IYR Explains Budget 2024

April 2024

BUDGET 2024 AT A GLANCE

In this issue of IYR Explains, we break down some of the key investments outlined in the 2024 Federal Budget that will most impact Indigenous youth and their communities. This budget was expected to make large investments in measures to combat the rising cost of living and housing shortages while including key priority items like enhancing dental care and pharmacare coverage.

We anticipated seeing funds allocated to the implementation of UNDRIP, with the UNDA Act recently coming into force.

Many Indigenous organizations and communities submitted pre-budget briefs outlining their priorities and recommendations for this year ’ s budget, including the Assembly of First Nations (AFN), Métis National Council, Inuit Tapiirit Kanatami, and the Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres.

These submissions included recommendations for funding for in-community infrastructure, further implementation of Jordan’s Principle, food security, and Indigenous-led conservation initiatives.

All page citations refer to the Budget 2024 pdf.

FUNDING SET ASIDE FOR INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES

$9 billion total funding for Indigenous communities, including:

$1.5 billion for Indigenous child and family services

$1 2 billion for First Nations K-12 education

$1 billion for First Nations and Inuit health

$918 million for Indigenous housing and community infrastructure

$640 million for Indigenous mental health

$467 million for First Nations and Inuit-led policing

$5 billion in loan guarantees for Indigenous participating in natural resources and energy projects in their territories

$927 million for income supports on reserve

$57.5 million for a mercury poisoning care home in Grassy Narrows First Nation

(Source: CBC)

INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES & RECONCILIATION

Note: this is not an exhaustive list - check out the full budget for more detail!

RECONCILIATION & SELF-DETERMINATION

$12.5 million over two years to Crown-Indigenous Relations (CIRNAC) to fund Indigenous Youth Roots to continue working on TRC Call to Action 66 (pg 277)

$60 million over two years to support Indigenous Friendship Centres to provide services and cultural support to urban Indigenous peoples (pg. 280)

$225 million over five years and then $45 million per year to support the Indigenous Languages Act (pg. 280)

$96.4 million over two years to CIRNAC to support Indigenous communities fully participating in Section 35 rights negotiations (pg. 282)

$12.6 million, over two years to Indigenous Services Canada to continue implementing and advancing the New Fiscal Relationship with First Nations communities (working toward sustainable funding for First Nations communities)(pg. 283)

$91 million over two years to CIRNAC to increase support for communities to document, locate, and memorialize residential school burial sites (pg. 284)

$5 million over three years, starting in 2025-2026, to CIRNAC to establish a program to combat Residential School Denialism (pg. 284)

In Canada’s Constitution, Section 35 outlines Aboriginal and treaty rights for First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities. Budget 2024 is allocating funding toward working with communities to advance the recognition of those rights through thing like modern treaties and self-government agreements.

RECONCILIATION & SELF-DETERMINATION (CONTINUED)

$596 million over five years with $119 million per year to provide income support on reserve and expand programming to meet demand (pg 290)

$117.6 million over three years for pre-employment support to access job opportunities for people on reserve (pg. 290)

$213 5 million over five years with $49 8 million per year ongoing to implement income supports for eligible persons with disabilities living on reserve (pg 290)

HOUSING

This year, investments set aside in 2022 and 2023 kick in to provide $4.3 billion over seven years to implement a co-developed Urban, Rural and Northern Indigenous Housing Strategy (pg 82)

$918 million over five years to Indigenous Services Canada and Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada to accelerate work in narrowing First Nations, Inuit, and Métis housing and infrastructure gaps (pg 289)

HEALTHCARE

$562.5 million to support medically necessary services through the Non-Insured Health Benefits Program (NIHB), which provides a range of benefits for First Nations and Inuit people, including mental health services, medical travel, medications, and more (pg. 291)

$390 4 million over four years to build or renovate health facilities This funding will also improve the safety of primary care workers in remote and isolated on-reserve First Nations communities (pg. 291)

$104.9 million over five years to support First Nations self-determination in the design and delivery of health services in their communities (pg 291)

$57 5 million over three years to construct a mercury care home in Grassy Narrows First Nation (pg 291)

$630.2 million over two years to support Indigenous people’s access to mental health services, including through distinctions-based mental wellness strategies (pg. 291)

