Departmental Results Report 2018-19

1. Indigenous peoples and Northerners determine their political, economic, social and cultural development

The Government of Canada recognizes that all relations with Indigenous peoples need to be based on the recognition and implementation of their right to self-determination, including the inherent right of self-government. In 2018–19, the department achieved the following:

• Held over 100 engagement sessions with nearly 1,700 First Nation, Inuit and Métis peoples to hear their thoughts on what should be included in future federal legislation and policy as part of the Government of Canada's commitment to basing its relationship with Indigenous peoples on the recognition and implementation of Indigenous rights. The department is committed to meaningful engagement and co-developing rights-based initiatives with Indigenous peoples. For example, in British Columbia, the Government of Canada worked collaboratively with the First Nations Summit and Government of British Columbia to co-develop a policy that will more effectively address the rights, interests and priorities of those First Nations negotiating in the British Columbia Treaty process.
• Supported the drafting of legislation to dissolve the department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and create 2 new departments, better designed to meet the needs of Indigenous peoples:
  • Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada, to advance nation-to-nation, Inuit–Crown, and government-to-government relationships; support Indigenous peoples' vision of self-determination; and lead the work of the Government of Canada in the North
  • Indigenous Services Canada, which will improve access to high-quality services for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples; support and empower Indigenous peoples to increase Indigenous control over the delivery of those services; and improve the socio–economic conditions, quality of life, and safety in their communities
  The legislation was introduced in Parliament in April 2019 and received Royal Assent on June 21, 2019.
• Continued to support the Permanent Bilateral Mechanisms with the Assembly of First Nations, the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, the 4 Inuit Nunangat Regions, and the Métis National Council and its' governing members to make progress in addressing key social, economic, cultural, and environmental issues through 14 meetings between key federal Cabinet ministers and Indigenous leaders to advance joint priorities. Some key results are: the signing of the co-developed Métis Nation Housing Sub-Accord in July 2018; the Statement of Apology to the Inuit by the Prime Minister for the management of the Tuberculosis Epidemic from the 1940s to the 1960s in March 2019; endorsing of the co-developed Inuit Nunangat Housing Strategy in November 2018; the co-development of Bill C-92, An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families, which was introduced in February 2019 and received Royal Assent on June 21, 2019.
  • Canada signed a political accord on December 5, 2018, with the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples, who represent off-reserve Status and non-Status Indians, NunatuKavut Inuit and Métis peoples, to identify joint priorities and co-develop policy to improve socio-economic conditions.
  • Canada also signed an Accord with the Native Women's Association of Canada (NWAC) on February 1, 2019. The Accord is the formalization of a relationship process that sets out how the Government of Canada and NWAC will work together to ensure the voices of Indigenous women in Canada are reflected in all federal policy, program and legislation in Canada.
• Held the second Canada–Modern Treaty and Self Governing Forum on January 8, 2019. From this forum, 3 key priorities were raised with the Prime Minister and were shared with the Inuit-Crown Partnership Committee Land Claims Implementation Working Group:
  • The creation of an Implementation Policy
  • The creation of a Modern Treaties Implementation Review Commission
  • Amendments to the Interpretation Act to include a non-derogation clause
  The department will continue to work with partners in 2019–20 to develop options in these key priority areas.
• Continued to engage in self-government negotiations and discussions with Indigenous communities. As of March 31, 2019, 142 active negotiations were underway with Indigenous communities across the country to co-develop proposals that better address First Nations, Inuit and Métis needs and priorities. These included 54 Modern Treaty and Self-Government negotiations, 79 Recognition of Indigenous Rights and Self-Determination negotiations and 9 other negotiation processes; representing 480 First Nations, 42 Inuit communities and 9 Métis groups across the country, with a total population of over 890 000 individuals. Specifically, the department:
  • Continued to advance reconciliation with First Nations, Inuit and Metis communities through the signing of Agreements-in-Principle, preliminary-type relationship agreements such as Memorandum of Understanding (MOUs) and Letters of Understanding (LOUs), and other constructive arrangements. In 2018–19 CIRNAC co-developed and signed 38 preliminary agreements, 3 Agreements-in-Principle, and 2 agreements:
    • The first agreement is an interim fiscal agreement with the Manitoba Metis Federation (MMF) which will be used to support the social, cultural and economic well-being of the Métis community in Manitoba.
    • The second agreement is the Anishinabek Nation Education Agreement which recognized 23 Anishinabek First Nations' jurisdiction over Kindergarten to Grade 12 education. The Education Agreement marked the first Governance Agreement in Ontario, and due to the number of participating First Nations, the largest Education self-government agreement in Canada. The enabling legislation, the Anishinabek Nation Education Agreement Act (Bill C-61), came into force on April 1, 2018. The Act created the Anishinabek Education System, a system designed by Anishinabek First Nations for Anishinabek students, to deliver culturally relevant and community-tailored education programs and services for the benefit of current and future generations.
