for $2.5 billion in compensation.
• This compensation is paid out of the Specific Claims Settlement Fund. It provides the flexibility required to resolve specific claims nimbly, and make payments to First Nations in accordance with the actual timing of settlements and other obligations.
• Specific claims result from Canada's historical behaviour towards First Nations. Negotiated settlements honour treaty and other legal obligations and resolve longstanding disputes in a way that respects the rights of all Canadians. Settlements provide First Nations with capital that can be invested in new opportunities for community and economic development that can benefit First Nations and their neighbours.

Background

• The Specific Claims Settlement Fund (SCSF), established in 2009, is the source of funds for compensation pursuant to both negotiated settlement agreements and financial awards made by the Specific Claims Tribunal.
• Main estimates for 2024-25 include close to $6 billion in grants to settle specific claims under the program 'Grants to First Nations to settle specific claims negotiated by Canada and/or awarded by the Specific Claims Tribunal, and to Indigenous groups to settle special claims'.
• The Department expects settling many agricultural benefits claims in 2024-25; this is why the main estimates include a higher than usual amount for specific claims.

Program-Level Data

Key Messages

• Consistent with UNDA Action Plan Measure #5, CIRNAC is committed to delivering a comprehensive redesign of the Additions to Reserve (ATR) policy, co-developed with First Nation partners, which prioritizes First Nation interests when adding lands to their reserve land base.
• A redesigned ATR policy will likely distinguish between Indian Act First Nations, land code First Nations operating under the Framework Agreement on First Nation Land Management and self-governing First Nations. This approach recognizes the differing land governance structures which exist in First Nations across Canada today.
• CIRNAC is working in partnership with ISC to implement interim changes to the 2016 Policy for consistency with contemporary legislation until the co-developed policy is finalized.

Background

• The current Additions to Reserves (ATR) policy is complex, time-consuming, risk-averse, and not aligned with First Nations priorities, interests, and governance structures. In some cases it can take decades to add land to a reserve. Individual First Nations and Indigenous organizations have called for the ATR policy to be completely overhauled to enable them to effectively and efficiently add lands to their reserve land base.
• Budget 2021 provided $43M over four years to work with First Nation partners and other stakeholders to redesign the Additions to Reserve policy, with $10.8M to CIRNAC for the redesign and $32.2 million to ISC to accelerate work on existing ATR proposals in its inventory.
• Redesigning the federal ATR policy is included in Justice Canada's UNDA Action Plan as Action Plan Measure #5, under the heading of Lands, Territories, and Resources.

Current Status

• CIRNAC has provided approximately $4M in funding 58 First Nation communities and organizations to conduct First Nation-led engagement on ATR Policy redesign. Reports from these partners are anticipated in summer 2024. The Assembly of First Nations has received $252K to support ongoing work on ATR policy redesign.
• CIRNAC is also engaging directly with provincial and territorial governments along with First Nations and other key partners such as the Lands Advisory Board and the National Aboriginal Lands Managers Association.
• To facilitate ongoing engagement and co-development CIRNAC has developed, and shared, a series of principles to guide the policy redesign process with the aim of prioritizing First Nation interests.

Program-Level Data

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

• Every year CIRNAC delivers important funding to support core operations and projects of Indigenous partners through a variety of mechanisms.
• A significant portion of this funding is delivered annually to 51 Indigenous Representative Organizations (IROs), national, provincial, territorial and/or regional representative Indigenous organizations and national women's organizations representing the interests, issues and concerns of their members.
• This funding supports Indigenous partners' meaningful participation in collaborative work with federal, provincial and territorial governments, including through co-development processes. By doing so, the funding helps to ensure Indigenous perspectives are reflected in developing policies and programs, and to advance Indigenous self-determination.

Background

• There are several funding authorities across the department that support IROs and other Indigenous organizations for core operations and projects.
• Basic Organizational Capacity (BOC) funding supports co-operative relationships with Indigenous peoples by providing basic organizational capacity ("core" funding) to organizations mandated by Indigenous peoples to represent them. BOC funding enables these organizations to be effective voices for their members, and to represent the interests of their respective communities to support their participation in policy and program development alongside the Government of Canada. Approximately $32 million in Basic Organizational Capacity funding is delivered to IROs annually.
• Consultation and Policy Development (C&PD) funding provides project-based support to First Nations and Inuit to consult their communities and be in a position to provide input to Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs on policy and program developments. Approximately $10 million in C&PD funding is earmarked for delivery to IROs annually. Additional funds vary year-over-year, as other programs and departments flow funding through these authorities.
• Federal Interlocutor's Contribution Program (FICP) Aims to enhance the capacity, stability, and accountability of both Métis and Non Status and other off-reserve representative organizations to represent their members, and to build partnerships with federal and provincial governments and the private sector. Approximately $3.7 million in FICP funding is earmarked for delivery to recipients annually. Additional funds vary year-over-year, as other programs and departments flow funding through these authorities.
• Permanent Bilateral Mechanism (PBM) funding provides support to National Indigenous Organizations for their participation in an annual series of Leaders meetings, Senior Officials Meetings and a PM Summit with National Indigenous leadership. PBM meetings and activities such as the Inuit Crown Partnership Committee, Métis-Crown, and First Nations-Crown support critical joint work. Since their creation, PBMs have become the key fora for effective work and decision making with partners to support the advancement of shared priorities.