$167 6 million over five years to combat anti-Indigenous racism in health (pg 292)

$150 million over three years to Health Canada for an Emergency Treatment Fund for municipalities and Indigenous communities to provide rapid care related to the opioid crisis (pg. 250)

$1.6 billion kicks in this year for safe drinking water and treated wastewater in First Nations communities, which was committed to in the previous budget (pg 289)

$1 3 million over three years to co-develop with Indigenous partners a regional Red Dress Alert system on a priority basis (pg. 295)

$20 million to support the Government of Manitoba, Indigenous community partners, and impacted families in searching the Prairie Green Landfill in Winnipeg for the remains of the MMIW there (pg 297)

EDUCATION

$649.4 million over two years to improve elementary and secondary education on reserve, and ensure funding formulas meet the needs of growing communities; and $545.1 million over three years for K-12 infrastructure to build and renovate safe learning environments for First Nations students (pg 278)

$5.2 million over two years to Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada to support the Dechinta Centre for Research and Learning (p. 288)

INDIGENOUS CHILD WELFARE

$1.8 billion over 11 years (starting in 2023-24) to support communities in implementing An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families, including the first Inuit agreement to support community-led, prevention-based solutions to reduce the number of children in care (pg. 279)

$167 5 million over two years (starting in 2023-24) to ensure Inuit children can better access health, social, and educational services (pg. 279)

FOOD SECURITY

$23 2 million to Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada for Nutrition North Canada’s subsidy program to lower the cost of nutritious food and other essential household items (pg. 292)

$101.1 million over three years to support the Harvesters Support Grant and Community Food Program Fund and promote Indigenous communities in implementing culturally appropriate, local solutions to address food insecurity (pg 292)

$14.9 million over three years to renew and expand the Northern Isolated Community Initiatives Fund to all regions of Inuit Nunangat to support local and Indigenous food production systems, including innovative northern food businesses, which contribute to food security in the North (pg 293)

$25.1 million over two years to expand the Canadian Shellfish Sanitation Program to assist Indigenous communities to safely access shellfish harvest for food, as well as social and ceremonial purposes (pg. 293)

Strategy (a commitment as part of implementing UNDRIP). This includes $5.5 million over three years to continue work on the revitalization of Indigenous laws and legal systems; and $25.1 million over three years to renew funding for capacity building and engagement throughout the development and initial implementation of the Indigenous Justice Strategy (pg. 295 – 296)

$2.8 million over three years to implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (UNDA) Action Plan measures to enhance the policy and engagement capacity among Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami and Inuit Treaty Organizations to co-develop legislative and policy options to facilitate the production, sale, and trade of traditional and country food (pg. 293)

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS & CLIMATE CRISIS

$9 million to Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada to support Indigenous governments directly affected by the 2023 wildfires in the Northwest Territories (pg. 294)

$145.2 million over five years for Indigenous Services Canada and Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada to work with First Nations to develop greater climate resiliency and deploy structural mitigation strategies that protect communities, homes, and essential infrastructure from climate disasters, including $10.4 million for Modern Treaty and Self-Governing First Nations (pg. 294)

20 9 million over three years for Indigenous Services Canada to support the First Nations Fire Protection Strategy, 2023 to 2028, by distributing fire alarms and fire extinguishers to homes and community facilities on-reserve, as well as fire-related education programs (pg. 294)

HOUSING

$15 million over five years for a new Tenant Protection Fund, which will provide funding to organizations that provide legal and informational services to tenants, as well as for tenants’ rights advocacy organizations to raise awareness of renters’ rights (pg 66)

Budget 2024 proposes a new Canadian Renters’ Bill of Rights to be developed and implemented in partnership with provinces and territories to protect renters from unfair practices, make leases simpler, and increase price transparency The government intends to crack down on renovictions, introduce a nationwide standard lease agreement, and require landlords to disclose historical rent prices of apartments (pg. 66)

Announcing the allowance of 30-year mortgages for first-time home buyers purchasing newly constructed homes increased from the 25-year maximum (pg. 67)

Increase of withdrawal limit from RRSP for first-time homebuying from $35,000 to $60,000 (pg 67)

Announcing that the government intends to restrict the purchase and acquisition of existing single-family homes by very large, corporate investors (pg. 76)