  • CIRNAC settled 3 historic grievances in 2018–19 which represent significant milestones in the Crown-Indigenous relationship:
    • The Lubicon Lake Band land claim settlement agreement was signed on October 24, 2018. The resolution of this historic grievance includes the transfer of provincial Crown land for reserve, the development of community infrastructure and financial compensation. The Lubicon Lake Band was missed from treaty-making in 1899 due to their remote location.
    • The settlement and apology to the Ahiarmiut brought a measure of closure for the community regarding a series of forced relocation in the 1950s, and was a momentous step towards reconciliation.
    • The settlement and apology to the 7 Williams Treaties First Nations, which was a tripartite agreement, resolved a 95-year-old claim which was the subject of 20 years of extremely complex litigation.
• Continued working in partnership with the Treaty Relations Commission of Manitoba and the Office of the Treaty Commissioner in Saskatchewan. These Commissions continued to advance greater understanding and awareness of historic treaties; increased partnerships; and supported reconciliation through a number of initiatives. These initiatives included: treaty education in public schools and training for teachers; treaty awareness sessions with private industry and the general public; facilitated discussions on treaty issues; and, research and publications.
  • In British Columbia, the federal government continued to work in partnership with the Province and the First Nations Summit to improve, expedite and transform treaty negotiation. CIRNAC continued the work to implement proposals made in the report on the "Multilateral Engagement Process to Improve and Expedite Treaty Negotiations in British Columbia", endorsed by the Principals to the British Columbia treaty process in May 2016. On December 1, 2018, the Principals signed the Principals' Accord on Transforming Treaty Negotiations in British Columbia as a demonstration of commitment to transformative change beyond the Multilateral Engagement process. This Accord signals that the Crown and First Nations are committed to removing impediments to treaty negotiations in British Columbia and affirms an approach based on recognition and implementation of Indigenous rights, rather than extinguishment. In September 2019, the Recognition and Reconciliation of Rights Policy for treaty negotiations in British Columbia was released. The new policy will enable flexible, innovative and collaborative approaches that improve how treaties are reached in British Columbia.
• Advanced issues relating to Indian registration, band membership and First Nation citizenship, by launching a Collaborative Process on June 12, 2018. This inclusive and flexible Process provided an opportunity to consult with a total of 14,310 people across Canada on these issues, including the removal of the 1951 cut-off from the Indian Act as required under Bill S-3.
  • Claudette Dumont-Smith, as the appointed Minister's Special Representative (MSR), led a total of 15 regional events with First Nation representatives. In addition, 179 First Nations and Indigenous groups received funding, which resulted in 420 community sessions and 3,304 individuals participated in an online survey, which facilitated the sharing of their input into the Collaborative Process. This Process concluded on March 31, 2019. A final report on the consultations was tabled in Parliament on June 12, 2019. This report included the MSR report and recommendations for the next steps. Amendments in Bill S-3 to remove the 1951 cut-off were brought into force on August 15, 2019. All known sex-based inequities in the Indian Act have now been addressed.
• Began implementing, in collaboration with other government departments and key Indigenous partners, in December 2018, a series of measures to address the border crossing concerns of Indigenous Peoples identified in the 2017 Report on First Nation Border Crossing Issues by the Minister's Special Representative, Fred Caron. These measures included the addition of a machine-readable zone to the Secure Certificate of Indian Status to facilitate Canada-U.S. border crossing, and a commitment to a longer-term distinctions-based process to explore with Indigenous partners potential solutions to a number of more complex border crossing issues, relating, for example, to mobility and identification.
• Continued collaborating with Self-Governing Indigenous Governments through the Collaborative Fiscal Policy Development Process, which commenced in May 2016, with regular meetings over the reporting period. A draft policy framework was completed on December 2018, along with several co-developed funding formulas supporting the policy framework for new approaches to governance funding, capital replacement and repairs, and culture, language and heritage.
  • Discussions are expected to continue with Self-Governing Indigenous Governments over the coming years to complete components of the framework including: culture, language and heritage; lands and resources; infrastructure and housing; and, programs and services.
• Developed and implemented the Nation Rebuilding Program, investing $100 million over the next 5 years in Indigenous communities to help reconstitute themselves as nations and create institutions with the breadth and capacity to take on the exercise of rights, including self-government.
• Continued to work with Indigenous organizations, provinces and territories, and Northerners to co-develop Canada's Arctic and Northern Policy Framework. This included intensive collaborative drafting through weekly meetings and targeted engagements between April and December 2018. Review and validation engagements on the draft goals and objectives were completed in January and February 2019, with meetings held across the Arctic and North with a wide range of partners and stakeholders. The Framework was launched on September 10, 2019, and since then, a number of Territorial and Indigenous chapters were also launched by co-development partners. These chapters articulate the priorities and aspirations of co-development partners, and will inform ongoing collaboration.

