Since 2015, the federal government has worked with Indigenous partners to advance reconciliation and made significant distinctions-based investments to respond to the unique histories, interests, and priorities of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities.

March 28, 2023

Since 2015, the federal government has worked with Indigenous partners to advance reconciliation and made significant distinctions-based investments to respond to the unique histories, interests, and priorities of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities.

Key Investments in First Nations Priorities Since 2015

• $29 billion for child welfare services, including funding to implement An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families, to maintain and enhance the First Nations Child and Family Services program, and to support ongoing negotiations towards additional program reforms;
• Nearly $6.4 billion to meet the needs of First Nations children through Jordan’s Principle;
• $6.7 billion to support primary care and public health on reserve, distinctions-based mental health care, and non-insured health benefits. This also includes $1.2 billion in infrastructure funding, which has already supported 248 health-related projects in First Nations communities;
• Over $5.9 billion for elementary and secondary education to help First Nations children living on reserve receive high-quality schooling. This also includes $1.8 billion in infrastructure funding, which has already supported 261 school facility projects;
• Over $5.7 billion to address critical infrastructure gaps related to water and wastewater, and accelerate progress to end long-term and short term drinking water advisories in First Nations communities on reserve;
• Over $4 billion to support First Nations housing on reserve;
• Almost $2.5 billion to support community infrastructure on reserve;
• Nearly $2.5 billion in funding to build an early learning and child care system that meets the needs of First Nations families;
• $991 million for First Nations and Inuit policing and police facilities to provide access to local and culturally sensitive police services that make communities safer; and,
• $417 million targeted for First Nations post-secondary education.

Key Investments in Inuit Priorities Since 2015

• $25 million to implement the Inuit Nunangat Policy, which was co-developed with Inuit and will guide the federal government in design, development, and delivery of new and renewed federal programming, policies, and initiatives;
• Over $1.3 billion to support housing in Inuit communities;
• $5.1 billion to reduce tuberculosis, provide non-insured health benefits, and support distinctions-based mental health care;
• More than $230 million for Inuit communities to build an early learning and child care system that meets the needs of Inuit families;
• $70 million to support the National Inuit Suicide Prevention Strategy;
• $991 million for First Nations and Inuit policing and police facilities to provide access to local and culturally sensitive police services that make communities safer; and,
• More than $125 million targeted for Inuit post-secondary education.

Key Investments in Métis Priorities Since 2015

• More than $860 million for Métis communities to build an early learning and child care system that meets the needs of Métis families;
• $690 million to support housing in Métis communities;
• More than $400 million towards Métis communities skills and employment training, economic development, and to support the startup and expansion of Métis small and medium-sized businesses;
• $867 million to support distinctions-based mental health care and the monitoring and treatment of chronic diseases; and,
• More than $360 million targeted for Métis post-secondary education.

Progress has been made, but there is more to do. Through Budget 2023, the government will continue to advance reconciliation by supporting healthy communities and self-determined solutions.

Housing for Indigenous Peoples

Access to safe and affordable housing is critical to improving health and social outcomes, and to ensuring a better future for Indigenous people and their communities. Budget 2023 proposes to invest $4 billion to implement a co-developed Urban, Rural, and Northern Indigenous Housing Strategy. This investment will complement the more than $6.7 billion already committed to address significant housing need in Indigenous communities.

Supporting Indigenous Health Priorities

As part of the federal government’s plan to strengthen Canada’s universal public health care system, the government is investing $2 billion in new, additional funding over ten years for a distinctions-based Indigenous Health Equity Fund. Building on this investment, Budget 2023 proposes new measures to maintain essential health care services and support Indigenous-led health systems.

• $810.6 million over five years, beginning in 2023-24, to support medical travel and to maintain medically necessary services through the Non-Insured Health Benefits Program, including mental health services, dental and vision care, and medications.
• $16.2 million over three years, beginning in 2023-24, for interventions to reduce rates of tuberculosis in Inuit communities.

Advancing Self-Determination and Creating Prosperity in Partnership with Indigenous Peoples

Indigenous self-determination and economic reconciliation are critical to Canada’s future. Walking these paths together strengthens nation-to-nation, government-to-government, and Inuit-Crown relationships and supports vibrant and prosperous Indigenous communities.

• Budget 2023 proposes to unlock opportunities to advance self-determination and economic reconciliation by ensuring Indigenous Peoples can meaningfully participate and share in the benefits of decisions that affect them, including:
• $5 million to co-develop an Economic Reconciliation Framework that will increase economic opportunities for Indigenous Peoples, communities, and businesses;
• $21 million to increase the participation of Indigenous Peoples and other Northerners in environmental and regulatory assessments of major projects in the territories; and,
• $8.7 million for deeper engagement on a National Benefits-Sharing Framework that will improve the quality and consistency of benefits Indigenous communities derive from major resource projects in their territories.
• Budget 2023 also proposes $35.3 million to co-develop, with the Lands Advisory Board, a new First Nations-led National Land Registry that will provide communities in First Nation Land Management with more opportunities to realize the economic benefits arising from local control over their lands.

Budget 2023 also announces that the Canada Infrastructure Bank will provide loans to Indigenous communities to support them in purchasing equity stakes in infrastructure projects in which the Bank is also investing.

Implementing the National Action Plan to End the Tragedy of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls

Together with Indigenous partners, the federal government is accelerating the implementation of the Federal Pathway to Address Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People. Building on the $2.2 billion provided in Budget 2021, Budget 2023 proposes investments that acknowledge the leadership of families and survivors in this process, and the need to increase accountability and ensure that progress is made.

Supporting First Nations Children

The federal government is committed to ensuring that First Nations children have the supports they need to flourish, and that communities are supported in their efforts to keep families together. 

• Budget 2023 proposes to provide $171 million to Indigenous Services Canada to ensure First Nations children continue to receive the support they need through Jordan’s Principle.
• With funding announced in the 2022 Fall Economic Statement, Budget 2023 also provides $444.2 million to support Peguis First Nation in Manitoba and Louis Bull Tribe First Nation in Alberta to exercise jurisdiction over their child welfare systems and make decisions about what is best for their children and families.

Gottfriedson Band Class Settlement Agreement

The residential school system attempted to assimilate Indigenous children, forcing them to abandon their languages, cultures, spiritualities, traditions, and identities. The painful legacy of the residential school system lives on today.

• Budget 2023 provides $2.8 billion as part of the Gottfriedson Band Class settlement, to establish a trust to support healing, wellness, education, heritage, language, and commemoration activities.