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FMM - Government of Canada invests in immediate action

News Release

November 25, 2005
Kelowna, British Columbia

GOVERNMENT OF CANADA INVESTS IN IMMEDIATE ACTION TO IMPROVE
LIVES OF ABORIGINAL PEOPLES IN CANADA


Prime Minister Paul Martin today announced more than $5 billion over the next five years to close the gap between Aboriginal peoples and other Canadians in education, health, housing and economic opportunities.  The announcement was made at an historic meeting of First Ministers and Aboriginal Leaders that set out an ambitious plan of action.

"Our plan is built on a foundation of respect, accountability, and shared responsibility," said the Prime Minister.  "With this plan, we have made an important step forward in honouring our commitment to close the gap in the quality of life that now exists between Aboriginal peoples and other Canadians."

The Prime Minister outlined 5-year targets, within the 10-year plan to ensure actions remain focused and accountable.  First Ministers and national Aboriginal leaders agreed that broad indicators will be used to assess the progress of the Plan.  In addition, more specific measures and targets will be developed at regional and sub regional levels.

The Prime Minister acknowledged the Assembly of First Nations for taking the important step of proposing the establishment of a First Nations Auditor General and an Ombudsman.

"We all need to make an on-going commitment to openness, transparency and good governance," added Prime Minister Martin.  "The targets we set today must be tracked and measured constantly so that everyone involved in this process is accountable."

Federal Investments

Education

K-12

Currently, 44 per cent of Aboriginal people aged 20 through 24 have less than high school education.  The comparative figure for Canada as a whole is 19 per cent.


The Government of Canada is committed to closing this gap, so that by 2016, the graduation rate for Aboriginal students will be on par with other Canadians.  This means 22,000 more Aboriginal high school graduates over the next 5 years and 110,000 more in 10 years.

To achieve this goal, the Government of Canada will invest:

  • $1.05 billion over the next 5 years to promote education innovation on-reserve, including assistance to establish a network of First Nations school systems, with regional school authorities administered under First Nations jurisdictions and enhancements for First Nations basic education services; and,
  • $150 million over the next 5 years for off-reserve initiatives within the public school system, including $50 million to improve education in the North.

    Post-Secondary Education

    In 2001, 23 per cent of Aboriginal peoples aged 18 to 29 reported having completed their post secondary education, compared to 43 per cent in the rest of Canada.

    The Government of Canada is committed to closing the gap by 50 per cent in 10 years, meaning an increase of 14,800 post-secondary graduates over the next 5 years and 37,000 more in 10 years.

    To reach this goal, a $500 million investment over the next five years will be made, including post secondary education bursaries, scholarships and apprenticeships.  The Government of Canada will engage with Aboriginal organizations and provinces and territories to determine how best to target funding. 

    The Government of Canada will also undertake a review to identify more initiatives that will help to close the overall post-secondary education gap.

    Children

    In order to prepare children for their school-age experience, the Government of Canada will invest an additional $100 million over the next five years in existing initiatives for urban, Métis and Northern Aboriginal children.

    In total, the Government of Canada will invest a total of $1.8 billion over the next five years in education initiatives at the early childhood, kindergarten to grade 12 and post-secondary level.

    Health

    The incidence of infant mortality is almost 20 per cent higher than in the rest of Canada.  Aboriginal people are three times more likely to have Type 2 diabetes.  Suicide rates can be anywhere from 3 to 11 times more frequent B particularly among Inuit.

    Targets have been established with Aboriginal leaders to reduce infant mortality, youth suicide, childhood obesity and diabetes by 20 per cent in five years, and 50 per cent in 10 years.  The Government of Canada committed to doubling the number of health professionals in 10 years from the present level of 150 physicians and 1,200 nurses.

    The Government of Canada will be guided by the historic Aboriginal Health Blueprint as a national framework for investment and collaborative action.

    The Government of Canada will invest $1.315 billion over the next five years: 

  • $870 million to stabilize the First Nation and Inuit Health System; and,
  • $445 million to promote transformation and to build capacity.

    Housing and Infrastructure

    On-reserve, the estimated housing shortage is 20,000 to 35-000 units, and is growing by 2,200 units per year.  Off-reserve, the core housing need is 76 per cent higher among Aboriginal households as compared to non-Aboriginal households. In the North, housing needs are 130 per cent higher among Aboriginal households compared to non-Aboriginal households.

