New permanent bilateral mechanisms

The Government of Canada has established permanent bilateral mechanisms with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Nation leaders to identify joint priorities, co-develop policy and monitor progress.

On this page

• Background
• Government of Canada and First Nations bilateral mechanism
• Inuit-Crown Partnership Committee
• Government of Canada and Métis bilateral mechanism

Background

New permanent bilateral mechanisms were announced in December 2016 as part of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's commitment to advancing reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.

A total of $88.6 million was invested through Budgets 2017 and 2018 to support these new mechanisms.

Government of Canada and First Nations bilateral mechanism

Progress made in 2024

• In June 2024, the Assembly of First Nations National Chief and Regional Chiefs joined federal Cabinet ministers in Ottawa for the first Nation-to-Nation meeting in 5 years, to strengthen relationships and make advancements toward shared priorities.

Progress made in 2017

• In June 2017, the Prime Minister and the National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations signed a Memorandum of Understanding on shared priorities and discussed next steps in the permanent bilateral mechanism.
• In November 2017, the Prime Minister issued a statement after meeting with Modern Treaty and Self-Governing First Nations.

Inuit-Crown Partnership Committee

Progress made in 2024

• In May 2024, the Prime Minister, the President of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, federal Cabinet ministers, and elected Inuit leadership gathered for a meeting of the Inuit-Crown Partnership Committee to discuss progress achieved over the last year, which included reaching milestones in longer-term work underway in many priority areas to create a more prosperous Inuit Nunangat.
• In November 2024, the President of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami , federal cabinet ministers, and the elected Inuit leadership gathered in Ottawa for a meeting of the Inuit-Crown Partnership Committee. Discussions focused on improving food security in Inuit Nunangat, positioning Inuit at the forefront of Canada’s Arctic Foreign Policy, and working together on Inuit rights, Inuit self-determination, and well-being to advance shared priorities towards a more prosperous Inuit Nunangat.

Progress made in 2023

• In May 2023, the Prime Minister joined the President of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, federal Cabinet ministers, and the elected Inuit leadership to endorse the evaluation report of the Committee's first five years, Building a Partnership for Transformational Change: Evaluation of the First Five Years of Implementation of the Inuit-Crown Partnership Committee.
• In October 2023, Inuit-Crown Partnership Committee Leaders met in Ottawa and endorsed work plans to advance legislative priorities and housing. They also discussed progress on several priority areas to continue advancing progress for building a thriving Inuit Nunangat.

Progress made in 2022

• In April 2022, the Prime Minister joined the President of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, federal Cabinet ministers, and the elected Inuit leadership to endorse the new, historic Inuit Nunangat Policy. The policy is also available in Inuktitut and as a PDF in Inuktut Qaliujaapait (927 KB, 13 pages).

Progress made in 2021

• In April 2021, the Prime Minister participated in the Inuit-Crown Partnership Committee meeting to review progress and address the socio-economic inequity that makes Inuit Nunangat communities uniquely vulnerable to the impacts of COVID-19.

Progress made in 2020

• In March 2020, the Prime Minister participated in the Inuit-Crown Partnership Committee meeting to review progress made since the committee was formed.

Progress made in 2019

• In April 2019, the Inuit-Crown Partnership Committee released the National Inuit Housing Strategy and set priorities for third year.

Progress made in 2018

• In March 2018, the Prime Minister participated in the Inuit-Crown Partnership Committee meeting to review progress made since the committee was formed.
• In June 2018, Inuit leaders and federal Cabinet ministers met to advance the second year priorities of the Inuit-Crown Partnership Committee by discussing concrete actions to support the unique social, cultural, economic and environmental realities of Inuit in Canada.

Progress made in 2017

• In February 2017, the Prime Minister and the President of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami met and signed a declaration announcing the Inuit-Crown Partnership Committee.
• In May 2017, the Government of Canada and Inuit elected representatives met to pursue their shared commitment to renew the Inuit-Crown relationship.
• In September 2017, Inuit leaders and federal Cabinet ministers met to further pursue outcomes for Inuit as part of the Inuit-Crown Partnership Committee.

Government of Canada and Métis Nation bilateral mechanism

Progress made in 2024

• In January 2024, leadership from the Métis National Council and its Governing Members met with federal Cabinet ministers for the Canada-Métis Nation Permanent Bilateral Mechanism, where leaders unanimously agreed to the co-development principles and advanced joint priorities to make life better for Métis citizens.

Progress made in 2019

• In March 2019, the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, the governing members and the President of the Métis National Council signed the Métis Nation Early Learning and Child Care Accord.
• In June 2019, the Prime Minister met with the Métis National Council and it's governing members at the annual Crown-Métis Nation Summit to review the progress over the past year and to set new priorities for the future.
• In June 2019, the Minister of Indigenous Services Canada and the President of the Métis National Council signed the Canada-Métis Nation Post-Secondary Education Sub-Accord further fulfilling commitments outlined in the Canada-Métis Nation Accord.
• In June 2019, the Minister of Employment and Social Development Canada, the President of the Métis National Council and its governing members signed the Canada-Métis Nation Homelessness Accord.

Progress made in 2018

• In June 2018, the Prime Minister met with the President of the Métis National Council and its governing members to review progress made during the first year of the Canada-Métis Nation Accord.
• In June 2018, the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour and the President of the Métis National Council (MNC), along with the 5 governing members, signed and endorsed the first sub-accord, the Métis Nation Skills and Employment Training Accord.
• In July 2018, the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and the President and governing members of the Métis National Council signed the co-developed Métis Nation Housing Sub-Accord, further advancing the shared priorities identified in the Canada-Métis Nation Accord.
• In August 2018, the Government of Canada and the Métis National Council signed a Memorandum of Understanding to begin development of a Health Accord to ensure Canada can support the Métis Nation in improving health outcomes of their citizens.

Progress made in 2017

• In April 2017, the Prime Minister and the President of the Métis National Council and its governing members signed the Canada-Métis Nation Accord during the first Métis Nation-Crown Summit.
• In September 2017, the President of the Métis National Council and its governing members and federal Cabinet ministers issued a joint communiqué highlighting outcomes from their first ministerial-level meeting.