BUILDING A BETTER FUTURE WITH INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
In 2015, we promised a new relationship with Indigenous Peoples – one that would help deliver a better quality of life for their families and communities. One of my proudest moments as a Member of Parliament was announcing $100 Million to clean up Boat Habour alongside my friend, Chief Andrea Paul of the Pictou Landing First Nation. Not only will this serve to restore the natural environment, but it is a deeply important step toward reconciliation. While we have made a lot of progress together, more work needs to be done to build on the investments we’ve made and keep moving this important relationship – and our country – forward.
Clean Water
We will eliminate all long-term drinking water advisories on reserve by 2021, and continue to take steps to ensure water stays safe to drink.
Everyone in Canada should have reliable access to safe, clean drinking water, but for all the progress we’ve made, many people living in Indigenous communities still cannot safely drink or bathe in the water that comes from their taps. That needs to change.
In the last four years we have invested nearly $2 billion to build, repair, and upgrade public water systems in First Nations communities, and working with First Nations partners have eliminated 87 long-term drinking water advisories. We will move forward with investments to eliminate the rest of the advisories, and make sure that resources and training are in place to prevent future ones.
High-Quality Health Care
We will ensure that Indigenous Peoples have access to the high-quality, culturally relevant health care and mental health services they need.
In a country as prosperous as Canada, no one should go without the care they need to stay healthy. Indigenous Peoples have the right to high-quality care that reflects distinctions-based needs, and that makes things like mental health, healing, assisted living and long-term care, and preventative care a priority, available when and where it is needed.
To move forward with making high-quality health care a reality for all Indigenous Peoples, we will co-develop distinctions-based Indigenous Health legislation – backed with the investments needed to deliver this care – and will continue to work with Indigenous communities to ensure Indigenous control over the development and delivery of services.
Distinctions-Based Infrastructure
We will work with Indigenous communities to address all major infrastructure needs by 2030.
Our government has made significant investments in Indigenous communities to help build houses, schools, recreational centres, clinics, roads, and other essential infrastructure.
Even with these investments, Indigenous communities continue to experience real and pressing infrastructure needs, which contribute to ongoing levels of unacceptable poverty, and make it difficult for communities to prosper. This cannot continue.
To address this infrastructure deficit, we will co-develop and invest in distinctions-based community infrastructure plans, and will move forward with addressing critical infrastructure needs – such as housing, all-weather roads, high-speed internet, health facilities, treatment centres, and schools – in First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities by 2030. We will also move forward with new investments to support the ongoing operation and maintenance of this infrastructure.
Indigenous Children
We will fully implement the Act respecting First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Children, Youth and Families.
Indigenous children make up less than eight per cent of all children but account for more than half of all children in foster care in private homes. The current system is broken and needs to change. To reduce the number of Indigenous children in care, and affirm the inherent rights of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities to care for their kids, we will ensure that the Act Respecting First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Children, Youth and Families is fully implemented. We will also move forward with long-term, predictable, and sufficient funding to support the full implementation of the Act.
Indigenous Languages
We will fully implement the Indigenous Languages Act.
Language connects us to our families and communities and helps us discover who we are – rooting us in our culture and affirming our identity. This is especially true for Indigenous Peoples, whose languages are reflective of unique histories, cultural practices and spiritual beliefs, and political and social systems.
Yet today, there are no Indigenous languages that are considered to be safe in Canada, and three-quarters of Indigenous languages in Canada are endangered.
We will ensure that the Indigenous Languages Act is fully implemented, in order to preserve, promote, and revitalize Indigenous languages in Canada. We will also move forward with long-term, predictable, and sufficient funding to support the full implementation of the Act.
First Nations Policing
We will improve public safety in First Nations communities.
All communities benefit from policing that is professional and dedicated – and First Nations communities are no exception. To move forward with First Nations policing that serves First Nations communities well, we will co-develop a legislative framework for First Nations policing which recognizes First Nations policing as an essential service. We will also work with interested First Nations communities to expand the number of communities served by First Nations policing.