Current Status

• Basic Organizational Capacity is currently fully subscribed, with no new organizations able to apply for BOC funding at this time.
• The Basic Organizational Capacity, Consultation and Policy Development, and the Federal Interlocutor Contribution Program, are all going through a program review, which will likely lead to changes to the Terms and Conditions of the funding authorities.

Key Messages

• Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC) and the Algonquin Anishinabeg Nation Tribal Council (AANTC) have negotiated in principle a Planning and Design Agreement (the Agreement) to establish a Dedicated Algonquin Space, as part of the Indigenous Peoples' Space initiative.
• Policy authorities were provided through Budget 2024 to enter into an agreement with the Algonquin Nation regarding the development of a Dedicated Algonquin Space as part of efforts to create a national space for Indigenous Peoples within the Parliamentary Precinct. Planning is currently underway to organize a formal ceremony to sign the agreement.
• Once the Agreement is in place, the Government will move forward with the long-term development of the Dedicated Algonquin Space, in alignment with broader timelines for the redevelopment of Block 2 of the Parliamentary Precinct.

Background

• CIRNAC and Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) officials have worked collaboratively with the AANTC to present options for the site of the Dedicated Algonquin Space and draft a Planning and Design Agreement. In April 2023, Algonquin Chiefs voted to select the Infill space between 100 Wellington and 119 Sparks as the site for the Dedicated Algonquin Space.
• On July 5, 2023, the AANTC provided notice that Algonquin leadership had provisionally approved the Planning and Design Agreement and were prepared to move forward with signing the Agreement.
• The Agreement formalizes Canada's commitment to the Algonquin to construct a Dedicated Algonquin Space in the Infill as part of the Indigenous Peoples' Space initiative, provide capacity funding to support their involvement in the design and development of the space, and permit access to 119 Sparks Street to be used as a temporary space until construction on the Parliamentary Precinct necessitates the closure of the building. The proposed agreement includes policy and financial implications for the Government of Canada for which new authorities must be sought.
• On October 4, 2022, the National Indigenous Organizations (Assembly of First Nations, Métis National Council, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami) were provided with access to 100 Wellington Street to use as a temporary space. The AANTC were similarly provided with access to 119 Sparks Street.
• CIRNAC has indicated to the NIOs and the AANTC that 100 Wellington Street and 119 Sparks Street are available to use until Fall 2024 when they likely need to be closed to accommodate Block 2 Redevelopment construction.

Current Status

• Through Budget 2024, policy authorities were approved to:
  • Enter into an agreement with the Algonquin Nation regarding a dedicated space;
  • Continue working with Indigenous Partners on the development of the vision for 100 Wellington and 119 Sparks; and,
  • Permit Indigenous partners to 100 Wellington Street and 119 Sparks Street in the short-term.
• Budget 2024 also included $4.2 million in funding over two years, starting in 2024-25, to support Indigenous partners in engaging their members and developing the long-term project design, with flexibility to extend funding to support engagement to three years as needed.
• The Métis National Council and Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami have been using 100 Wellington intermittently to host events. The AANTC has recently initiated discussions with PSPC to begin using 119 Sparks on a temporary basis. The Assembly of First Nations has maintained their position that they will not use 100 Wellington or re-enter discussions on the long-term design and vision of the Indigenous Peoples' Space until the Agreement with AANTC has been signed.
• PSPC is completing minor renovations on 119 Sparks to support the AANTC's short-term use of the building.
• Once the agreement is signed, work on the long-term development of 100 Wellington and the Dedicated Algonquin Space can move forward.

Key Messages

• CIRNAC plays a key role supporting Justice Canada in implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (United Nations Declaration Act) and the associated Action Plan.
• CIRNAC is responsible for 30% of Action Plan Measures and implementation efforts are underway. The department also plays a supporting role in Action Plan Measures led by other departments. In addition, it provides advice and expertise to other departments, to help foster positive Indigenous-Crown intergovernmental relationships.
• CIRNAC has developed various tools and processes to support its implementation efforts, including guidelines, a UN Declaration consistency assessment tool, training and awareness materials, as well as performance and data management tools.