$477 2 million over five years and $147 8 million in future years to launch a new $1 5 billion Canada Rental Protection Fund, to be administered by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, to protect the stock of affordable housing in Canada (p. 78)

$1.3 billion over four years to Infrastructure Canada for Reaching Home: Canada’s Homelessness Strategy (pg 81)

$976 million over five years to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation to launch a new Rapid Housing stream under the Affordable Housing Fund to build affordable housing, supportive housing, and shelters (pg. 78)

AFFORDABILITY& EMPLOYMENT

Budget 2024 announces the government’s intention to amend the Telecommunications Act to help Canadians renew or switch between home internet, home phone, and cell phone plans (pg 148)

Budget 2024 proposes to provide $351.2 million in 2025-26 for the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy (pg. 126)

$200.5 million for Canada Summer Jobs to provide well-paying summer job opportunities for youth (pg 126)

AFFORDABILITY& EMPLOYMENT CONTINUED

$39 2 million over two years to Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada to advance CanCode, a federal program that helps youth develop coding and digital skills (pg. 119)

$60 million over five years for Futurpreneur Canada to support youth entrepreneurs (pg 207)

$62.9 million over three years for the Local Food Infrastructure Fund to invest in local food infrastructure, with priority given to Indigenous and Black communities, along with other equity-deserving groups (pg. 140)

$800 million over five years, starting in 2025-26, to launch a new Canada Greener Homes Affordability Program (pg. 79)

$6.1 billion over six years, and $1.4 billion per year, for a new Canada Disability Benefit, including additional costs to deliver the benefits program (pg 106)

Budget 2024 also announces the government’s intent to call on banks and credit bureaus to prioritize launching tools to allow renters to opt-in to reporting their rent payment history to credit bureaus to strengthen their credit scores (pg. 65)

ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE

$6 9 million over five years for the Meteorological Service of Canada’s early warning system for extreme weather events, with a focus on floods and storm surges (pg. 223)

$156.7 million over five years to the Parks Canada Agency for investments into national parks, national marine conservation areas, and historic sites (pg 224)

$71.9 million over 12 years for the creation of the Pituamkek National Park Reserve in Prince Edward Island (pg. 225)

$109 6 million over 11 years for establishing the Central Coast National Marine Area Reserve in British Columbia to help protect the Great Bear Sea (pg 226)

$190.9 million over five years with $0.1 million in remaining amortization, to Health Canada and Environment and Climate Change Canada to reduce human and environmental exposure to harmful chemicals through the Chemicals Management Plan (pg. 227)

HEALTHCARE

$1.5 billion over five years to support the launch of the National Pharmacare Plan, with universal access to contraceptives and diabetes medications (pg.103)

$500 million over five years for the creation of a new Youth Mental Health Fund (pg 126-127)

$4 million over two years for the Public Health Agency of Canada to continue supporting initiatives through the Mental Health of Black Canadians Fund that aim to increase health equity and address mental health and its determinants for Black Canadians (pg 234)

$77 1 million over four years to help integrate internationally educated healthcare professionals into Canada’s health workforce (pg. 97)

EDUCATION

$1 billion over five years to ESDC, CIRNAC, and ISC for the creation of the National School Food Program, including investments for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities (pg. 111)

$1.1 billion to increase the full-time Canada Student Grant from $3000 to $4200 per year, and interest-free student loans from $210 to $300 per week (pg 121)

$253 million with $84.5 million per year ongoing to expand the reach of the Canada Student Loans Forgiveness Program to more health care and social services workers in rural and remote communities (pg. 123)

$67 5 million over three years to Employment and Social Development Canada, focusing on educational support for youth from low-income backgrounds. As well as funds allocated for education support for Indigenous communities (pg. 119)

FIGHTING SYSTEMIC DISCRIMINATION

$273 6 million over six years, with $29 3 million per year ongoing, for Canada’s Action Plan on Combatting Hate to support community outreach and law enforcement reform, tackle the rise in hate crimes, enhance community security, counter radicalization, and increase support for victims (pg. 230). Some examples of what’s included in this are:

$12 million over five years to Women and Gender Equity Canada for projects aimed at combatting hate toward the 2SLGBTQIIA+ community

$20.2 million over six years to the RCMP and the Canadian Police College to enhance their anti-hate work with the Canadian Race Relations Foundation

