Archived - Urban Aboriginal Strategy

Name of lead department: Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC)

Federal partner organizations: Not applicable. As of April 2014, the Urban Aboriginal Strategy moved away from coordination of funding with other federal departments to a focus on increasing urban Aboriginal economic participation through its partnership development work and regional and local strategic planning. Due to this change, the Urban Aboriginal Strategy can no longer report on other federal funding commitments in its horizontal initiative table. Adjustments to the 2015–16 Report on Plans and Priorities have been made to reflect this change.

Non-federal and non-governmental partners: National Association of Friendship Centres, urban Aboriginal organizations and other non-profit organizations

Start date: April 1, 2007; renewed in 2012 and 2014

End date: Ongoing

Total federal funding allocation (start to end date):

• from 2007 to 2012: $68,500,000
• as of 2012: $53,137,484 annually

Funding contributed by non-federal and non-governmental partners: Not applicable. AANDC pursues partnerships with other organizations to support the creation of regional strategic plans. These organizations provide ongoing support in the form of in-kind contributions.

Description: The Urban Aboriginal Strategy was developed in 1997 to respond to the needs of Aboriginal people living in key urban centres. Through the Urban Aboriginal Strategy, the Government of Canada provides flexible seed funding and seeks to partner with other levels of government, Aboriginal and community organizations, and the private sector to support initiatives that increase the economic participation of Aboriginal people living in urban centres.

In 2012, the Government of Canada extended the Urban Aboriginal Strategy and transferred three urban Aboriginal programs from Canadian Heritage to AANDC:

• Aboriginal Friendship Centres Program
• Cultural Connections for Aboriginal Youth
• Young Canada Works for Aboriginal Urban Youth

The transfer of these programs allows for greater focus and coordination of federal efforts to help urban and off-reserve Aboriginal people increase their participation in the Canadian economy.

Shared outcome: The primary goal of the Urban Aboriginal Strategy is to increase the economic participation of Aboriginal people living in cities across Canada. The strategy seeks to achieve the following outcomes:

• A strong and stable base of urban Aboriginal organizations to support urban Aboriginal people to increase their participation in the economy.
• Support for urban Aboriginal people to increase their participation in the economy through new and renewed initiatives, where appropriate.
• Improved access to, and coordination of, programs and services for urban Aboriginal people.
• Coordinated development and communication of research, policies, and plans that contribute to increased economic participation of urban Aboriginal people.
• Improved horizontal linkages and policy integration within the federal government, leading to better opportunities for partnership (e.g. the federal government, provincial and municipal governments, Aboriginal groups, and private sector).

Governance structure: As of April 2014, the Government of Canada provides $43 million per year to the National Association of Friendship Centres, which launches an annual call for proposals for Community Capacity Support and Urban Partnerships for which urban Aboriginal and other non-profit organizations can apply. The National Association of Friendship Centres is required to post its funding decisions on its website in both official languages.

AANDC administers $8.1 million of Urban Aboriginal Strategy funding through a targeted call for proposals, which supports the development of regional and community strategic plans to guide funding provided by the National Association of Friendships Centres. Funding through the Urban Aboriginal Strategy is designed to promote co-operation with other key partners (including other federal departments) and stakeholders in increasing the economic participation of urban Aboriginal people.

Performance highlights: In 2014, the Government of Canada consolidated the four urban Aboriginal programs into two new programs: Community Capacity Support and Urban Partnerships.

• The Urban Partnerships Program encourages partnerships and community planning, making investments in projects that increase the participation of urban Aboriginal people in the economy so that other community stakeholders feel confident investing their resources.
• The Community Capacity Support Program provides funding to urban Aboriginal community organizations, establishing a strong and stable base from which to attract public and private contributions while assisting organizations to deliver programs and services that support the increased participation of urban Aboriginal people in the economy.

AANDC provides $43 million per year ($23 million to Community Capacity Support and $20 million to Urban Partnerships) to the National Association of Friendship Centres to fund organizations offering programs and services that align with the Government's priority of increasing the participation of urban Aboriginal people in Canada's economy.

AANDC delivers the remaining funding to build and develop partnerships and support community and regional planning to foster the participation of Aboriginal people in the economy. The new model of delivery for the Urban Aboriginal Strategy was implemented on April 1, 2014.

Comments on variances: Not applicable

Results achieved by non-federal and non-governmental partners: In 2014–2015, the National Association of Friendship Centres supported 124 urban Aboriginal organizations across Canada with core-like funding under Community Capacity Support and 174 initiatives under Urban Partnerships to increase urban Aboriginal people's economic participation. Furthermore, numerous other partners were engaged in planning activities across eight regions to support the creation of regional strategic plans.

Contact information:
Brenda Shestowsky
Director
Income Assistance and Urban Aboriginal Strategy
Education and Social Development Programs and Partnerships
Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada
Telephone: 819-997-8212
Brenda.Shestowsky@aadnc-aandc.gc.ca