Background

• The United Nations Declaration Act came into force on June 21, 2021, and sets out three key obligations, which are to be carried out in consultation and cooperation with Indigenous Peoples. The Government must:
  • take all measures necessary to ensure the laws of Canada are consistent with the United Nations Declaration (section 5);
  • develop and implement an Action Plan to achieve the objectives of the United Nations Declaration (section 6); and,
  • develop annual reports on progress and submit them to Parliament (section 7).
• Beyond these obligations, the preamble of the United Nations Declaration Act commits Canada to taking effective measures—including legislative, policy and administrative measures—to achieve the objectives of the United Nations Declaration.
• On June 21, 2023, the United Nations Declaration Act Action Plan 2023-28 was publicly released. The Action Plan is a federal road map to support implementation of the United Nations Declaration Act.

Current Status

• In recent months, CIRNAC introduced and integrated a tailored assessment tool into existing processes for submissions to Cabinet committees and for the Budgetary Cycle to support the consistency of all departmental initiatives with the United Nations Declaration.
• CIRNAC also developed and launched a 2-hour training module to increase staff awareness and understanding of the United Nation Declaration. A key expected outcome of this training is to promote the application of a rights-based approach throughout the department's activities.
• CIRNAC is applying a centralized approach to collect data on the status of each Action Plan Measure the department is involved in. The data collected is supporting CIRNAC in tracking progress and identifying various implementation barriers.
• Several Action Plan Measures require discussions with partners to determine how they will be operationalized, and if any existing mechanisms can be leveraged to support consultation and cooperation.
• As required under section 7 of the Act, CIRNAC is working actively with DOJ to submit its updates for the 2023-24 Annual report, which will be tabled in parliament by June 2024.

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 of Canada is committed to renewing the relationship with Indigenous Peoples based on the recognition of rights, respect, cooperation, and partnership.
• Over 85% of the 76 Calls to Action under the shared or sole responsibility of the federal government are complete or well underway: 19 are complete, 47 are well underway, and 10 are in the planning phase.
• These actions are leading to significant and consequential changes that serve to redress the legacy of residential schools and advance the process of reconciliation.
• Completing all 94 Calls to Action requires fundamental policy and legislative changes to address systematic barriers.

Background

• In 2015, upon the release of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Final Report, the Prime Minister committed to work in partnership with Indigenous communities, provinces, territories, and other vital partners, to fully implement the Commission's Calls to Action. Canada has adopted a whole-of-government approach to implementing the Calls to Action.
• Of the 94 Calls to Action, 76 are shared or sole responsibility of the federal government, while 18 call upon civil society organizations, schools, churches, and corporations to advance reconciliation, and 18 are directed at provinces and territories, educational bodies, religious institutions, media or private sector businesses.
• In 2021, the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations was tasked with leading federal work to accelerate the implementation of all Calls to Action.
• Over the past three years, there has been progress towards the implementation of federally led Calls to Action:
  • The legislation to establish the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (Call to Action 80), received Royal Assent on June 3, 2021, and the second National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, as an official federal statutory holiday, was observed on September 30, 2022.
  • An Act to amend the Oath to Citizenship (Call to Action 94) received Royal Assent on June 21, 2021.
  • An Act Respecting the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (Call to Action 43), received Royal Assent on June 21, 2021. This legislation, developed in collaboration with Indigenous peoples across the country, provides a pathway for the fulfillment of Calls to Action 43 and 44 at the federal level in consultation and cooperation with Indigenous peoples through the alignment of laws, the development of an action plan, and the tabling of annual reports on the progress of implementation. On June 21, 2023, the Government of Canada released the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act Action Plan, in consultation and cooperation with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis.
  • During his visit to Canada in July 2022, Pope Francis recognized the abuses experienced at residential schools that resulted in cultural destruction, loss of life, and ongoing trauma lived by Indigenous Peoples in every region of this country (Call to Action 58).
  • Investments in the Canadian archival community supported a comprehensive review of archival policies and best practices. The final report by the steering committee was released in February 2022 (Call to Action 70).

Current Status

• On April 30, 2024, Bill C-29, legislation to establish the National Council for Reconciliation received Royal Assent. The Bill was first introduced in Parliament in June 2022. Once established, the National Council for Reconciliation will be an independent, Indigenous-led, not-for-profit organization working to monitor and advance reconciliation in Canada (Calls to Action 53 through 56).
• Collaboration is ongoing with departments to identify the necessary steps to accelerate implementation, address systemic challenges hindering progress, and involve all partners (Indigenous, all levels of government, etc.) in responding to the Calls to Action.
• The Government of Canada continues to work with First Nations, Inuit and Métis Nation Leaders on the implementation of the Calls to Action, including through the Permanent Bilateral Mechanisms.