$7.3 million each ($14.6 million total) over six years to support the Special Envoy on Preserving Holocaust Remembrance and Combatting Anti-Semitism, as well as to the Special Representative on Combatting Islamophobia through the Department of Canadian Heritage (pg. 232)

COMMUNITY RESPONSES

MÉTIS

NATIONAL COUNCIL (MNC)

Métis National Council (MNC): “This year ’ s budget invests in the Métis economy which, in turn, supports Canada’s economy. This is a step in the right direction and takes a positive stride toward economic reconciliation” - Cassidy Caron, MNC President

ASSEMBLY

OF FIRST NATIONS (AFN)

“[Recent reports and inquiries] demonstrate long-term investments and fundamental shifts in approach are required over an extended period Unfortunately, we did not see that in [the] budget ”

- Cindy Woodhouse, AFN National Chief

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FRIENDSHIP CENTRES (NAFC)

“While we were hoping to see more urban Indigenous considerations for a longer-term commitment to the essential work of Friendship Centres, this initial top up for two years will assist our members to deliver the lifesaving services that urban Indigenous communities have come to rely upon ”

-

Jocelyn

Formsma, NAFC CEO

INUIT TAPIRIIT KANATAMI (ITK)

“We are encouraged to see some of our joint efforts reflected in Budget 2024, but our shared commitment toward TB elimination cannot be achieved without significant resources. ”

- Natan Obed, ITK President

NUNAVUT TUNNGAVIK

“The federal government has repeatedly affirmed a commitment to close the Indigenous infrastructure gap by 2030. Yet the last two federal budgets have not included significant enough investments to bring Nunavut close to reaching that goal Nunavut’s fair share of the $370 million Indigenous Housing and Community Infrastructure program will be a welcome infusion of funding. However, without capacity, predictability, funding and time, Nunavut’s infrastructure gap is set to grow ”

- Press Release, Nunavut Tunngavik

IYR'S IMPRESSIONS

IYR welcomes the announcement of $12.5 million for us to continue to partner with Indigenous youth and organizations in meaningful ways This funding will help ensure the continued delivery of programming, grants and opportunities to empower Indigenous youth as part of our ongoing work to implement Call to Action 66 and support youth-led pathways toward reconciliation.

We are also pleased to see that there is an increase in funding allocated for young people in other areas compared to previous years, such as for the greatly needed Youth Mental Health Fund and for increasing access to post-secondary education for Indigenous students.

While we are glad to see that $918 million is allocated for Indigenous housing and infrastructure, the amount falls short of the up to $349 billion that is needed to bridge these gaps in communities and ensure that all Indigenous peoples have access to safe and affordable housing The funding outlined for measures relating to MMIWG2S+ similarly falls short of what has long been called for by Indigenous communities and advocates.

There are also limited funding measures for the implementation of UNDRIP within the budget With the UNDA coming into force, we hoped to see more included for this as a show of commitment to advancing the rights of all Indigenous peoples.

Much of the environment and climate change interventions in Budget 2024 are specifically targeted toward the energy and manufacturing industries and outweigh the investments for conserving and protecting the environment. However, IYR is encouraged to see the Government of Canada’s commitments for the creation of new National Park Reserves. We urge the Government of Canada to ensure that this is done in true collaboration with the Indigenous communities whose territories these new parks are on The needs of Indigenous youth as defined by the youth themselves must be embedded in all funding and policy measures impacting Indigenous communities. IYR will continue to advocate for that space whenever and wherever possible, and to capacitate Indigenous youth to lead those conversations.

Stay tuned to IYR’s social media for follow-ups related to Budget 2024 as we keep an eye on how all these commitments will play out!

FURTHER READING

Budget 2024

Homepage

Federal budget’s $918M for Indigenous housing and infrastructure falls far short of what advocates say is needed - Toronto Star

Feds promise $9B in the budget, includes opt-in tax program, loan guarantees - APTN

Ottawa starts work on alert system for missing Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit people - CBC And check out these accounts for more policy content: Yellowhead Institute, Riley Yesno, and Larissa Crawford

For more information, to let us know your thoughts, or to suggest a topic for the IYR Explains series, please contact:

Tija Hauta

Policy and Research Manager, Centre for Indigenous Policy and Research

tija@indigenousyouthroots.ca