2020-21 Departmental Plan: Main Report

1. Quality and timely services are delivered directly to Indigenous people

2. Health services delivered to Indigenous people contribute to improved health outcomes

Access to quality, timely, stable and culturally relevant health services is fundamental to individual, family and community well-being. In 2020–21, ISC will continue its efforts to adopt a patient-centered approach to health service delivery and focus, in particular, on closing the gap in access to quality healthcare between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Canada. Furthermore, ISC will work to ensure that Indigenous peoples are in control when it comes to designing and delivering their healthcare programs and services in order to further improve health outcomes.

ISC will work in partnership with First Nations to strengthen public health capacity among First Nations communities, including by identifying gaps in vaccine coverage provided by provinces for First Nations, and to work towards resolving identified gaps.

In order to enhance preparedness and response efforts related to natural disasters and public health emergencies and outbreaks such as the novel Coronavirus, the Department will also establish a holistic emergency management framework within ISC, to support integrated and responsive services for First Nations communities while preparing, mitigating and responding to natural disasters and health emergencies.

ISC will partner with the Canadian Indigenous Nurses Association, the AFN and the First Nations Health Authority in British Columbia to facilitate an understanding of issues unique to the Indigenous and non-Indigenous nursing workforce that impact retention and recruitment, and to determine progress towards a representative workforce.

ISC will support Phase 2 of the nursing workforce survey by surveying First Nations employed nurses working in First Nations communities. The survey will inform the process of devolution of healthcare services in First Nations communities as nurses make up the majority of healthcare staff working in First Nations communities.

1. Indigenous people and communities are healthier

ISC is promoting health and well-being of Indigenous people and communities through strength-based approaches to services that focus on the health priorities of partners. Specifically in 2020–21, ISC will focus its work in the following areas:

ISC is supporting the Inuit-specific tuberculosis (TB) elimination strategy through engagement with ITK and collaborating with First Nations partners in the development of a TB reduction action plan for First Nations. ISC will also continue to fund ITK to implement their National Inuit Suicide Prevention Strategy.

ISC is supporting community-led and distinctions-based approaches to address sexually transmitted blood borne infections, including support for the Inuit Sexual Health Network and the implementation of Tavva: National Inuit Sexual Health Strategy, and Ikajurniq: An Inuit Cascade of Care Framework for sexually transmitted & blood borne infections.

In addition, ISC will continue funding members of the Advisory Committee on Indigenous Women's Well Being to advance their Action Plan, including follow-up to the January 2020 Culturally Informed Choice and Consent in Indigenous Women's Health Services, tackling the important issues of forced and coerced sterilization and reproductive health rights.

ISC will also assess service vulnerabilities to climate change and help First Nations to build capacity under the Climate Change and Health Adaptation Program.

Finally, ISC will continue working with federal and Indigenous partners on an approach for addressing food insecurity in Indigenous communities and will also support the implementation of a longitudinal study of First Nations Children and Youth on food, nutrition, and the environment. This work will be led by the University of Ottawa in collaboration with the AFN, University of Montreal, Laval University, and McGill University to help guide future policy decisions.

2. Indigenous people receive social services that respond to community needs

Responding to the needs of First Nations communities on reserve requires a holistic approach to the delivery of social services. These include such services as: family wellness and togetherness services, mental wellness supports, and supports for employability and participation in the workforce. For First Nations living off reserve, Inuit, and Métis, ISC provides support services in urban centres. In 2020–21, ISC will focus on the following elements related to social services.

On January 1, 2020, An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families came into force, advancing community-directed proposals focused on prevention, and resolving outstanding issues before the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal. Continued investments have helped to ensure that First Nations children remain in their communities, connected to their language and culture, and that Indigenous peoples control and design their child and family services.

The new legislation:

• recognizes and affirms the inherent right to exercise jurisdiction of First Nations, Inuit and Métis over child and family services;
• establishes national principles such as best interests of the child, cultural continuity and substantive equality to help guide the provision of child and family services in relation to Indigenous children;
• contributes to the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).

