INAN - CIRNA QPNs - Jan 28, 2021
Truth and Reconciliation Commission Implementation (73 words)
- Our government fully understands the importance of the Calls to Action and will continue to work with our partners to accelerate progress.
- Almost 80 per cent of the Calls to Action under the sole responsibility of the federal government or shared responsibility with provincial/territorial governments and other key partners, are completed or well underway.
- This work will require sustained and consistent action to continually make progress on Canada’s journey of healing and reconciliation.
Background
As part of its closing events on June 2, 2015, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission released a summary of its final report, which included 94 recommendations, or Calls to Action (CTAs), directed to a wide range of institutions, including the Government of Canada, provincial/territorial governments, churches, corporations and schools. The CTAs focus primarily on social, cultural and rights-related issues, touch upon a range of policy areas, implicate a number of federal departments and agencies and would require a variety of mechanisms to implement (such as legislation, program or policy change, reports or gestures).
As part of Budget 2019, over $200 million was invested to address specific Calls to Action, which include:
- $9.1 million over three years, to support the construction of an Indigenous Legal Lodge at the University of Victoria, as per Call to Action
- $126.5 million to establish a National Council for Reconciliation and endow it with initial operating capital, as per Call to Action 53-54;
- $15.2 million over three years for an Indigenous youth pilot program delivered by Canadian Roots Exchange, as per Call to Action 66 (A three year contribution agreement is currently in place and the pilot project was launched in July 2019);
- $33.8 million over three years to develop and maintain the National Residential School Student Death Register and to work with parties to establish and maintain an online registry of residential school cemeteries, as per Calls to Action 72-76; and
- $10 million over two years to support the establishment of a National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, as per Call to Action 80.
Child welfare (1-5) (77 words)
(1-5 – ISC lead)
(4 is completed – ISC lead)
- The over-representation of Indigenous children in care is a sad and dark part of our shared history that we must address.
- We have completed Call to Action 4: The Act respecting First Nation, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families came into force in January 2020, marking a historic turning point for First Nation, Inuit and Métis children and families.
- The Government is committed to ensuring that First Nations children receive the care and services they need.
If pressed on CTA 2 – ISC lead (84 words)
- We know we must reform the broken system that takes too many Indigenous children from their families and communities, sometimes putting them in harms way.
- This is why we have more than doubled funding to child and family services agencies, based on their actual needs and with an emphasis on prevention, from $681 million in 2015-2016 to nearly $1.7 billion in 2019-2020, with a focus on prevention.
- In keeping with our six-point plan on reform, we are committed to fully implementing the Tribunal’s orders.
If pressed on CTA 3 – ISC lead (88 words)
- We are committed to the full implementation of Jordan’s Principle and to help First Nations children access the products, services and supports they need.
- From July 2016 to July 2020, approximately 691,000 requested products, services and supports have been approved.
- Budget 2019 invested $1.2 billion over three years to support the continued implementation of Jordan’s Principle.
- We have also invested $220 million over five years to address the immediate needs of Inuit children and to enable our continued collaboration with Inuit partners to improve local service delivery capacity.
If pressed on CTA 4 – ISC lead (60 words)
(4 is completed)
- On January 1, 2020, the Act Respecting First Nation, Inuit and Métis Children, Youth and Families came into force.
- This Act will ensure that the best interests of the child, cultural continuity and substantive equality are the guiding principles and priorities for services providers in any situation.
- We will continue to engage with partners on the implementation of this Act.
Education (6 to 12) (81 words)
(6 – DOJ) (7-11 – ISC) (12 – ESDC)
- Every First Nation child deserves the best start in life and support that enables them to reach their full potential.
- Our new funding approach for First Nations schools on-reserve, completion of a distinctions-based post-secondary education strategies, and work on co-developing an elementary and secondary education approach works towards closing educational gaps
- We will continue to co-develop strategies to close employment gaps and work with our First Nations partners for other adaptations to school funding formulas that will address local education needs.
Language and culture (13 to 17) (68 words)
(13 and 14 are completed – PCH) (15 – PCH) (16 is not federal) (17 – StatsCan)
- Canada recognizes that Section 35 of the Constitution Act includes language rights and aims to reclaim, revitalize, strengthen and maintain Indigenous languages in Canada.
- In June 2019, the Indigenous Languages Act received Royal Assent. This was a monumental step in the relationship between Canada and First Nation, Inuit and Métis.
- We are committed to working with Indigenous governing bodies and Indigenous organizations towards appointing an Aboriginal Languages Commissioner.
Health (18-24) (85 words)
(18-23 – ISC) (24 is not a federal lead)
- We are working in partnership with Indigenous Peoples to close gaps that prevent their access to quality healthcare.
