Indigenous programs are looking at more than $2 billion dollars in budget cuts in Prime Minister Mark Carney’s first budget.
The Liberal minority government’s 2025 spending plan, tabled in the House of Commons, would decrease budgets by two per cent at both Indigenous Services Canada and Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada — a total slash of almost $2.3 billion dollars by spring 2030.
On the flipside, Ottawa promises $2.3 billion dollars over three years for safe water in First Nations, and $10.1 million dollars over three years for Indigenous consultations on major projects being fast-tracked through the regulatory process.
But the new money for Indigenous-specific programs slows there.
“The government remains committed to reconciliation. Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada and Indigenous Services Canada deliver important programs that are legally or constitutionally required,” the document reads.
“The government will review how these organizations can deliver these programs more efficiently, with a two per cent savings target.”
The budget points out that $2.8 billion dollars “is being confirmed” as remaining available from the $4.3 billion dollars initially promised in 2022 for urban, rural and northern Indigenous housing, meaning that program has not been cut.
Urban Programming for Indigenous Peoples is slated for a top-up of $34 million dollars this fiscal year, this budget. The exact Indigenous programs that will see budget cuts haven’t been identified.
Indigenous peoples are also eligible for cash through other initiative, such as an Arctic Infrastructure Fund that will receive $1 billion dollars over four years for major transportation projects with dual-use applications for civilian and military, including airports, seaports and roads.
The document notes the plan to “accelerate regulatory processes in Canada’s North,” commiting $25.5 million dollars over four years for CIRNAC and $41.7 million over four years for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency
Indigenous groups would also be eligible for a new Build Communities Strong Fund, promising $51 billion dollars over 10 years. The Inuit Nunangat University as well as the Lac La Ronge Indian Band Kitsaki Hall in Saskatchewan were named among the initial projects Ottawa is supporting.
The minority Liberals need three votes from the major opposition parties for the budget to pass in the House of Commons, and if they don’t get those, a winter election could follow.
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