We will work in partnership with Indigenous communities to implement this legislation and support them in utilizing this new legislation at a pace that works for them. This will necessitate a distinctions-based approach that is responsive to the unique challenges facing Indigenous communities who would like to enhance their control over child and family services. This will include a discussion and path forward towards sustainable, predictable long-term funding.

ISC will organize an engagement process to co-develop options for a continuum of long-term care services in First Nations and Inuit communities. These efforts will advance long-term care services and services for persons with disabilities in First Nations and Inuit communities.

ISC will collaborate with First Nations to validate what was heard during the recent First Nations-led engagement process on the Income Assistance Program. The objective is to inform future program changes to better meet the needs of individuals and families living on reserve that will ultimately lead to greater self-sufficiency through the transition to employment and education opportunities.

In order to further support investment in minor and major infrastructure projects in Friendship Centres and other service provider facilities for Urban Programming for Indigenous Peoples (UPIP), ISC will launch calls for proposals for the new infrastructure funding stream for UPIP. This will help ensure that urban Indigenous people have safe and accessible facilities in which high quality, culturally-relevant services are provided.

In collaboration with the National Aboriginal Circle Against Family Violence, ISC will undertake an analysis on funded shelters and services to support program and policy review and improvement.

In implementing its full commitment to address the orders of the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal, ISC is working to implement measures to prevent and address discriminatory practices related to child and family services and Jordan's Principle, such as increasing prevention resources for agencies and communities so that First Nations children are safe and families can stay together. ISC will also work on the long-term approach to Jordan's Principle in collaboration with its partners, provinces and territories, to examine and identify gaps in existing programs and increase First Nations governance and control over implementation at the community and regional levels.

3. Indigenous students receive an inclusive and quality education

Education is crucial to closing the socio-economic gap between Indigenous peoples and non-Indigenous peoples. It lays the foundation that supports Indigenous peoples and communities to contribute to and fully benefit from the Canadian economy by accelerating socio-economic growth and reducing barriers to employment. ISC is working with Indigenous partners to ensure that Indigenous students have access to a high-quality education that will improve student outcomes, such as graduation rates. In 2020–21, ISC will work with Indigenous partners in the following areas:

ISC will continue implementing the co-developed policy framework for elementary and secondary First Nations on reserve education. The framework improves the way ISC funds First Nations elementary and secondary education by bringing funding in line with provincial schools and dedicating funding to language and cultural programming and full-day kindergarten.

ISC is developing and implementing regional education agreements and other First Nations-led education models that respond to the education goals and priorities set by First Nations and respect the principle of First Nations control of education. This will include continued investments in institutional capacity building, research, and innovation as well as strengthened partnerships between First Nations and provincial and territorial education systems.

Building on a Ministerial commitment, ISC will implement the new co-developed distinctions-based post-secondary education strategies for First Nations, Inuit and Métis Nation students. These strategies will support increased access and enable greater success in post-secondary education for Indigenous students. It will expand financial assistance for First Nations students and support First Nations in the development of regional post-secondary education models. Further, it supports new Inuit and Métis Nation-led strategies by providing funding for students as well as complementary programs and services to strengthen governance capacity.

ISC is also delivering programs as part of the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy. ISC will continue participating in the process of modernizing the program to better promote access to skills and work experience for Indigenous youth, which will be informed by the results of the Employment and Social Development Canada-led engagement process with Indigenous partners.

1. Indigenous communities advance their governance capacity

Effective governance is key to the socio-economic progress and the overall well-being of every community, and supports the devolution of services to communities. ISC supports First Nations communities in implementing and developing strong, effective, sustainable governments in support of Canada's constitutional and statutory obligations. At the same time, ISC recognizes the need to break away from colonial approaches and do things in a new way: where First Nations communities lead the way and Indigenous-led institutions facilitate the capacity development of First Nations governments, institutions, and leadership. In 2020–21, ISC will focus its efforts in the following areas.

ISC is supporting community-led planning in First Nations and Inuit communities. As of Fall 2019, 161 First Nations communities have completed community-led plans. 204, including 1 Inuit community, are currently in the process of creating a plan or updating their existing plan. Planning, supported by quality data, is an important tool in strengthening governance capacity and moving towards self-determination. Through the community-led planning process, each community is enabled to adapt plans to their culture and traditions. In addition, ISC will continue to provide core funding through the governance programs to First Nations governments and tribal councils to support ongoing costs of First Nations governance, while also providing tools and support to help them build on their capacity to govern.