2. Indigenous peoples and Northerners advance their governance institutions

Renewal of the nation-to-nation, government-to-government, and Inuit-Crown relationships, including treaty relationships, includes putting in place effective mechanisms to support the transition away from colonial systems of administration and governance through support to Indigenous peoples and Northerners to advance their governance institutions. In 2018–19, the department:

• Supported the amendment of the First Nations Fiscal Management Act, through Bill C-86, which received Royal Assent in December 2018. The amendments, which were developed as part of the ongoing collaboration and consultation with the 3 First Nation-led institutions (First Nations Financial Management Board, First Nations Tax Commission, and the First Nations Finance Authority), simplified and clarified provisions in the Act and extended access to Indigenous organizations and additional First Nations.
  • Strengthened the operations of the 3 First Nation-led institutions through Budget 2018 investment of $50 million over 5 years and $11 million ongoing. This investment will support these institutions in responding to the increasing demand for their expertise and services from First Nations. The department also continued to explore options for alternative financing mechanisms with the First Nations Finance Authority.
  • Advanced the First Nations Infrastructure Institution concept, in collaboration with the First Nations Infrastructure Institution Development Board and technical working group, through consultations with First Nations and Indigenous financial organizations, identifying potential demonstration projects and developing options for the way forward.
• Supported amendments to the First Nations Land Management Act (FNLMA), through Bill C-86, which provide First Nation communities with more flexibility and control over their ratification processes, jointly held reserves, additions-to-reserve, and revenue and capital monies, once they have ratified their community-developed land code. The FNLMA is the first piece of federal legislation enacted to reference Canada's endorsement of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
• Continued to support the addition of signatories to the Framework Agreement on First Nation Land Management and the FNLMA. As of March 31, 2019, there were 164 First Nation communities who are now signatories, 78 of whom were operational and had developed community-approved land codes and law-making authority. Being operational enables communities to opt-out of 44 sections of the Indian Act related to the management of land, environment, and natural resources. Budget 2018 invested $143.5 million to support 50 additional First Nations in becoming signatories to the Framework Agreement by 2023.
• Continued to support the establishment of land governance regimes, either through the FNLMA or Self-Government agreements. As of March 31, 2019, 18% of First Nations have established land governance regimes. The 24% target was not met due to a few reasons: some First Nations experienced delays in developing their land codes and many First Nations were not able to meet the voting requirements to their proposed land codes. The recent amendments made to the Framework Agreement on First Nation Land Management and the FNLMA, in addition to Budget 2018 investments, are expected to generate an increase in the number of First Nations with established land governance regimes in 2019–20.
• Supported the on-going work of the Centre of Excellence for Matrimonial Real Property and First Nations in developing their own matrimonial real property laws. Through the national engagement on matrimonial real property on-reserve, First Nations provided concrete examples to illustrate their issues and needs. Budget 2018 provided investments of $5.5 million over the next 2 years to begin to address some of these issues and needs. The department also invested in new, more targeted training and awareness activities to address gaps identified through the national engagement and program evaluation in the administration and enforcement of the Family Homes on Reserves and Matrimonial Interests or Rights Act. Findings from the national engagement are continuing to inform options for future program direction.
• Continued to support Northerners in advancing their governance institutions. The Nunavut Devolution negotiation process is currently ongoing. During this reporting period, 8 Tripartite Main Table meetings occurred between the Government of Canada, Government of Nunavut and Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated to help foster the discussions between involved parties, and to develop an Agreement-in-Principle, which sets out a framework for negotiating the terms of transfer of lands and resources to the Government of Nunavut.
• Continued to support nation-to-nation relationships with Indigenous peoples through a whole-of-government approach by providing executive oversight of the implementation of the Cabinet Directive on the Federal Approach to Modern Treaty Implementation via the Deputy Minister's Oversight Committee. In 2018–19, the Committee met 5 times, with Indigenous partners participating in 4 meetings.
  • Completed, in co-operation with modern Treaty partners, a redesign of the Modern Treaty Implementation training. There were 5 training sessions delivered to 112 federal officials in the National Capital Region, British Columbia, and Nunavut. Additional training on completing an Assessment of Modern Treaty Implications was provided to 58 federal officials. This training supports the successful implementation of modern treaties.
  • Assisted other federal departments with the development of 96 Assessments of Modern Treaty Implications.
• Continued to provide policy and operational guidance as well as responded to information requests regarding Indigenous consultation and accommodation issues including the principle of free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) in the context of the duty to consult. Through the number of requests of advice received by the department, an increase in the interest for guidance on FPIC was noticed and such guidance will be included when updating the Guidelines for Federal Officials to Fulfill the Duty to Consult.

3. Past injustices are recognized and resolved

Assimilationist policies and practices have led to the denial of Indigenous rights. The Government of Canada is committed to reconciliation as an ongoing process which requires the recognition of rights, acknowledgement of past wrongs, including the disenfranchisement of women under the Indian Act, and working together to co-develop solutions with Indigenous peoples. In 2018–19, the department:

• Continued to support and advance the implementation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's 76 Calls to Actions which are under shared or federal purview. As of September 2019, 9 Calls to Action have been fully implemented, 54 are well underway and 13 are in early planning stages. The Government of Canada reports on how it is responding to the Calls to Action, transparently, through periodic updates on a dedicated webpage.
• Continued to implement the 2016 Policy on Additions to Reserve/Reserve Creation, which streamlines the processing of Addition-to-Reserve proposals. The Policy divides the process into 4 clear phases with an overarching focus on project management. This provides for early collaboration with implicated stakeholders and the First Nation. Specifically, the new policy requires a Letter of Support early in the process that clearly outlines conditions to be resolved, before Ministerial consideration, for adding the land to reserve. Canada is continuing to work with the National Addition-to-Reserves Advisory Committee to continue to identify improvements to the process.
  • The number of hectares of land added to the reserve land base to fulfill legal obligations was lower than the target in 2018–19 (13,906 hectares vs. 37,474 hectares). The deviation was a result of First Nations prioritizing smaller parcels in urban areas that have economic development potential. As these often have a greater number of third party interests, they are more complex and take additional time to process. There are also long-standing issues (e.g. hydro easements, mines and mineral interests) to be addressed and once resolved will unlock thousands of acres of Treaty Land Entitlement land in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Economic analysis that supports the increased economic benefits of urban parcels of land include the January 2019 report, Indigenous Contributions to the Manitoba Economy.
• Co-developed a proposal, through the Assembly of First Nations—Canada Joint Technical Working Group on Specific Claims, to take a more collaborative approach to the resolution of specific claims. A key element of the response to this proposal was the announcement in Budget 2019 of additional funding to support First Nations' research and development of specific claims, and the renewal an replenishment of the Specific Claims Settlement Fund.
• Continued to work on resolving disputes, with Indigenous peoples, outside of the courts, including the implementation of healing and commemoration activities, as part of the Newfoundland and Labrador Residential Schools settlement. From February to May 2018, 10 community healing and commemoration sessions occurred (9 in Newfoundland and Labrador and 1 in Ontario). December 1, 2018, marked the implementation of the Sixties Scoop (Status Indians and Inuit) settlement agreement and in March 2019, the Minister and representative plaintiffs announced that the parties had reached a proposed settlement of the McLean Indian Day Schools litigation. Both settlements include the establishment of organizations to support healing, wellness, education, language, culture and commemoration.
• Worked in partnership with Indian Residential Schools Adjudication Secretariat (the independent, arm's-length organization mandated with the implementation of the Independent Assessment Process), Service Canada and ISC to continue implementing and fulfilling the terms of the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement. Specifically, in 2018–19, the department:
  • Led the joint process of ensuring funding availability for Independent Assessment Process operations and Common Experience Payments in anticipation of the Kivalliq Hall implementation order and collaborated with Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. and the Kivalliq Inuit Association on strategies to maximize community participation in the Common Experience Payments.
  • Worked with ISC to ensure continued access to mental health and emotional support services for former Residential School students and their families.

In 2018–19, the Adjudication Secretariat:

• Completed all remaining first claimant hearings for ongoing Independent Assessment Process claims, a significant milestone for the Process.
• Launched the court-ordered, nationwide Notice Program to inform claimants of their rights to direct whether their Independent Assessment Process documents be archived at the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, provided to them individually, or destroyed.

1. Indigenous communities advance their business development and economic growth

The department supports Indigenous and northern communities in advancing their economic development by investing in community readiness, entrepreneurs and businesses, land management, and strategic partnerships. In 2018–19, the department achieved the following results:

• Leveraged access to $117 million in new capital for the Aboriginal Financial Institutions network by collaborating with the National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association.
  • Budget 2019 announced up to $100 million to establish an Indigenous Growth Fund to encourage investment by Aboriginal Financial Institutions, which will lead to better support for the Aboriginal Financial Institutions network and Indigenous entrepreneurs.
• Continued to support the National Indigenous Economic Development Board (NIEDB) in advancing its' innovative policy agenda which focuses on Indigenous Economic Reconciliation, the launch of the Northern Sustainable Food Systems Recommendations Report, and progress on Indigenous women's entrepreneurship.
• Supported the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) on the Canadian portion of its research project: Linking Indigenous Communities to Regional Development. Facilitated several case study missions and interactions with Indigenous communities and organizations which allowed the OECD to have meaningful dialogue and gather pertinent information for their final report.
  • The NIEDB also participated in the aforementioned OECD project by helping to create a platform for exchange of best practices and experiences between Indigenous community leaders, policy makers and experts; providing a diagnosis of the development potential of different Indigenous communities; highlighting best practices; and, recommending improvements regarding policies for Indigenous communities. This depth of Indigenous involvement in this project is critical for its success.
• Contributed to the Government of Canada's procurement modernization agenda by sending a letter from CIRNAC and Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) to departments and agencies challenging them to increasing the amounts set aside for Indigenous business to a level of 5% over the next 5 years and engaging with Indigenous businesses, associations and organizations to modernize Indigenous procurement policy via regional roundtables, design-thinking workshops and a national on-line process.
• Worked with key Indigenous partners, such as the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC), the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business, the Native Women's Association of Canada and Indigenous Works to develop and implement international, national, and regional strategies to support business and economic development. In 2018–19, the Aboriginal Entrepreneurship program (AEP) funded 19 projects with a value of over $5.0 million.
  • With AEP funding support, ITAC has successfully undertaken a number of initiatives, including: the National Aboriginal Tourism Research Report, which identified key challenges and opportunities for the Indigenous tourism industry, and the Path Forward, a 5-year strategy aimed at increasing the profile of the industry and its contributions to the Canadian economy.
  • In November 2018, the AEP funded an Indigenous social finance stream at the MaRS Social Finance Conference where Indigenous social finance leaders shared practical tools and insights on how Indigenous peoples and governments have developed social finance approaches. The Conference also organized a roundtable with more than 30 Indigenous people and Government officials to discuss social finance and how Indigenous organizations and government can build capacity.
• Supported large-scale commercial and industrial projects in First Nation and Inuit communities through the provision of project funding to pursue economic opportunities and leverage access to private sector resources. In 2018–19, 24 projects in 23 communities with populations ranging from 315 to 11,593 (total population of 63,118), were funded for an investment of $19.5 million. Project types included: projects to address economic infrastructure (e.g. incubator park infrastructure and highway development infrastructure); equity gaps (e.g. wind farm acquisition); and economic opportunities (e.g. establishment of a travel centre, construction of feta cheese processing plant, hotel construction). Budget 2019 invests a further $78.9 million over 5 years, starting in 2019–20, with $15.8 million per year ongoing, to support First Nation and Inuit community-owned businesses and the construction of community economic infrastructure through the Community Opportunity Readiness Program.
  • Regulations were updated under the First Nations Commercial and Industrial Development Act to enable the development and operation of a diversion-type hydroelectric facility on the Black Lake First Nation reserve lands in northern Saskatchewan.
• Modernized Indian Oil and Gas Regulations were pre-published in the May 19, 2018 Canada Gazette Part I for public comment. As a result of feedback, accommodations were made. The new Indian Oil and Gas Regulations were approved in June 10, 2019 and came into force on August 1, 2019. During 2018–19, $55 million was collected by Indian Oil and Gas Canada on behalf of First Nations as a result of oil and gas development on First Nation lands.
• Worked, in partnership with the National Aboriginal Land Managers Association, to conduct a joint technical review of the Indian Referendum Regulations. Based on a series of roundtable discussions with National Aboriginal Land Managers Association members, an assessment of the Regulations was co-developed and a number of potential reform options were identified.
• Supported the development of strategic joint economic development plans between municipalities and neighbouring communities through the Community Economic Development Initiative. This has resulted in 15 partnerships involving 25 First Nation communities (total population of 40,697) and 23 municipalities (total population of 1,852,137), across Canada for an annual investment of $650,000. For example:
  • Fort William First Nation and the City of Thunder Bay, Ontario are collaborating on the development of the Fort William Industrial park, located on Fort William First Nation lands. Planning departments and staff of the City of Thunder Bay, the First Nation and Thunder Bay economic development corporations are jointly leveraging provincial and federal funds for this project, given the potential to attract business to the Thunder Bay region. It is estimated that more than 250 jobs will be created for the First Nation.
  • Okanagan Indian Band and the City of Vernon, British Columbia have signed and celebrated a Friendship accord and terms of reference have been completed for a joint working group.
• Continued to implement the Métis Nation Economic Development Strategy announced in Budget 2016, including the monitoring of recapitalization with the 5 Métis Capital Corporations and launching the Métis Financial Corporation of British Columbia, the first Métis Capital Corporation in that province. Collaboration on a joint tourism initiative and joint strategic waterfront plan is now underway. Budget 2019 provided $50 million to recapitalize the 5 Métis Capital Corporations.
• Supported the Matawa First Nations, located in Ontario, in co-designing a collective decision making framework, and supported the Community Well-being pilot project working with Neskantaga, Webequie, and Marten Falls First Nations to accelerate improvements in housing, training, governance, and financial administration. In July 2019, Webequie and Marten Falls formally commenced the federal environmental assessment process as proponents of an all-season north-south access corridor to the Ring of Fire, and along with Aroland First Nation, have entered into development agreements with Noront Resources Ltd., the major mining proponent in the region.

2. Indigenous and northern communities strengthen their capacity to adapt to changing environments

Indigenous and northern communities face many challenges that demand the capacity to adapt to changing environments. These include: managing the impacts of a changing climate, addressing the high and often fluctuating costs of food, and promoting sustainable development that balances environmental, social, and economic well-being. Other important factors include: remoteness and inaccessibility, cold climate, aging and inefficient infrastructure, flooding, reliance on diesel for electricity generation, and space heating. In 2018–19, the department achieved the following results:

• Funded more than 200 projects via the Indigenous Community-Based Climate Monitoring Program (63 projects), the First Nation Adapt Program (73 projects), and the Climate Change Preparedness in the North Program (112 projects) to help increase the resilience of Indigenous and northern communities through the identification of adaptation risks and adaptation measures. The department's investments of $25.9 million supported 369 Indigenous and northern communities across Canada to:
  • monitor climate change impacts to inform community adaptation actions
  • support vulnerability assessments, cost-benefit analysis and the development of floodplain maps in First Nation communities and traditional lands
  • support risk assessments and adaptation planning, and implementing structural and non-structural adaptation measures