- We have:
- approved more than 691,000 requests for products and services under Jordan’s Principle since
- supported 63 community-led mental wellness teams that are serving 344 communities; and
- in 2019-2020, provided coverage of health benefits to over 857,500 First Nations and Inuit.
- We continue working to ensure that Indigenous peoples are in control of the design and delivery of their healthcare programs and services.
Justice (25-42) (92 words)
(25 is completed – PS) (27 and 28 are not federal leads)
(41 is completed – CIRNAC – MMIWG Inquiry)
(26,30-32, 34, 36-38, 40,42 – DOJ)
- We know there are systematic issues in our criminal justice system that must be addressed.
- We are working with Indigenous partners, families, survivors, and provincial and territorial governments to co-develop a National Action Plan to respond to the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Final Report.
- Justice Canada is also supporting new Indigenous law initiatives across Canada through the Justice Partnership and Innovation Program, to improve equality for Indigenous Peoples in Canada’s legal system.
- We will continue to work with our partners to implement Calls to Action.
Canadian governments and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (43 to 44) (88 words)
(43 – DOJ) (44 – CIRNAC)
- Consistent with Canada’s commitment to implement the Calls to Action, the Department of Justice is working with Indigenous partners to introduce legislation on the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples by the end of 2020.
- The Declaration continues to be a central piece of the Federal Government’s Indigenous agenda, and one of my key mandate commitments as confirmed by the Speech from the Throne.
- We will continue to engage with Indigenous partners to ensure that diverse Indigenous voices are reflected in the draft legislation.
Royal Proclamation and Covenant of Reconciliation (45 to 47) (39 words)
(45 – PCO) (46-47 – DOJ)
- Consistent with Canada’s commitment to implement the Calls to Action, the Department of Justice is working with Indigenous partners to introduce legislation on the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples by the end of 2020.
- We will continue to advance this work in collaboration with Indigenous peoples.
Equity for Aboriginal People in the legal system (50 to 52) (95 words)
(50-51 – DOJ) (52 – CIRNAC)
- The Government of Canada recognizes the importance of revitalizing Indigenous legal systems and the important role of Indigenous law institutes.
- Justice Canada continues to put forward legislative reform to help address the Calls to Action, such as Bill C-75, An Act to amend the Criminal Code, the Youth Criminal Justice Act and other acts, which fully came into force in December 2019.
- This included amendments to reduce overrepresentation, with changes to the bail system and improvements to the jury selection process.
- We also invested $9.1 million towards an Indigenous Legal Lodge at the University of Victoria and $10 million to support initiatives that improve equality for Indigenous people in Canada’s legal system.
- Canada supports initiatives that will advance the development, use and understanding of Indigenous laws.
National Council for Reconciliation (53-56) (77 words)
(53-56 – CIRNAC)
- The Government of Canada remains committed to establishing a National Council for Reconciliation and will take into consideration the advice and recommendations provided in the Interim Board’s final report.
- Through Budget 2019 we announced $126.5 million, beginning in 2020-21, to establish a National Council for Reconciliation and fund its initial operations.
- Once established, the Council is expected to monitor, evaluate and report to all Canadians on progress towards reconciliation across all levels and sectors of Canadian society.
Professional development and training for public servants (57) (82 words)
(57 completed – CSPS)
- All federal public servants have an important role to play in Reconciliation.
- The Canada School of Public Service engaged extensively with Indigenous peoples and organizations to develop an Indigenous Learning Series to support employees.
- The trainings focus on working effectively with diverse Indigenous populations and developing federal policies and programs that meet the unique needs and realities of First Nations, Inuit and Métis in Canada.
- By delivering on Call to Action 57, the Government of Canada is taking positive steps towards reconciliation.
Church apologies and reconciliation (58 to 61) (66 words)
(58 to 61 – not federal leads)
- Bringing meaningful resolution to the painful legacy of Indian Residential Schools lies at the heart of reconciliation between Indigenous people who attended residential schools, their families and communities, and all Canadians.
- The Government of Canada believes that an apology from the Pope, on behalf of the Catholic Church for its role in residential schools, is an important step in acknowledging the past and moving toward Reconciliation.
Education and reconciliation (62 and 65) (70 words)
(62 – ISC and P/Ts) (63 and 64 – not a federal lead) (65 – SSHRC)
- We believe in education that respects Indigenous peoples.
- That is why Indigenous Services Canada is closing education gaps and supported the First Nations University of Canada to develop a National Centre for Collaboration in Indigenous Education.
- The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council is committed to supporting research by and with Indigenous peoples.