Clean, Reliable Energy
We will ensure that Indigenous communities that currently rely on diesel are powered by clean, reliable energy by 2030.
Indigenous communities need safe, reliable sources of energy to power their communities, keep their homes heated, and keep their lights on. Without it, many rely on diesel to keep their homes, schools, and businesses up and running – a solution that’s costly for communities and damaging to the environment.
We will work with Indigenous communities and move forward with investments that will see all Indigenous communities off diesel and instead powered by clean, renewable, and reliable sources of energy – such as hydro, wind, and solar – by 2030.
Continued Progress
We will continue to invest in Indigenous priorities, in collaboration with Indigenous partners.
Working in partnership with First Nations, Inuit, and the Métis Nation, we have made good progress in the last four years – helping to deliver a better quality of life for many Indigenous Peoples after a decade of indifference and neglect. That work is not done. Together, we will continue to move forward – in close collaboration with Indigenous partners – to deliver better and more timely distinctions-based support. We will continue to invest in the things that make a real difference in the lives of Indigenous Peoples and their communities, from education and skills training to early learning and child care.
Shared Revenue On Resource Projects
We will make sure that Indigenous communities directly benefit from major resource projects.
From ore to oil to natural gas, Canada is rich in natural resources – but for too long, the original caretakers of this land have been excluded from the benefits that come along with developing those resources. To ensure that Indigenous communities directly benefit from major resource projects in their territories, we will move forward with a new national benefits-sharing framework.
Indigenous-Led Businesses
We will create more opportunities for Indigenous-led businesses to succeed.
Across the country, Indigenous-led businesses are helping to create jobs, build strong communities, and make real progress on the important work of economic reconciliation. But there is more we can do to ensure their success. To create more opportunities for these businesses to succeed and grow, we will move forward with a new target to have at least five percent of federal contracts awarded to businesses led by Indigenous Peoples.
The UN Declaration On The Rights Of Indigenous Peoples
We will take action to implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in the first year of a new mandate.
Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission said that the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples charts a path “for reconciliation to flourish in 21st century Canada.” The last Conservative government dismissed it as an “aspirational document,” and Andrew Scheer blocked legislation to implement the Declaration – Bill C-262 – from being voted on in the Senate.
We will move forward with introducing co-developed legislation to implement the Declaration as government legislation by the end of 2020. In this work, we will ensure that this legislation fully respects the intent of the Declaration, and establishes Bill C-262 as the floor, rather than the ceiling, when it comes to drafting this new legislation.
Canada’s Treaty Obligations
We will live up to the spirit and intent of Treaties, agreements, and other constructive arrangements.
In the past, Canada routinely failed to live up to the spirit and intent of the Treaties, agreements, and constructive arrangements it had entered into with Indigenous Peoples. Through slow and steady work with Indigenous partners, that legacy is changing.
To ensure that Canada implements the spirit and intent of Treaties, agreements, and other constructive arrangements, we will move forward with a new co-developed distinctions-based process for the ongoing review, maintenance, and enforcement of Canada’s treaty obligations between the Crown and Indigenous communities. This work will be supported by a new National Treaty Commissioner’s Office which will be designed and established with Indigenous partners.
Cultural Property And Ancestral Remains
We will work with Indigenous partners to repatriate Indigenous cultural property and ancestral remains.
In museums across Canada and around the world, items that are valuable and culturally significant to Indigenous Peoples are on display or locked in storage, including the remains of Indigenous ancestors. This practice does not respect the inherent dignity of Indigenous Peoples and the things they hold dear. We will move forward – in partnership with Indigenous Peoples – to develop a framework for repatriating Indigenous cultural property and ancestral remains.
The Path Forward
We will continue to move forward on the long path toward reconciliation and self-determination.
Over the last four years we have made building a new relationship with Indigenous Peoples – one based on recognition of rights, respect, co-operation, and partnership – a true priority. That work must continue to move forward. We will continue work to implement the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action, and the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls’ Calls for Justice, in partnership with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples.