• Began to implement, as of January 1, 2019, improvements to Nutrition North Canada (NNC), that were informed by consultations with Northerners. These improvements, when fully implemented, will include: a fully revised subsidized food list that is now more relevant to Northerners, and which includes a focus on northern staples and family-friendly items; a new highest-level subsidy rate specifically for milk, frozen fruit, frozen vegetables, infant formula, and infant food; and an increase to the 2 current subsidy rates to help further lower the cost of perishable, nutritious food.
  • During the engagement process, Northerners made it clear that support for country/traditional food should be provided through separate and complementary programming. In response, a Harvesters Support Grant was announced in the fall of 2018, which has been co-developed with Indigenous partners. The government is in the process of creating the grant, which will become a third distinct component to the existing NNC.
  • NNC continues to engage with key stakeholders on how the program can be more responsive to the needs of Northerners and Indigenous peoples. NNC launched an Indigenous Working Group in May 2017, which ensures that the unique interests, priorities and circumstances of First Nations and Métis are acknowledged, affirmed, and implemented. As of December 2018, NNC also began participating in the newly created Inuit-Crown Food Security Working Group, a distinctions-based platform specific to Inuit interests, to continue to update the program.
• Supported local, national and international initiatives by providing data and expertise through the Northern Contaminants Program. These initiatives aimed at monitoring, assessing and reducing, or eliminating contaminants mostly found in water and country food consumed by Northerners. Results in 2018–19 included 2 meetings of each of the 5 regional contaminants committees (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut, Nunavik, Nunatsiavut), and 3 meetings of the program's national management committee, the launch of the online Project Discovery Portal, and the release of the Canadian Arctic Contaminants Assessment Report, Contaminants in Canada's North: State of Knowledge and Regional Highlights produced under the Arctic Council's Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP), including the AMAP Assessment 2018: Biological Effects of Contaminants on Arctic Wildlife & Fish.

3. Land and resources in Indigenous communities and the North are sustainably managed

Many remote Indigenous and northern communities are not connected to power grids, and rely on high-cost diesel-powered electrical generation. Investment in alternative energy sources, where possible, can provide reliable, clean energy at a lower cost to Indigenous and northern communities.

In addition, the North has a number of contaminated sites, abandoned by previous occupants that include legacy contamination, primarily from private sector mining, and oil and gas activities as well as military activities by the Government. Land use planning, capacity building and training, enable First Nation communities to effectively manage lands, natural resources and solid waste and environmental activities that will leverage community and economic development opportunities. In 2018–19, the department achieved the following results:

