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Indigenous Relations

  • Indigenous partnerships are critical to advancing reconciliation.
  • Through Our North, Strong and Free, we are re-affirming our commitment to safeguarding the North – and its people – with ambitious new investments as well as through engagements with Indigenous governments and organizations on Defence investments and planning.
  • In fact, during recent travel to Iqaluit and Inuvik, I had the opportunity to hear from my territorial and Indigenous colleagues about the challenges they face.
  • I also had the opportunity to speak to them about challenges to security in the North and the Arctic from a defence perspective.
  • I highlighted our plan to ensure that our work in the North benefits Indigenous and other local partners and communities, including through economic opportunities as well as access to multi-purpose Canadian Armed Forces and civilian infrastructure.
  • As I have said before, we will strictly follow the Arctic and Northern Policy framework of "Nothing about us without us."
  • In addition to the commitments made in our new defence policy, National Defence launched the .Indigenous Reconciliation Program (IRP). in April 2023.
  • This program provides up to $1.5 million annually to Indigenous communities to increase collaboration between National Defence and First Nations, Inuit, and Métis partners. [Funding is for FY 2023-2024 to FY 2026-2027]
  • In the first year of the IRP program, we have provided grants and contributions to the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business, the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, the T'Sou-Ke First Nation, Assembly of First Nations Yukon Region, Dakota Tipi First Nation, and others.
  • National Defence remains committed to working with our partners in territorial and provincial governments, in local Northern and Indigenous communities, and more, to meet our biggest defence and security challenges.

If pressed on validation of Indigenous contracts:

  • National Defence is committed to the awarding at least 5 percent of the total value of contracts to Indigenous businesses.
  • We will report on our progress related to the minimum 5% target in the 2024-2025 Departmental Results Report.
  • To qualify under this initiative, an Indigenous business must either be registered in the Government of Canada's Indigenous Business Directory or be registered in a beneficiary business list for contracts in a modern treaty or self-government agreement area.
  • Further, to be listed on the Indigenous Business Directory, a business must be at least 51 percent owned and controlled by Indigenous peoples.

Key Facts

Upcoming Engagements:

  • Minister Blair will participate in the Arctic Northern Policy Framework Leaders meeting on October 11, 2024.

Recent Engagements:

  • In August 2024, Minister Blair met with Duane Smith, Chair and Chief Executive Officer of the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, as well as with Robert Charlie-Tetlichi, Chief of the Inuvik Native Band to discuss opportunities for collaboration and partnership with Inuit, anchored by Our North, Strong and Free.
  • The most recent leaders meeting of the Inuit-Crown Partnership Committee (ICPC) was held in Ottawa on May 9, 2024.
  • In May 2024, Minister Blair met with Aluki Kotierk, President of Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. to discuss opportunities for collaboration and partnership with Inuit, anchored by Our North, Strong and Free.
  • In April 2024, Minister Blair, the Hon. Dan Vandal, Minister of Northern Affairs, and the Hon. R.J. Simpson, Premier of the Northwest Territories broke ground on the new National Defence Multipurpose Facility in Yellowknife.

Other Key Facts:

  • All six Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships (AOPS) will be affiliated with regions of Inuit Nunangat by 2026.
  • Representation in the CAF: Indigenous representation in the CAF is 3.0% as of April 2024.
    • 26.3% of Canadian Rangers self-identify as Indigenous.

Details

Indigenous Reconciliation Program (IRP)

  • In Budget 2022, National Defence received a total of $6 million over four years starting in 2023-24 for the IRP.
    • Overall, the program has received 60 applications and the call for applications remains open for the 2024-25 fiscal year.
    • To date, the program has funded 30 submissions.

United Nations Declaration Act

  • National Defence is committed to the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act and is advancing work on the five Action Plan Measures (2023-2028) led by National Defence.
  • National Defence continues to work closely with the Department of Justice and Canadian Forces Legal Advisors to coordinate yearly reporting, as outlined in the Action Plan 2023-2028.

Indigenous Investments in Procurement (IPPs)

  • IPPs are a set of contractual obligations intended to provide positive socio-economic benefits to Indigenous businesses and communities when direct award to an Indigenous business may not be possible.
  • Indigenous Participation Plans are key to building Indigenous Capacity within the Defence Supply Chain
  • Examples of IPPs incorporated in Defence procurements include:
    • Future Air Crew Training Program: Awarded May in 2024. The IPP requirement represents at least 5% of the total contract price and must remain in place throughout the duration of the contract. The contractor must provide professional employment opportunities including but not limited to; a) apprenticeship programs and on-the-job opportunities; b) skilled and non-skilled labour; and c) professional and executive opportunities.
    • Operational Clothing and Footwear Consolidated Contract with Logistik Unicorp: The IPP includes Indigenous businesses in the supply chain; incentivizing the contractor up to 1% of the annual value of the contract.
  • The contract is valued at up to $3.7 billion over 20 years.

CAF Real Property Operations Group Minor New Construction Contracts

  • In Fiscal Year 22/23, CF RP Ops Gp undertook smaller construction projects with a total IP value of $23,644,850 (before taxes). This accounted for approximately 7% of contract spending under the Minor New Construction program.

North Warning System In-Service Support Contract

  • On January 31, 2022, Public Services and Procurement Canada, on behalf of National Defence, awarded a contract to the Nasittuq Corporation, an Inuit majority-owned company, for the operation and maintenance of the North Warning System (NWS).
  • The contract is for an initial period of seven years and is valued at $592 million ($527 million before taxes). The contract also includes four two-year option periods for a total estimated value of $1.3 billion ($1.1 billion before taxes).
  • The NWS provides a significant economic stimulus across the entire Arctic and the NWS contractor (Nasittuq) plays a key role in distributing this economic stimulus.
    • This is achieved through a significant mandatory Inuit Benefits Requirement included in the contract which the contractor is required to meet in each contract year.
    • The role of the NWS Inuit Benefits Requirements is to establish long-term, sustainable, and meaningful economic benefits for Inuit beneficiaries and Inuit firms in all three applicable Comprehensive Land Claim regions.

Defence Construction Canada (DCC) Facility Maintenance Contracts

  • For Fiscal Year 24/25, 32% (6 out of 19) of DCC's facility maintenance contracts contain Indigenous Benefits Plans.
  • The Indigenous Benefits Plans represents approximately 7% ($5,471,803.10 out of $78,571,599.86) of the overall forecasted expenditures under these contracts for the Fiscal Year.
  • The 6 facility maintenance contracts with Indigenous Benefit Plans, awarded by DCC on behalf of National Defence, are with the following companies:
    • ATCO Frontec Ltd, for the operation and maintenance of various ancillary locations (i.e. armouries) in southern Alberta (awarded on 5 October 2021).
    • ATCO Frontec Ltd, for the operation and maintenance of various ancillary locations (i.e. armouries) in northern Alberta (awarded on 2 November 2021).
    • Black & McDonald Limited (Dartmouth), for the operation and maintenance of Fumerton & Bing Training Centre and DRDC, NS (awarded on 5 June 2023).
    • Black & McDonald Limited (Mount Pearl), for the operation and maintenance of CFS St. John's and Outlying Areas (awarded 31 January 2023).
    • Edon Properties Inc, for the operation and maintenance of various buildings at CFB Suffield (awarded on 4 October 2023).
    • Black & McDonald Limited (Markham, On), for the operation and maintenance of armouries and range and training areas in southern Ontario (awarded on 29 February 2024).

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