Opening Statement before the Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs First Nations and Inuit Policing Program

First Nations and Inuit Policing Program

Andrew Hayes
Deputy Auditor General

Mr. Chair, thank you for this opportunity to appear before your committee today in the context of its study on Indigenous Policing and Public Safety. Today I will be discussing our 2024 report on the First Nations and Inuit Policing Program. I would like to acknowledge that this hearing is taking place on the traditional unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabe people. Joining me today are Jo Ann Schwartz, the Principal who was responsible for the audit, and Jennifer Hum, the audit project leader.

The First Nations and Inuit Policing Program was created in 1991. We audited this program in 2014, 11 years ago, and again in 2024. Both times we found critical shortcomings in how the program is being managed. Public Safety Canada is the lead in managing and overseeing the program. We found that the department did not work in partnership with Indigenous communities to provide equitable access to policing services that were tailored to their needs.

Through the program’s community tripartite agreements, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) delivers dedicated policing services that supplement the ones from the province or territory. We found that the RCMP did not work in partnership with Indigenous communities to provide proactive policing services.

While funding had significantly increased since our last audit in 2014, we found that $13 million of funds earmarked for the 2022–23 fiscal year went unspent. In October 2023, Public Safety Canada had anticipated that over $45 million of program funds would be left undisbursed at the end of that fiscal year. According to the department’s 2023–24 results report, almost $48 million was left undispersed. This was concerning in the context of a program intended to support the safety of Indigenous communities.

Public Safety Canada did not have an approach to allocate funds equitably to communities. The department told us that it relied on the provinces’ or territories’ readiness to fund their share of the program and on past funding received by communities to determine the amounts allocated.

From fiscal year 2018–19 to fiscal year 2022–23, the RCMP was unable to fully staff the positions funded under the community tripartite agreements. This left First Nations and Inuit communities without the level of proactive and community-focused policing services that they should have received.

Lastly, neither Public Safety Canada nor the RCMP could identify whether requirements set out in policing agreements were being met and whether the program was achieving its intended results. It is important to monitor and analyze data not only to meet the communities’ security and safety needs but also to support the self‑determination of communities.

Given that this program has not been updated since 1996 and long‑standing issues persist, Public Safety Canada must work with First Nations and Inuit communities, provinces and territories as well as the RCMP to find a way to more effectively provide proactive and culturally appropriate services.

Mr. Chair, this concludes my opening remarks. We would be pleased to answer any questions the Committee may have. Thank you.