• Supported Indigenous peoples and Northerners in reducing their reliance on diesel according to the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change.
  • The Northern Responsible Energy Approach for Community Heat and Electricity Program (REACHE) invested $3.9M in 36 projects in 22 communities. The projects focused on bringing proven technologies, such as solar, biomass heating, and LED lighting to communities. The Program also worked closely with regional stakeholders to identify, prioritize and fund projects. Since 2016, clean energy and energy efficiency projects supported by Northern REACHE have reduced diesel consumption by an estimated 263,000 litres, which represents a reduction of over 739,000 kilograms of CO2.
• Continued to lead and support coordination and integration of federal government policy and programming in the North, including through the management of interdepartmental committees and horizontal initiatives involving more than 25 federal departments and agencies.
• Created the Northern Participant Funding Program on December 19, 2018, as a part of the department's ongoing commitment to renewing Canada's relationship with Indigenous peoples. The Program helps Indigenous peoples and Northerners access the resources and expertise needed to participate effectively in impact assessments of major resource or infrastructure development projects in Canada's North.
• Continued to support efficient and effective impact assessment regimes and engaged directly on project reviews in Nunavut, the Northwest Territories, and the Yukon.
• Continued to support regulatory frameworks in the North, including environmental assessment legislation that yields sound resource management decision making. This includes:
  • In November 2018, Bill C-88, an Act to amend the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act and the Canada Petroleum Resources Act and to make consequential amendments to other Acts, was introduced in the House of Commons. It received Royal Assent on June 21, 2019.
  • In the context of addressing implementation issues with the Nunavut Planning and Project Assessment Act, departmental officials held on-going discussions with representatives of the Government of Nunavut, Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated and the Nunavut resource management boards over the course of the year.
• Continued work towards co-developing options to enhance the Reserve Land and Environment Management Program based upon what was heard in the 2017 national engagement with Indigenous organizations and First Nations. In 2018–19, a partnership was established with Algoma University for the delivery of training for land managers in Eastern Canada, in addition to an existing partnership with the University of Saskatchewan for Central Canada. Discussions are ongoing to work towards the delivery of training for land managers in Western Canada starting in May 2020; 28 land managers are expected to be trained in 2019–20.
• Worked in partnership with the Indian Resource Council of Canada, through a joint technical committee, to modernize Indian Oil and Gas Regulations. The updated Regulations were pre-published on May 19, 2018 in the Canada Gazette Part I for public comments and the feedback received resulted in accommodations. The new Indian Oil and Gas Regulations were approved on June 10, 2019 and came into force as of August 1, 2019.
• Supported 17 First Nations in completing their land use plans; 45 First Nations to continue with the development of their land-use planning process; and the completion of 97 land survey projects. The department also continued to work with Indigenous organizations to build or enhance their capacity. Close to 60 First Nation practitioners received training in land use planning and surveying via the National Aboriginal Lands Managers Association, 15 land managers were certified in a new land management program delivered by the Tulo Centre of Indigenous Economics, and 2 new regional lands associations were created to provide better land support services to First Nations located in Ontario and Manitoba.
• Continued to make progress on the assessment, care and maintenance, remediation/risk management and monitoring activities of high priority contaminated sites in the territories. Indigenous and northern workers respectively made up 21% and 45% of the total person/hours employed on northern contaminated sites projects, while 32% and 54% of the total contract dollar value awarded for work on these sites was held by Indigenous and northern companies respectively.
  • Indigenous communities participated in the planning phase of these high priority projects through consultations, community engagements, and partnering and capacity building opportunities. For example, the department held meetings with Indigenous representatives in proximity to the Faro Mine site to gather feedback on human health, adaptive management, and water quality monitoring in support of the environmental and socio-economic assessment process. For the Giant Mine site in the Northwest Territories, the department conducted an Archeological Impact Assessment in partnership with the Indigenous stakeholders in the region in order to seek traditional knowledge on the subject. Elders recommended that a larger land area be examined as a part of the assessment, which ensured that the department's work was culturally relevant to the surrounding Indigenous communities.
• Advanced opportunities for the re-commercialization of abandoned mine sites by leveraging private sector interest in remaining mineral resources at these sites. In Yukon, successful negotiations resulted in the signing of the Mount Nansen Governments Agreement in June 2019. This tripartite agreement between the First Nation, Yukon Government, and Canada solidifies a collaborative relationship on the sale and remediation of the Mount Nansen abandoned mine site. In the Northwest Territories, the department signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the Territorial Government to market the Cantung and Mactung mine site assets.
• Conducted assessments on 451 sites on reserve and remediation activities on 236 sites, since 2016, for an investment of $174 million. In 2018–19, the program conducted activities on 30.5% of the contaminated sites on reserve that pose imminent danger to public health or safety. The target of 35% was not met due to the limited availability of funding; contracting delays, both with the department and with First Nations, and unfavourable weather which reduced activity on contaminated sites. Steps are being taken to minimize contracting delays in the future and ensure that funding is available early in the fiscal year to address these sites.
• Continued to support First Nations in improving solid-waste management which is critical to protecting the environment, health and safety of communities. Since 2016, 501 projects in 464 communities representing a population of 411,000 have been completed under the First Nations Waste Management Initiative for a total investment of $203.7 million. The initial years of this critical infrastructure program focussed on the necessary feasibility and planning phases that are part of all infrastructure programs. Projects have now moved into the construction phase and First Nations are entering into agreements.
  • Pilot projects to transfer program delivery to Indigenous organizations were started in 2018–19. The department started working with the First Nations Land Management Resource Centre this year to allow them to develop their own call for proposals and fund community-led solid waste management projects across the country for Framework Agreement communities. First Nations Land Management Resource Centre hired a solid waste coordinator, developed training resources for communities, and disbursed funds to 10 First Nations communities for their solid waste projects. This first year of the pilot, First Nations Land Management Resource Centre received $700,000 to complete this work, and further work is expected in the coming year. A similar project is being undertaken with the Confederacy of Mainland Mi'kmaq to deliver elements of solid waste programming to 8 communities in Atlantic Canada.
• Established a path forward for the strategic management of Arctic offshore oil and gas resources, including co-developing a strategy for the 5-year science-based review and negotiating of co-management and revenue sharing of Beaufort Sea oil and gas.
• Committed to a future approach on Arctic offshore oil and gas which will be developed in collaboration with all parties concerned. As part of the next steps, the Government will:
  • freeze the terms of the existing licences in the Arctic offshore to preserve existing rights, remit the balance of any financial deposit related to licences to affected licence holders and suspend any oil and gas activities for the duration of the moratorium
  • work with northern partners to co-develop the scope and governance framework for a science-based, life-cycle impact assessment review every 5 years that takes into account marine and climate change science
  • negotiate a Beaufort Sea oil and gas co-management and revenue-sharing agreement with the governments of the Northwest Territories and Yukon, and the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation

1. Management and Oversight Services

To ensure that programs and services delivered by CIRNAC are relevant, efficient and effective, in 2018–19, the department conducted audits, evaluations, financial investigations and risk assessments.

Special attention was given to identifying, assessing, and responding to the risks that existed with the creation of CIRNAC as a new department. For example, risk analysis work revealed that there was a risk that CIRNAC would not be able to effectively design, operationalize and manage through the changes that are needed to transform the department and implement the Government's agenda. To respond to this risk, the department implemented a number of measures including:

• the creation of a Transformation Office and the development of a change management work plan
• ongoing staff engagement sessions where updates on transformation efforts were provided and issues discussed
• regular communications from the Deputy Minister on change activities
• collaboration with the Major Project Management Office, Shared Services Canada and Public Services an Procurement Canada to actively address transition issues

This risk did not materialize due to the mitigation measures that were put in place.