We will also continue to support Indigenous-led processes for rebuilding and reconstituting their nations, advancing self-determination and, for First Nations, the transition away from the Indian Act.
To ensure timely and just resolution to specific claims, we will continue ongoing work with First Nations to re-design federal policies on additions-to-reserves, and the Specific Claims process.
We will continue to make progress on Indigenous priorities, meeting regularly through the Assembly of First Nations – Canada Memorandum of Understanding on Joint Priorities, the Inuit-Crown Partnership Committee, and the Métis Accord.
We will also host a First Ministers Meeting on First Nations, Inuit, and Métis priorities, and continue to advance meaningful inclusion of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis partners in federal and inter-governmental decision-making processes that have an impact on Indigenous rights and interests.
In the past four years, we have made significant progress on the things that matter to First Nations. We will continue to move forward to advance the priorities identified by First Nations, by:
• Continuing the work to eliminate all long-term drinking water advisories on reserve by 2021, and ensuring that water stays safe to drink.
• Co-developing distinctions-based Indigenous Health legislation – backed with the investments needed to deliver this care – and working with First Nations communities to ensure Indigenous control over the development and delivery of services.
• Addressing critical infrastructure needs in First Nations communities by 2030, and providing new investments to support the ongoing operation and maintenance of this infrastructure.
• Ensuring that the Act Respecting First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Children, Youth and Families is fully implemented, with long-term, predictable, and sufficient funding to support the full implementation of the Act.
• Working with First Nations to ensure that the Indigenous Languages Act is fully implemented, in order to preserve, promote, and revitalize Indigenous languages in Canada, supported with long-term, predictable, and sufficient funding.
• Moving forward with investments that will see all First Nations communities are off diesel and instead powered by clean, renewable and reliable sources of energy – such as hydro, wind, and solar – by 2030.
• Continuing – in close collaboration with First Nations partners – to deliver better and more timely distinctions-based support. We will continue to invest in the things that make a real difference in the lives of First Nations and their communities.
• Establishing a new national benefits-sharing framework to ensure that First Nations communities directly benefit from major resource projects in their territories.
• Moving forward with a new target to have at least five percent of federal contracts awarded to businesses led by Indigenous Peoples.
• Introducing co-developed government legislation to implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples by the end of 2020.
• Moving forward with a new co-developed, distinctions-based process for the ongoing review, maintenance, and enforcement of Canada’s treaty obligations between the Crown and Indigenous communities. This work will be supported by a new National Treaty Commissioner’s Office which will be designed and established with Indigenous partners.
• Developing a framework for repatriating First Nations cultural property and ancestral remains.
• Continuing to work with First Nations to implement the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action, and the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls’ Calls for Justice. • Supporting a First Nations-led processes for rebuilding and reconstituting their nations, advancing self-determination and a transition away from the Indian Act.
• Working with First Nations to redesign federal policies on additions-to-reserves, and the Specific Claims process to ensure timely and just resolution to specific claims.
• Continuing to make progress on Indigenous priorities, meeting regularly through the Assembly of First Nations – Canada Memorandum of Understanding on Joint Priorities.
• Hosting a First Ministers’ Meeting on First Nations, Inuit, and Métis priorities, and continuing to advance meaningful inclusion of First Nations partners in federal and inter-governmental decision-making processes that have an impact on Indigenous rights and interests.
Supporting Inuit Priorities
Since 2015, we have made significant progress on the things that matter to Inuit. We will continue to move forward to advance the priorities identified by Inuit, by:
• Continuing to make progress on Inuit priorities, meeting regularly through the Inuit-Crown Partnership Committee, the primary vehicle for advancing reconciliation between Inuit and the federal government. • Working to develop and implement an Inuit Nunangat policy.
• Co-developing distinctions-based Indigenous Health legislation – backed with the investments needed to deliver this care – and on the development and delivery of services for Inuit.
• Addressing critical infrastructure needs in Inuit communities across Inuit Nunangat by 2030 and providing new investments to support the ongoing operation and maintenance of this infrastructure.
