Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada: 2023 to 2024 Departmental Results Report at a glance
A departmental results report provides an account of actual accomplishments against plans, priorities and expected results set out in the associated Departmental Plan.
Table of contents
Key priorities
Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada's (CIRNAC) top priorities for 2023–24 were as follows:
- Acknowledge and redress past harms
- Affirm and respect Indigenous rights, and support self-determination
- Lead the Government of Canada's work in the North and Arctic
Highlights
In 2023–24, total actual spending (including internal services) for CIRNAC was $16,350,606,555 and total full-time equivalent staff (including internal services) was 2,185. For complete information on CIRNAC's total spending and human resources, read the Spending and human resources section of the full report.
The following provides a summary of the department's achievements in 2023–24 according to its approved Departmental Results Framework. A Departmental Results Framework consists of a department's core responsibilities, the results it plans to achieve and the performance indicators that measure progress toward these results.
Core responsibility 1: Crown-Indigenous Relations
Actual spending: $15,198,392,487
Actual human resources: 959
Departmental results achieved
Past injustices are recognized and resolved
To support this result, CIRNAC:
- continued its work to meet Canada's obligations under the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement.
- accelerated specific claims resolution and worked with First Nation partners to reform the specific claims process.
- collaboratively addressed past injustices that have been committed against Indigenous children, through the resolution of litigation and the implementation of negotiated settlements.
- continued working in collaboration with First Nations to redesign the Additions to Reserve Policy and to accelerate the processing of additions to reserve requests.
- continued to implement the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action, including those related to missing children and unmarked burial sites.
Indigenous Peoples advance their institutional structures and governance
To support this result, CIRNAC:
- advanced priorities relating to the nation-to-nation Framework Agreement on First Nation Land Management (FAFNLM). In 2023-24, 11 additional First Nations became operational under the FAFNLM bringing the total number of operational First Nations to 112.
- worked on enhancements to the First Nations Fiscal Management Act and collaborated with the 4 First Nations fiscal institutions on key initiatives.
- supported the internal capacity building of Indigenous groups through the Enhanced Capacity Building funding stream.
- advanced priorities in partnership with the Lands Advisory Board on the nation-to-nation Framework Agreement on First Nation Land Management.
Indigenous Peoples determine their political, economic, social and cultural development
To support this result, CIRNAC:
- advanced co-developed policy priorities with representatives of the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) and First Nations, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK) and the 4 Inuit Nunangat regions, as well as the Métis National Council (MNC) and its governing members through permanent bilateral mechanisms.
- continued to support the ongoing implementation of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People National Action Plan and Federal Pathway to Address Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People.
- collaborated with national Indigenous women's organizations to implement whole-of-government relationship agreements.
- supported the Department of Justice in developing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act Action Plan.
- negotiated treaties, self-government agreements and other constructive arrangements and supported their full implementation.
- advanced the implementation of the Recognition and Reconciliation of Rights Policy for Treaty Negotiations in British Columbia, in partnership with the other Principals to the British Columbia Treaty Process.
- continued working with self-governing Indigenous governments on the development of a renewed fiscal policy that supports self-government through the Collaborative Fiscal Policy Development Process.
- collaborated with Indigenous Modern Treaty Partners and Self-Governing Indigenous Governments at the second Intergovernmental Leaders' forum to co-develop key priorities, including the establishment of an independent oversight body led by a new Commissioner for Modern Treaty Implementation.
- coordinated 6 policy priority area working group tables through the Canada-CAP Political Accord.
Indigenous Peoples strengthen their socio-economic conditions and well-being
To support this result, CIRNAC:
- worked with Indigenous partners to address, on a distinctions basis, the pressing housing needs of Indigenous people and to improve the quality of housing within their communities.
- monitored progress on implementation of self-governing sectoral education agreements with First Nations, including support through enhanced funding.
- supported family members and survivors of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people in their healing journey.
- continued working towards the ongoing implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act to support Indigenous Peoples in achieving self-determination.
- collaborated with Indigenous partners to review Census of Population data and develop core indicators for measuring intermediate and long-term well-being outcomes.
More information about Crown-Indigenous Relations can be found in the "Results – what we achieved" section of the full departmental results report.
Core responsibility 2: Northern Affairs
Actual spending: $957,536,148
Actual human resources: 365
Departmental results achieved
Northerners and Indigenous Peoples advance their political, economic and social governance development
To support this result, CIRNAC:
- as a key achievement, signed the historic Nunavut Lands and Resources Devolution Agreement, the largest land transfer in Canadian history, with the Government of Nunavut and Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated. This agreement allows Nunavut to manage public lands, freshwater, and non-renewable resources, promoting sustainable development and fostering economic growth.
- finalized co-developed regional governance approaches for Canada's Arctic and Northern Policy Framework with Indigenous, territorial and provincial partners.
- continued to support Northerners through investments in northern post-secondary education and a coordinated response to the Calls to Action of the Task Force on Northern Post-Secondary Education.
- advanced innovative solutions that respond to Canada's critical housing needs in the North.
- continued to help make healthy food and essential items more affordable and accessible to residents of eligible isolated northern communities, while also promoting local food sovereignty. For example, Nutrition North Canada partnered with food banks and Indigenous organizations to expand food distribution networks.
Northern and Indigenous communities are resilient to changing environmental conditions
To support this result, CIRNAC:
- assisted northern and Indigenous communities in their transition from diesel to clean, renewable and reliable energy, through 67 projects.
- advanced the co-development of the distinctions-based Indigenous Climate Leadership Agenda, allowing Indigenous Peoples to adapt and build resilience to climate change impacts.
- facilitated 232 climate change adaptation projects and climate monitoring projects in northern and Indigenous communities.
- continued to engage Northerners and scientists in research and monitoring related to long-range contaminants and plastic pollution in the North.
Northern lands, waters, and natural resources are sustainably managed
To support this result, CIRNAC:
- ensured the management of over 160 active northern contaminated sites and addressed risks to the environment and human health and safety in the 3 territories.
- continued to promote new economic opportunities for Indigenous Peoples and Northerners through contaminated site projects.
- promoted the North's resource economy while protecting the environment through impact assessments, land use planning and conservation initiatives.
- advanced the northern regulatory processes component of the Canadian Critical Minerals Strategy.
- supported the development and implementation of the Nunavut Land Use Plan, which provides a comprehensive framework for the sustainable management of land and resources across Nunavut.
More information about Northern Affairs can be found in the "Results – what we achieved" section of the full departmental results report.