In our commitment to evidence-based policymaking, the department continued to strengthen its demographic and socio-economic research and analytical capacity. Important investments continue to be made both in the collection and dissemination of Indigenous survey data, including the Aboriginal Peoples Survey and the First Nations Labour and Employment Development Survey. As part of these efforts, the department also continued to work with partners such as the First Nations Information Governance Center, Statistics Canada, and academia to better understand socio-economic gaps between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. The department developed a new series for the Community Well-being Index (1981-2016), which was subsequently published in May 2019. The department continues to update other measurement tools and research products, including the Community Remoteness and Environmental Indices, and Indigenous demographic projections. The department's public statistical enquiries service (INSTAT) that provides authoritative socio-economic and demographic information, responded to over 1000 detailed requests for data, 50% external to the department.

The update of the Departmental Results Framework was initiated in 2018–19 and will be finalized in 2019–20 following the coming into force of the legislation creating the new department (July 2019). The updated Framework will better reflect CIRNAC's longer-term mandate and vision.

2. Communications Services

In 2018–19, the Communications team le multiple transformation communications related to the dissolution of Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) and the creation of CIRNAC and ISC.

A new CIRNAC website was created; content was migrated and updated from the previous INAC website. Using social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, the team supported the Government of Canada engagement with Indigenous peoples and all Canadians in support of reconciliation.

CIRNAC also coordinated a variety of public events and the organization of Indigenous cultural awareness events, including Archived - #IndigenousReads.

3. Human Resources Management Services

CIRNAC concentrated its efforts to finalize the department's Workplace Well-Being and Mental Health Strategy, which was officially released in June 2018.

• The Strategy outlines numerous actions to help achieve CIRNAC's goals related to workplace wellness.
• Furthermore, CIRNAC worked closely with a new Centre for Abilities Management and Workplace Wellness on the Workplace Wellbeing and Mental Health strategies. This Centre has taken the lead on the implementation of the Accessible Canada Act (Bill C-81), as well as the implementation of the Public Service Accessibility Strategy.

With regards to Indigenous recruitment, leadership development, and retention, the Aboriginal Leadership Development Initiative continued to be delivered under the umbrella of the Deputy Minister's Aboriginal Workforce Initiative II. This initiative succeeded in launching Cohort 5, with 21 participants from 12 government departments including ISC and CIRNAC.

The Aspiring Indigenous Managers Development Initiative (AIMDI) Framework was presented in spring 2017. In 2018–19, consultations for interests and support were done with internal and external stakeholders. Further analysis is required regarding feasibility.

Since implementing a new approach to addressing issues related to the implementation of the Phoenix Pay System and adding resources to the pay function, the department has demonstrated improvements and was in the top 10 federal departments in terms of reducing their backlog. Through collaborative work with the Pay Centre and different HR-to-Pay initiatives, there has been a decrease in the number of pay issues. At the end of fiscal year 2017–18 there were about 19,000 pay issues in arrears, by the end of 2018–19 there were about 14,000 cases, an improvement of 26% in 1 year. CIRNAC continues to offer support to ISC for pay-related issues and adopted the Pay Pod model in May 2019. This initiative is part of the Government of Canada's commitment to supporting employees and resolving public service pay issues as quickly as possible.

4. Financial Management Services

In 2018–19, the department successfully delivered the integrated financial systems for the 2019–20 fiscal year, revised business processes, budget management regimes and reporting processes to enable the transition of people, services, financial information and integrated systems required to ensure payments to Indigenous recipients were processed.

5. Information Management and Information Technology Services

The Information Management and Information Technology (IM/IT) services supported CIRNAC in planning, designing and implementing IM/IT solutions required to support both departments and implementing Government of Canada IM/IT projects, standards, direction and strategies. At the same time, existing systems were maintained to support business continuity.

6. Real Property, Materiel, and Acquisition Services

In 2018–19, the department continued the implementation of its Real Property Management Action Plan to address urgent health and safety risks identified through various studies and to minimize/manage departmental liability with respect to its off-reserve custodial real property portfolio. Significant progress was made in a number of areas, including demolition projects, asset-specific strategic planning, internal/external stakeholder consultation and divestiture planning. Implementation of recommendation of various studies along with divestiture planning will continue in the coming year in consultation with internal and external stakeholders to address ownership and other sensitive issues. To advance the department's procurement agenda, during 2018–19 the focus was on transition and included the transfer of contracts formerly with INAC to the new departmental structure under CIRNAC. In addition, significant progress was made in aligning policies and procedures across the CIRNAC business models.

Raison d'être:

Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) supports Indigenous peoples (First Nations, Inuit and Métis) and Northerners in their efforts to:

• Improve social well-being and economic prosperity
• Develop healthier, more sustainable communities
• Participate more fully in Canadaʼs political, social and economic development – to the benefit of all Canadians

The Minister of CIRNAC is responsible for this organization.

Note: As of March 31, 2019, the legal name of the department for Appropriation Acts was the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development. In July 2019, legislation establishing the new departments, CIRNAC and ISC, came into effect.

Mandate and role:

Mandate and role are available on CIRNAC's website.