- In January 2020, following extensive engagement with Indigenous communities and organizations, federal research funding agencies launched a new Indigenous research strategy
- We continue to implement CTA 65, with engagement with First Nations, Inuit and Métis partners.
If Pressed (34 words)
- We have worked towards closing educational gaps by:
- co-developing an elementary and secondary education approach,
- completing distinctions-based post-secondary education strategies, and
- completing a new funding approach for First Nations schools on-reserve.
Youth programs (66) (83 words)
(66 – CIRNAC)
- Advancing reconciliation depends fundamentally on supporting Indigenous youth to help guide our work forward and to become the future leaders of their communities and nations.
- To seek recommendations on the implementation of Call to Action 66, Canada launched a pilot project in 2019, in partnership with Canadian Roots Exchange.
- This pilot project is investing in Indigenous youth-led initiatives and building Indigenous youth networks across Canada so the voices of Indigenous youth contribute to decision-making and advancing their vision for their communities and nations.
Museums and archives (67 to 70) (87 words)
(67-70 are PCH) (67 and 68 are completed – PCH)
- Bringing closure to the legacy of Indian residential schools is at the heart of reconciliation.
- Calls to Action 67 and 68 are completed: Through Budget 2017 we invested $14.9 million to digitalize Indigenous content, increased access to records and materials related to residential school survivors and established an Indigenous Advisory Circle.
- We also established the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report Response Task Force and conducted outreach with Indigenous communities between 2017 and 2019.
- We will continue work to develop programming to ensure residential school history is preserved.
Missing children and burial information (71 to 76) (86 words)
(71 is not a federal lead) (72-76 – CIRNA)
- Identifying children who died while attending Indian Residential Schools is fundamental to providing closure for their families.
- The National Residential School Student Death Register has been developed and through Budget 2019 we announced funding to support the establishment of a national strategy to respond to the remaining Calls to Action.
- We will continue to engage with communities on the development of culturally appropriate approaches to identifying the deceased children, locating burial sites and commemorating or memorializing those who died or went missing while attending residential schools.
National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (77 to 78) (67 words)
(77 is not federal) (78 is completed – CIRNAC)
- The Indian Residential Schools were a dark chapter of Canada’s history with Indigenous peoples – one that should never be forgotten.
- Call to Action 78 is complete: In December 2016, the Government of Canada provided $10 million to support the important work of the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation.
- This contribution will help to ensure that the history and legacy of Canada’s residential school system is remembered.
Commemoration (79 to 83) (92 words)
(79 – Parks) (80 – DOJ) (81 – PCH) (82 is not a federal lead) (83 is completed – PCH)
- Our Government encourages all Canadians to learn about and commemorate the legacy of Residential Schools.
- This is why the Creating, Knowing and Sharing arts program was established, and why September 30 is now recognized as Orange Shirt Day to honour the thousands of survivors.
- Preliminary work on installing a Residential Schools National Monument in Ottawa has already begun, in collaboration with Survivors. Our Government will collaborate with First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples on the various phases of this commemorative project.
- We continue working to honour Residential School survivors and their families.
Media and reconciliation (84) (74 words)
(85 and 86 are not federal) (84 is completed – CBC)
- The Government encourages all Canadians to learn about the legacy of Residential Schools.
- Budget 2016 funding enabled CBC to create the Espaces autochtones digital portal and other key Indigenous content.
- This funding also allowed CBC to hire local Indigenous staff in Yellowknife for the digitization of decades of audio programming in eight Indigenous languages.
- Canadians’ understanding of the painful legacy of residential schools is vital to truth telling, reconciliation, recognizing past injustices, and healing.
Sports and reconciliation (87 to 91) (78 words)
(87 and 88 are completed – PCH) (89-90 – PCH) (91 is not a federal lead)
- Our Government considers sport to be a powerful agent for social change and innovation.
- The Government invested through Budget 2017 to support Indigenous youth and sport initiatives Indigenous sport leadership; culturally relevant sport programming; the North American Indigenous Games; and, Indigenous sport data and research.
- We are committed to continue engagement with the Aboriginal Sport Circle to ensure that the sport related Calls to Action are addressed, including the commitment to amend the Physical Activity and Sport Act.
Newcomers to Canada (93 and 94) (76 words)
(93 and 94 – IRCC)
- The Government is committed to responding to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action, which includes changes to the citizenship study guide and the Oath of Citizenship.
- New wording will help ensure that new Canadians appreciate and respect how Indigenous peoples and their history are an important part of Canada’s fabric and identity.
- These changes are important in advancing our broader agenda for reconciliation and strengthening the country’s valued relationship with Indigenous peoples in Canada.
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