Our Government’s Progress On RECONCILIATION Introduction COVID-19 Indigenous Supports Progress since 2015 with the Tsleil-Waututh Nation Ongoing Work with the Tsleil-Waututh Nation National Progress Ongoing Challenges OUR GOVERNMENT’S PROGRESS TOWARDS RECONCILIATION TERRY BEECH Introduction In 2015, when our government was first elected, we made it clear that there is no relationship more important to the federal government than the Nation-to-Nation relationship with First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities. Having been re-elected in 2019, we made commitments in the September 2020 Speech from the Throne. We’ve expedited work to co-develop distinctions-based Indigenous health legislation and a distinctions-based mental health and wellness strategy. We’ve accelerated work on the National Action Plan and our implementation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls for Action. We’ve supported more affordable and sustainable Indigenous housing and made significant progress in our plan to close the infrastructure gap and end all boil-water advisories across Canada. We’re committed to moving forward together. In December 2020, the Government introduced Bill C-15, United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, which was developed with Indigenous partners, fulfilling its commitment to introduce legislation to implement the Declaration as government legislation. We have a plan to invest over $18 billion over the next five years to improve the quality of life and create new opportunities for people living in Indigenous communities. One of the most pressing issues for Indigenous communities across Canada remains the spread of COVID-19. As we continue to battle the pandemic, we are helping Indigenous communities contain the virus by ensuring vaccine options and assisting in health regulations. We will continue to give communities and economies support to counter the adverse effects of the necessary social distancing restrictions while making recovery plans. We will provide families with the tools they need. Reckoning with our colonial legacy and all the wrongs done to Indigenous Peoples will not be easy. It means having hard conversations, listening, and grieving. It certainly won’t be a finished process within a year or before the next election. But few things worth doing are easy. This report is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every single investment and discussion our government has undertaken to advance reconciliation. Still, I hope that it will give a clearer picture of some of the strides our government has taken and our ongoing work. We’re doing our best to work with Indigenous partners to help build Indigenous communities for the future, recover from the pandemic, and advance meaningful reconciliation. The process of reconciliation is a long one, but it is our sincere hope that by working in partnership with individual Indigenous communities on a Nation-to-Nation basis, we will be able to make progress. And that starts right here in Burnaby and North Vancouver. GETTING IN TOUCH DURING COVID-19 As your Member of Parliament, it is my highest priority to represent my constituents and their concerns, and I want to hear from you. If you have any feedback for our office, or wish to meet to discuss your concerns, please do not hesitate to contact our office by email at [email protected], by phone at 604-718-8870, or by mail at 3906 Hastings St, Burnaby BC, V5C 6C1. Even though COVID-19 changed how our office works, we are still just as available to you as ever. 2 OUR GOVERNMENT’S PROGRESS TOWARDS RECONCILIATION TERRY BEECH COVID-19 Indigenous Supports First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities all across Canada are varied and diverse, and we are committed to working closely on a Nation-to-Nation basis to address challenges as partners. COVID-19 has presented unique challenges to each community, and we have developed these unique solutions accordingly to work in tandem with the existing supports available to Indigenous peoples. • Created a new distinctions-based Indigenous Community Support Fund, and in past years invested $305 million to support this initiative. Furthermore, we are providing $760.8 million to support the Indigenous Community Support Fund to help Indigenous communities, and urban and off-reserve Indigenous organizations serving Indigenous peoples meet the unique needs of their populations during the COVID-19 pandemic. − Support for Elders and vulnerable community members. − Measures to combat food insecurity. − Educational and other supports for children. − Mental health assistance and emergency response services. − COVID-19 preparedness measures. • Supported a range of federal health measures, including preparedness support, with a range of measures. For areas of federal responsibility, we are providing $100 million to help: − Respond to identified needs to update and/or activate pandemic plans. − Support an effective allocation of limited public health and primary health care capacity. − Align response efforts with scientific evidence as determined by a medical officer of health. − Address immediate needs in the short term. • Helping Nutrition North Canada to increase subsidies so families can afford much-needed personal hygiene products and nutritious food with a $25 million investment. • Provided $75.2 million of additional distinctions-based support to First Nations, Inuit, and Métis post-secondary students. • Funding community-led responses to the pandemic and providing targeted increases in primary health care resources for First Nations communities. Our continuing support for the COVID-19 response in Indigenous communities includes: − To continue to support the ongoing public health response to COVID-19 in Indigenous communities, including support to hire nurses, help at-risk people to isolate, and distribute personal protective equipment, we will provide $478.1 million. Vaccination efforts are well underway in Indigenous communities across the country. The federal government continues to work with provinces and territories to make sure Indigenous peoples in cities can get the vaccine. Indigenous communities have worked hard to combat the virus, but the pandemic is not over, and Indigenous communities remain at risk. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on Indigenous communities and businesses. Some of the measures in place to ensure the long-term resilience of Indigenous economies are: • To support the Indigenous tourism industry with an additional $2.4 million on top of the previous $16 million to Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada to help the Indigenous tourism industry rebuild and recover from the impacts of COVID-19. 3 OUR GOVERNMENT’S PROGRESS TOWARDS RECONCILIATION TERRY BEECH • Increase the Indigenous Growth Fund to help provide a long-term source of financing to support continued success for Indigenous businesses. The $150 million addition to the Fund will provide capital to Aboriginal Financial Institutions and, ultimately, Indigenous businesses and entrepreneurs. The unique structure leverages an initial government investment to help recruit other investors, and most importantly, grow and sustain the Fund on an ongoing basis. • To support Indigenous businesses through the pandemic we have the Indigenous Business Initiative and the Regional Relief and Recovery Fund. To make sure these businesses can continue to access support, the Federal Government will extend the application deadline for support under the Regional Relief and Recovery Fund and the Indigenous Business Initiative until June 30, 2021 and will provide $80 million to do this. • We will renew the Indigenous Community Business Fund with $117 million to ensure First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Nation communities can continue to provide services and support jobs for their members through collectively owned businesses and microbusinesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. • Support the First Nations Finance Authority pooled borrowing regime to establish a First Nations Finance Authority Emergency Fund to provide repayable financial support for borrowing members encountering difficulties due to COVID-19 or future widespread economic shocks. We will provide $33.4 million for this initiative. • An additional $100 million to triple the financing of the Enabling Accessibility Fund and support small and mid- sized projects with Indigenous organizations and other groups to help offset the costs of renovations, retrofits, and accessible technologies in workplaces. • Expand the Aboriginal Entrepreneurship Program. This will directly support Indigenous-led businesses and help Indigenous communities generate wealth by improving access to capital and business opportunities. • Providing tools, services, and resources to increase the number of Indigenous women entrepreneurs with $22 million for the Indigenous Women’s Entrepreneurship Initiative. • Strengthening Diversity in Corporate Governance by holding a public consultation on measures that would adapt and apply the Canada Business Corporations Act diversity requirements to federally regulated financial institutions. This objective is to promote greater gender, racial, ethnic, and Indigenous diversity among senior ranks of the financial sector and ensure more Canadians have access to these opportunities. • Supplementing the On-Reserve Income Assistance Program and addressing increased demand on the program to help individuals and families meet their essential living expenses and hire additional staff to better serve First Nations communities