    On-reserve, the Government of Canada has set targets to reduce the housing shortage by 40 per cent over the next five years and by 80 per cent within 10 years.

    Off-reserve, the Government of Canada will work with provinces and territories to provide access to housing to approximately 17,000 households and close the gap by 50 per cent in five years and close the gap entirely in 10 years. 

    In the North, the Government of Canada will help reduce the housing gap by 35 per cent over the next five years and by 70 per cent in the next 10 years.

    The Government of Canada will invest $1.6 billion over the next five years to support transformative change in housing: 

  • $600 million to support market-based approaches and the transformation of social housing on-reserve;
  • $300 million to support new federal/provincial/territorial partnership agreements for Aboriginal housing off-reserve;
  • $300 million for Northern housing partnerships; and,
  • $400 million for water and other infrastructure as well as an acceleration of the First Nations Water Management Strategy to regulate water quality on reserves and work with First Nations communities to ensure training for operators.

    Special attention will go toward involving Aboriginal people in the development of a strong and effective Aboriginal housing system that will build Aboriginal capacity in areas such as land administration and housing and financial management.

    Aboriginal housing assistance must focus on those in greatest housing need and on ensuring more Aboriginal women in need have access to safe and suitable housing, while at the same time removing barriers, building capacity and providing incentives for the development of market based housing approaches. 

    Economic Opportunities

    The unemployment rate among Aboriginal peoples is 19.1 per cent, while the national rate is 7.4 per cent.  On reserves, the unemployment rate is about 29 per cent, four times the Canadian unemployment rate.  The median employment income for Aboriginal Canadians is $16,000, while the average for non-Aboriginal Canadians is $25,000.

    The Government of Canada will work to increase Aboriginal employment levels by 30 per cent over the next five years and by 50 per cent within 10 years. The Government of Canada has also set a target to narrow the gap in median employment income by half within 5 years.  The Government of Canada will also bring broadband access to an additional 250 communities within 10 years.

    As part of its strategy to achieve these goals, the Government of Canada will invest $200 million over the next five years in the following:

  • $12 million toward accelerating the regulatory regime under the First Nations Commercial and Industrial Development Act for commercial and industrial activities; and,
  • $188 million for Economic Development Framework initiatives.

    Relationships and Accountability

    The Government of Canada recognized the importance of respecting the differences among First Nations, Inuit and Métis and of including each group as appropriate in policy development going forward.  The inclusion of Aboriginal women was also underlined.

    Participants also agreed that the expertise of Aboriginal service delivery organizations should be used wherever possible as they are often the first and primary contact for Aboriginal people seeking to access public services.

    In recognition of this, the Government of Canada will invest $170 million over the next five years:

  • $90 million to national and regional Aboriginal organizations to assist them in enhancing their core capacity to work with governments in policy development and other initiatives;
  • $60 million for the development of indicators and accountability; and,
  • $20 million for engagement on renewal of Land Claim and Self-Government policies.

    Recognizing the unique circumstances in the North, the Government of Canada will ensure that First Nations, Inuit and Métis people living in Yukon, Nunavut and the Northwest Territories benefit from the new investments announced today.

    Today's new funding, builds on previous investments by the Government of Canada in areas of urgent need for Aboriginal Canadians, including more than $1.4 billion confirmed in Budget 2005 and more than $2 billion from recent announcements including:

  • $700 million for healthcare;
  • $345 million for Aboriginal Children and Youth (First Nations Child and Family Services, Special Education and Early Learning and Childcare);
  • $340 million to strengthen Aboriginal social foundations (Aboriginal Healing Foundation, Aboriginal Languages and Culture and Aboriginal Housing);
  • $50 million for relationships (Powley Strategy; PSE Scholarships and the Inuit Secretariat);
  • $62.5 million as the First Nations share of the gas tax;
  • $100 million investment for Broadband for Rural and Northern Development; and,
  • $2.2 billion including compensation for the direct benefit of former students and funding for healing and commemoration in an Agreement in Principle toward a fair and lasting resolution of the legacy of Indian Residential schools.



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     Last Updated: 2005-11-28 Top of Page Important Notices