ISC is collaborating with First Nations partners to build community capacity to plan and self-administer health programs and services, work with the AFN to advance Health Emergency Management within First Nations communities, and promote trilateral engagement and collaboration in support of strengthened governance over health programs and services.

2. Indigenous peoples have reliable and sustainable infrastructure

The basic, reliable, sustainable infrastructure that exists in most Canadian communities is either missing or in poor condition in many Indigenous communities. For example, clean drinking water, sustainable housing, durable health facilities, and reliable, sustainable, non-diesel energy is not in place in many Indigenous communities. The absence or poor state of infrastructure may result in public health or safety concerns and may also prevent communities from keeping pace with population growth or supporting economic development. By investing in infrastructure and capacity building, ISC is supporting Indigenous communities to have more reliable and sustainable infrastructure that will support economic growth and community well-being. Furthermore, ISC's ability to ensure continuous delivery of health services in First Nations communities depends on maintaining good health facilities. In 2020–21, ISC will continue its work in the following areas.

Text alternative for the graph Long-term drinking water advisories

This line graph depicts the number of long-term drinking water advisories in effect between November 2015 and February 15, 2020, and projected numbers of long-term drinking water advisories expected to be in effect by the end of June and December of each calendar year from 2018 through 2021. It also depicts the projected number of houses and community buildings affected by long-term advisories.

• In November 2015, there were 105 long-term drinking water advisories on public systems.
• As of February 15, 2020, 61 long-term drinking water advisories on public systems on reserve were in effect.
• By end of June 2020, it is projected there will be 40 long-term drinking water advisories on public systems on reserve. Approximately 2,306 homes and 140 community buildings served by a public water system will be under advisory.
• By end of December 2020, it is projected there will be 11 long-term drinking water advisories on public systems on reserve. Approximately 979 homes and 53 community buildings served by a public water system will be under advisory.
• In March 2021 it is projected there will be 0 long-term drinking water advisories on public systems financially supported by ISC. Approximately 0 homes and community buildings served by a public water system will be under advisory.

ISC is collaborating with and supporting First Nations in their efforts to ensure access to safe, clean drinking water and treated wastewater in their communities at a standard equivalent to comparable non-Indigenous communities. The Government of Canada is committed to eliminating all long-term drinking water advisories affecting public water systems on reserve by March 2021. As of February 2020, 88 long-term drinking water advisories have been lifted on public systems on reserve. The remaining 61 long-term drinking water advisories will be addressed by March 2021. ISC will continue working with First Nations partners to identify public water and wastewater system needs, develop infrastructure capital plans, and design and implement management plans for the operation and maintenance of water and wastewater systems. In collaboration with First Nations partners, ISC is also taking steps to prevent short-term drinking water advisories from becoming long term, with 151 prevented to date. ISC is also working with First Nations to co-develop implementation plans for the Long-Term Strategy for Water and Wastewater based on unique regional and local needs, including supporting First Nations organizations as they progress toward taking control of water and wastewater services. ISC also works with the AFN on a First Nations-led engagement to advance options on safe drinking water legislation. A Joint Working Group on Safe Drinking Water for First Nations, comprised of the AFN and federal representatives, will co-develop a proposal for a new legislative framework based on the results of both the First Nations-led national and federal-led engagements.

ISC is providing ongoing funding to support the construction of housing units, renovations, additions and lot servicing. ISC will continue to partner with First Nations to co-develop regional housing strategies and First Nations governance models that enable First Nations control over housing in their communities. ISC will also advance the First Nations housing program reform with First Nations partners through pilot, innovation, and capacity projects.

ISC is investing in the construction, renovation, repair and maintenance of First Nations schools to create quality learning environments that are safe and healthy, promoting better education outcomes for First Nations students living on reserve.

