Economic Update – New Indigenous Spending

30 Nov Economic Update – New Indigenous Spending

$5.75 billion in new spending. Below are the highlights:

• A further $380 million in 2020-21 for the Indigenous Community Support Fund to help ensure that the needs of Indigenous communities will continue to be met during the second wave, bringing total investments towards the fund to over $1 billion since the beginning of the pandemic.

• $631.6 million over two years, starting in 2020-21, in additional support for the ongoing public health response to COVID-19 in Indigenous communities. This brings the total COVID-19 emergency health funding to $926.7 million.

• As previously announced by the Minister of Indigenous Services, $82.5 million in 2020-21 to provide surge capacity to address mental wellness needs in Indigenous communities related to COVID-19 pressures.

• $186.8 million over two years, starting in 2020-21, to address needs and gaps in supportive care facilities and provide additional home care in Indigenous communities, in order to protect elders and other vulnerable community members from COVID-19.

• The government is also proposing to invest $70 million over 5 years, starting in 2021-22, and $15 million ongoing to sustain the existing federal Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care Secretariat, and to help build Indigenous governance capacity and support Indigenous participation in the development of a Canada-wide system.

• $210 million to support Indigenous early learning and child care programming.

• An additional $75 million in 2021-22 to improve the quality and accessibility of Indigenous child care programs.

• $1.5 billion starting in 2020-21, and $114.1 million per year ongoing thereafter to accelerate work to lift all long-term drinking water advisories and stabilize funding for water and wastewater infrastructure, including operation and maintenance costs, in First Nations communities.

• $25.9 million in 2020-21 to accelerate the government’s 10 year commitment to close the infrastructure gap in Indigenous communities by supporting the co-development of infrastructure plans with Indigenous partners, which will help pave the way to address critical needs in First Nations, Inuit and Métis Nation communities.

• $1.8 billion over 7 years, starting in 2021-22, will be directed to support community infrastructure priorities.

• $15.6 million over 2 years, starting in 2021-22, to support the co-development of distinctions-based health legislation with First Nations, Inuit and Métis Nation partners. This will begin the process of transforming health care delivery in Indigenous communities by ensuring Indigenous control over the development and delivery of health services.

• In order to address the long-standing mercury-related health issues, the government proposes to provide $200.1 million over 5 years, starting in 2021-22, and $0.3 million ongoing to support the construction and operations of a mercury treatment centre in Asubpeeschoseewagong and Wabaseemoong.

• $781.5 million over 5 years starting in 2021–22, and $106.3 million ongoing to combat systemic discrimination against Indigenous peoples and expand efforts to combat violence against Indigenous women, girls and LGBTQ and two-spirit people. This includes:
  • $49.3 million to support the implementation of Gladue Principles in the mainstream justice system and Indigenous-led responses in order to help reduce the overrepresentation of Indigenous Peoples in the criminal justice and correctional systems.
  • $8.1 million to develop Administration of Justice Agreements with Indigenous communities to strengthen community-based justice systems and support self-determination.
  • $724.1 million to launch a comprehensive Violence Prevention Strategy to expand access to a continuum of culturally relevant supports for Indigenous women, children and LGBTQ and two-spirit people facing gender-based violence. This strategy will support new shelters and transition housing for First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples across the country, including on reserve, and in the North and in urban areas.