• Ensuring that the Act Respecting First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Children, Youth and Families is fully implemented, with long-term, predictable, and sufficient funding to support the full implementation of the Act.
• Working with Inuit to ensure that the Indigenous Languages Act is fully implemented, in order to preserve, promote, and revitalize Indigenous languages in Canada, supported with long-term, predictable, and sufficient funding.
• Moving forward with investments that will see all Inuit communities are off diesel and instead powered by clean, renewable and reliable sources of energy – such as hydro, wind, and solar – by 2030.
• Continuing – in close collaboration with Inuit partners – to deliver better and more timely distinctions-based support. We will continue to invest in the things that make a real difference in the lives of Inuit communities.
• Establishing a new national benefits-sharing framework to ensure that Inuit communities directly benefit from major resource projects in Inuit Nunangat.
• Moving forward with a new target to have at least five percent of federal contracts awarded to businesses led by Indigenous Peoples.
• Introducing co-developed government legislation to implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples by the end of 2020.
• Continuing work to fully implement Inuit land claims agreements.
• Moving forward with a new co-developed, distinctions-based process for the ongoing review, maintenance, and enforcement of Canada’s treaty obligations between the Crown and Indigenous communities. This work will be supported by a new National Treaty Commissioner’s Office which will be designed and established with Indigenous partners.
• Developing a framework for repatriating Inuit cultural property and ancestral remains.
• Continuing to work with Inuit to implement the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action, and the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls’ Calls for Justice.
• Continuing to work with Inuit to improve food security in Inuit Nunangat, including the implementation of the Harvester Support Grant.
• Hosting a First Ministers’ Meeting on First Nations, Inuit, and Métis priorities, and continuing to advance meaningful inclusion of Inuit partners in federal and inter-governmental decision-making processes that have an impact on Indigenous rights and interests.
Supporting Métis Nation Priorities
We have made significant progress over the last four years on the things that matter to the Métis Nation. We will continue to move forward to advance the priorities identified by the Métis Nation, by:
• Co-developing distinctions-based Indigenous Health legislation – backed with the investments needed to deliver this care – and the development and delivery of services for the Métis Nation communities.
• Addressing critical infrastructure needs in Métis Nation communities by 2030, and providing new investments to support the ongoing operation and maintenance of this infrastructure.
• Ensuring that the Act Respecting First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Children, Youth and Families is fully implemented, with long-term, predictable, and sufficient funding to support the full implementation of the Act.
• Working with the Métis Nation to ensure that the Indigenous Languages Act is fully implemented, in order to preserve, promote, and revitalize Indigenous languages in Canada, supported with long-term, predictable, and sufficient funding.
• Continuing to move forward – in close collaboration with the Métis Nation – to continue to deliver better and more timely distinctions-based support. We will continue to invest in the things that make a real difference in the lives of the Métis Nation and its communities.
• Establishing a new national benefits-sharing framework to ensure that Métis Nation communities directly benefit from major resource projects.
• Moving forward with a new target to have at least five percent of federal contracts awarded to businesses led by Indigenous Peoples.
• Introducing co-developed government legislation to implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples by the end of 2020.
• Moving forward with a new co-developed, distinctions-based process for the ongoing review, maintenance, and enforcement of Canada’s treaty obligations between the Crown and Indigenous communities. This work will be supported by a new National Treaty Commissioner’s Office which will be designed and established with Indigenous partners.
• Developing a framework for repatriating Métis Nation cultural property and ancestral remains.
• Continuing to work with the Métis Nation to implement the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action, and the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls’ Calls for Justice.
• Continuing to make progress on Métis Nation priorities, meeting regularly through the CanadaMétis Accord, and annual Crown-Métis Nation Summits.
• Continuing the work of advancing self-determination with the Métis Nation.
• Hosting a First Ministers’ Meeting on First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Nation priorities, and continuing to advance meaningful inclusion of Métis Nation partners in federal and inter-governmental decision-making processes that have an impact on Indigenous rights and interests.
• Providing federal support for the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the Métis Nation entering Confederation.