ISC is supporting Indigenous communities in their transition to clean and reliable energy. Many remote Indigenous communities currently rely on diesel fuel for electricity and heat, which poses challenges to sustainable development. Reducing reliance on diesel helps to address public health and safety concerns, alleviates environmental impacts such as contaminated sites, and reduces greenhouse gas emissions, as well as energy system blackouts and energy load restrictions that impact critical community infrastructure. ISC is actively working with First Nations, provinces, other government departments and other partners to develop renewable energy and energy efficiency projects.

ISC is enhancing the community infrastructure program on reserve by reviewing and updating program policies in partnership with First Nations. The goal of the policy update is to modernize infrastructure policies to better reflect the changing operational needs of the program and to better support First Nations' self-determination.

ISC is working with provinces, territories, First Nations communities and third party organizations to establish multilateral agreements or emergency management Memoranda of Understanding. Last year, ISC signed the first ever tri-lateral Memoranda of Understanding with the First Nations Leadership Council and the Province of British Columbia to work together, collaboratively, to enhance emergency management services for First Nations communities in the region. A working group consisting of First Nations representatives has been established to work collectively to advance meaningful recognition and enhanced capacity of First Nations within all four pillars of emergency management (preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery). For 2020–21, ISC is continuing work with all jurisdictions and is aiming to sign a Tripartite Memorandum of Understanding on Emergency Management Services with Mi'kmaq Confederacy of Prince Edward Island and the Province.

First Nations communities are often more remote and isolated, and are more likely to be impacted by emergencies such as wildland fires and floods. ISC will continue to support the return of evacuees to safer, more sustainable and resilient communities through the Building back better policy. They also face challenges such as obtaining services comparable to neighboring non-Indigenous communities or access to all-weather roads. ISC is working in partnership with First Nations, provinces and territories, and third-party service providers to increase community-based preparedness, mitigation and resilience to emergency events. ISC is also ensuring support is available during response and recovery phases to better support holistic and timely recovery.

ISC will also continue to support multi-year capital projects and high priority repairs for health facilities as well as addictions treatment and prevention centres in First Nations communities. This includes the continued implementation of the projects funded through Budget 2016 with 47 projects to be completed by March 2021.

3. Land and resources in Indigenous communities are sustainably managed

Land use planning, capacity building and training enable First Nations communities to effectively manage lands, natural resources and solid waste and environmental activities that will leverage community and economic development opportunities. In 2020–21, ISC will focus its efforts in the following areas.

ISC will support the development of First Nations' land-use planning from Budget 2018 investments, including the development of over 20 land use plans in 2020–21. ISC will also build capacity within Indigenous partner organizations to effectively support the devolution of services to First Nations.

ISC will support the development of strategic joint economic development plans between municipalities and neighboring First Nations communities through the second phase of the successful Community Economic Development Initiative with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and the Council for the Advancement of Native Development Officers. Between now and 2021, as many as 30 municipalities and new communities will create joint economic development and land management partnerships. Currently, 15 partnerships, involving 25 First Nations communities and 23 municipalities, have been created.

ISC will update the Lands Management Manual in consultation with First Nations and Indigenous organizations. Specific attention will be paid to enhancing policies and procedures in respect of designations, leases, permits and individual interests, and further updating guidelines to support the management of natural resources on reserve.

ISC is exploring innovative ways to improve the Reserve Land and Environment Management Program, such as providing funding to train additional land managers to build capacity in the area of land management to support future devolution of service delivery. ISC will also continue to encourage the implementation and expansion of regional hubs to support the capacity-building efforts of Indigenous regional lands associations.

ISC is collaborating with Indigenous partners to support the Indigenous Centre of Expertise for Cumulative Effects Assessment and Management. The Centre helps to build and enhance the capacity of Indigenous communities for cumulative effects assessment, monitoring and management, based on the values of First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities. In February 2020, ISC supported the Centre in hosting the inaugural Forum for Indigenous Cumulative Effects in Calgary. In 2020–21, based on the feedback from the Forum about the Centre's development, ISC will work with the Interim Board to support a fully autonomous Centre through the recruitment of a Board of Directors with regional and First Nations, Inuit and Métis representation, as well as an Executive Director, and continued community outreach to help shape the Centre's development and early investments in the development of tools, including those required to establish an online presence.

