432-00315 (Indigenous affairs)

Indigenous leaders and the Government of Canada share a commitment to improving the fiscal relationship between Canada and Indigenous peoples, and to addressing socioeconomic gaps. The Government of Canada has committed new resources to address well-being in Indigenous communities in recent federal budgets.

The First Nations Financial Transparency Act requires that First Nations to whom the Act applies, make their audited consolidated financial statements and the Schedule of Remuneration and Expenses available to their members, as well as post and publish the documents on a website. Indigenous Services Canada is also required to publish these documents on its website. The law remains in force, however, since 2015, Indigenous Services Canada has halted discretionary compliance measures.

Everyone – including First Nation governments and other Indigenous community leaders and stakeholders – supports transparency and accountability. The vast majority of First Nation governments have effective governance, meeting or surpassing all accountability and reporting requirements to Canada, while working to be responsive to their members’ needs and priorities. The Department monitors complaints and allegations from First Nation community members regarding governance, financial management and accountability for services, and has procedures in place to respond when necessary.

The Government of Canada is committed to continuing to work with First Nations to establish a new fiscal relationship that moves towards sufficient, predictable and sustained funding for First Nations, that strengthens accountability of First Nations governments to their citizens, and that is by design respectful and supportive of First Nations’ right to self-determination.

It should be noted that most federal programming is provided on-reserve, but some programs may also be available to First Nations individuals living off reserve, either through First Nations governments, to individual Status Indians or as unique programming for off-reserve Indigenous people. Provinces and territories also provide many core programs and services to Indigenous people off-reserve which are funded by the federal government through federal transfers.

The Government of Canada also seeks to contribute towards reconciliation with Indigenous peoples by identifying and addressing local needs of all urban Indigenous peoples. In particular, the Urban Programming for Indigenous Peoples is designed to assist First Nations, Inuit and Métis living in or transitioning to urban centres. The Program provides $51 million in grants and contributions annually, in part to fund and support service providers, such as Friendship Centres and other Indigenous organizations, who deliver culturally appropriate programs and services to urban Indigenous peoples. The Program also invests in local stakeholder coalitions across Canada and provides funding to advance innovative research and pilot projects to improve socio-economic opportunities for urban Indigenous Peoples. To ensure that urban Indigenous residents have safe and accessible spaces to access culturally-relevant services, Budget 2019 provided $60 million over five years to support capital infrastructure investments in Friendship Centres and other urban Indigenous service provider facilities.