ISC will improve solid waste management services in First Nations communities by investing $101 million in 2020–21 to ensure comparability to services available off reserve. This will reduce potential risks to health, safety and the environment, while supporting sustainable economic development.

ISC will continue to support the Contaminated Sites on Reserve Program by investing $47 million in 2020–21 to help assess and remediate contaminated sites on First Nations lands. This will reduce potential risks to health, safety and the environment, as well as reduce federal environmental liabilities. The program is also looking to develop prevention methods to help reduce the prevalence of contaminated sites on reserve lands. ISC will continue to work with First Nations partners to develop and implement a modernized regulatory regime that supports oil and gas development on reserve lands, while discussing and exploring options that would allow First Nations to increase their jurisdiction in this area.

4. Indigenous communities build economic prosperity

ISC supports Indigenous and northern communities in promoting economic development and creating jobs for Indigenous people, and enhancing Indigenous participation in the public and private sector. In 2020–21, ISC will focus its efforts in the following areas.

The Department will support capacity-building efforts in communities to improve the delivery of economic development services and build on successful investments by supporting projects that leverage private sector investment and lead to higher community revenues and employment. These efforts are critical to support First Nations and Inuit communities' economic development, from projects such as feasibility studies to large-scale commercial infrastructure.

ISC will support efforts to increase the number of Indigenous-owned and controlled businesses in Canada. The Department will also provide a supportive business environment for Indigenous peoples and advocate and inform employers about the hiring of Indigenous peoples.

In cooperation with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada and the Business Development Bank of Canada, ISC will continue to leverage greater access to capital to support the network of Aboriginal Financial Institutions and Indigenous entrepreneurs, which enables an increase in the number of businesses created by Indigenous entrepreneurs.

To support Métis entrepreneurs in the establishment and expansion of businesses, ISC will continue to work with the Métis Capital Corporations. As well, the Department will continue to coordinate with relevant government departments to advance other economic development priorities as put forward by the Métis National Council through the Permanent Bilateral Mechanism process.

ISC will continue to enhance the creation, growth, and long-term viability of Indigenous businesses by assisting them in competing for and winning federal procurement opportunities through the Procurement Strategy for Aboriginal Businesses (PSAB). The PSAB works to create strengthened strategic partnerships between Indigenous business owners, industry sectors and the Government of Canada. This benefits economic development in Canada while investing in the capacity of Indigenous businesses.

The Department will support, at a minimum, 10 new First Nations signatories to the Framework Agreement on First Nation Land Management, and will continue to support capacity development programming administered by Indigenous organizational partners, such as the First Nations Land Management Resource Centre, to ensure successful transitions from the Indian Act. ISC will also continue to support First Nations law-making and training with respect to matrimonial real property, by providing assistance to the Centre of Excellence on Matrimonial Real Property and the First Nations Chiefs of Police Association for ongoing awareness activities, especially in the areas of enforcement and legal services.

ISC will continue to tailor investments based on data, risk and opportunity analysis and according to local needs (understanding that community requirements vary greatly) and to chart a path for the overall transfer of programs to Indigenous institutions.

1. Indigenous peoples control the design, delivery and management of services

ISC is committed to a modern, agile, holistic, and community-based approach to service improvements that supports Indigenous communities and organizations to exercise jurisdiction in the design, delivery and management of services. This is consistent with the Indigenous right to self-determination which is aligned with the UNDRIP and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action. Policies have been introduced on the premise that greater Indigenous control over decision-making, programs and services will contribute to improvements in socio-economic outcomes. For example, the First Nations Health Authority in British Columbia was established in 2013 and fundamentally transformed how health care is delivered in that province. Other Acts, including the Mi'kmaq Education Act, the First Nations Financial Authority Act, the First Nations Land Management Act, the First Nations Commercial and Industrial Act, and An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families put greater decision-making authority in the hands of Indigenous leaders, and expanded their toolkit for economic development, facilitating the potential for transition out of the Indian Act.

In 2020–21, ISC will focus its efforts in the following areas.

ISC will be co-developing distinctions-based Indigenous health legislation with Indigenous partners. At the same time, ISC will continue to advance key health transformation efforts in Quebec, Ontario, Saskatchewan, and Northern Manitoba that are expected to improve regional capacity for health governance, paving the way toward self-determination. In addition, work will continue in other parts of the country to identify additional regional and sub-regional opportunities for increasing Indigenous peoples' control over health services. This includes co-chairing the Joint Métis Health Committee with Métis national and regional partners, Health Canada and the Public Health Agency.

Together with First Nations, Inuit and Métis organizations, ISC will co-develop distinctions-based community infrastructure plans to move forward with 10-year plans to address critical needs, including housing, all-weather roads, high-speed internet, health facilities, treatment centres and schools, and related operations and maintenance.

ISC is partnering with Indigenous, provincial and territorial partners on the implementation of federal legislation for child and family services which recognizes and affirms the inherent jurisdiction of Indigenous peoples in this area. While all Section 35 rights-bearing Indigenous peoples have this inherent jurisdiction, some may choose not to exercise this authority at this time, while some have already exercised their jurisdiction over child and family services. Discussions are underway with communities such as the Cowichan Tribes in British Columbia, with whom ISC signed a letter of understanding in January 2019, to chart a path towards recognizing and implementing jurisdiction over their own child and family services. In 2020–21, progress on these types of agreements is expected to continue.

ISC will continue to develop and implement regional education agreements and other First Nations-led education models that respond to the education goals and priorities set by First Nations and respect the principle of First Nations control of First Nations education. These agreements identify collaborative education service delivery strategies, and confirm how the Government of Canada can best support First Nations schools, communities and education organizations in ensuring that First Nations students receive a high quality, linguistically- and culturally-appropriate education.

Informed by the results of the Employment and Social Development Canada-led engagement process with Indigenous partners, ISC will continue participating in the process of modernizing the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy program to better promote access to skills and work experience for Indigenous youth.

ISC will also continue to work through established Permanent Bilateral Mechanisms with First Nations, Inuit and the Métis Nation to identify joint education priorities, co-develop policy, program and services options, as well as monitor progress.

To achieve the objective of transferring services, a new fiscal relationship is needed between Canada and First Nations under the Indian Act that addresses sufficiency and predictability of funding, that emphasizes accountability to First Nations citizens, and that sustainably strengthens governance and administration of First Nations as they assume greater responsibility for design and delivery of services and work towards self-determination. Therefore, ISC will continue to provide more funding flexibility and predictability to support self-determination through the continued implementation of 10-year grants, co-developed with the AFN and the First Nations Financial Management Board, for qualified First Nations.

Finally, the important work initiated in 2018 with the creation of the AFN-ISC Joint Advisory Committee on Fiscal Relations will continue. The Committee's advice and support will also inform the continued co-development of a mutual accountability framework, including engagement with First Nations partners to finalize a National Outcome-Based Framework, which aims to measure and track the closure of socio-economic gaps more comprehensively; as well as continue advancements in co-developed First Nations-led audit and statistical functions.

2. Indigenous self-determined services are improving outcomes for communities

Ultimately, Indigenous self-determined services are about restoring control to where it always should have remained while improving outcomes for communities through the elimination of the unacceptable socio-economic gaps that exist between Indigenous peoples and other Canadians. In 2020–21, self-determined services will provide greater agility for First Nations to address local needs, advancing the objective of improving the socio-economic conditions and quality of life in First Nations communities.

As more services are designed and delivered by Indigenous peoples for Indigenous peoples and the Indigenous right to self-determination is affirmed, ISC's continued role will be to support Indigenous peoples in their priorities and efforts to improve outcomes for the benefit of their communities. In 2020–21, ISC will:

• Continue supporting co-development initiatives to transfer service design and delivery and affirm jurisdiction in Indigenous communities and organizations in the areas of education and health, as well as in new services areas such as housing and water infrastructure.
• Support First Nations' information and data governance, and pursue the development of mutual accountability frameworks with First Nations.
• Continue to explore data governance and sharing partnerships and/or arrangements in specific service areas such as education.
• Continue to work with First Nations partners on the co-development of a National Outcome-Based Framework to measure and track closure of the socio-economic gaps between First Nations and non-Indigenous Canadians.