2006-2007 Departmental Performance Report – HTML

Section I — Overview

Minister’s Message

Over the last year, our department has demonstrated what can be accomplished when we take concrete action to improve the lives of First Nations, Inuit, Métis and Northerners.

We have seen the real progress that can be made with a clear strategy, strong partnerships and an understanding that healthy, prosperous and self-reliant Aboriginal and Northern communities benefit all of Canada.

That is why we are working with provincial and territorial governments and our First Nations, Inuit, Métis and Northern partners to ensure we address issues facing Aboriginal and Northern communities in a way that is coherent, practical and measurable.

On one hand, we are working to create stable and accountable governments in First Nations communities, and are taking decisive action to settle outstanding land claims. At the same time, we are ensuring the conditions are in place to guarantee that First Nations people enjoy the same treatment and access to services as all Canadians.

We are working with the private sector to create initiatives to enable Aboriginal people — both on- and off-reserve — to take charge of their own economic development opportunities and to benefit from major resource development projects in or near their communities.

And we are finding ways to develop the tremendous potential of Canada’s North — advancing devolution, supporting Northern science research, and harnessing the North’s vast resources in a way that is environmentally sustainable, and economically and socially beneficial for Northerners.

Together, these efforts reflect our shared priorities with our partners and form the basis of our collaborative strategy. They converge to improve social conditions and encourage economic growth — creating a more promising future for First Nations, Inuit, Métis and Northerners, and in turn for all Canadians.

On behalf of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC), the Canadian Polar Commission and the Indian Specific Claims Commission, I am pleased to present the 2006–2007 Departmental Performance Report.

The Honourable Chuck Strahl, P.C., M.P. Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians

Management Representation Statement

I submit, for tabling in Parliament, the 2006–2007 Departmental Performance Report for Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, the Canadian Polar Commission and the Indian Specific Claims Commission.

This document has been prepared based on the reporting principles contained in the Guide for the Preparation of Part III of the 2006–2007 Estimates: Reports on Plans and Priorities and Departmental Performance Reports:

• It adheres to the specific reporting requirements outlined in the Treasury Board Secretariat guidance;
• It is based on the department’s approved Strategic Outcomes and Program Activity Architecture that were approved by the Treasury Board;
• It presents consistent, comprehensive, balanced and reliable information; It provides a basis of accountability for the results achieved with the resources and authorities entrusted to it; and
• It reports finances based on approved numbers from the Estimates and the Public Accounts of Canada.

Michael Wernick
Deputy Minister, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada

Summary Information
Raison d’être

Indian Specific Claims Commission
The mission of the Indian Specific Claims Commission (ISCC) is to assist First Nations and the Government of Canada to settle specific claims. The ISCC is a commission of inquiry established in 1991. Its mandate is: to inquire, at the request of a First Nation, into specific claims that have been rejected by the federal government or accepted claims where the First Nation disputes the compensation criteria being considered; and to provide mediation services on consent of the parties at any stage of the claims process.

Financial Resources (2006–2007)

($ millions)	Planned Spending	Total Authorities	Actual Spending
Indian Specific Claims Commission	5.6	6.8	6.5

Human Resources (2006–2007)

(FTEs)	Planned	Actual	Difference
Indian Specific Claims Commission	49	45	(4)

Section II — Analysis of Program Activities by Strategic Outcome

Program Activity	2006–2007
	Financial Resources ($ millions)			Human Resources (Full-time Equivalents)
	Planned Spending	Total Authorities	Actual Spending	Planned	Actual	Difference
Indian Specific Claims Commission	5.6	6.8	6.5	49	45	(4)

Since its inception in 1991, the Indian Specific Claims Commission (ISCC) has gained credibility as an independent, neutral body that conducts public inquiries into specific claims disputes between First Nations and the Government of Canada. As well as conducting formal inquiries, the Commission, at the request of either party (the government and the First Nation) and with the consent of both, provides or arranges for such mediation and facilitation services that it believes may assist them to reach an agreement with respect to any matter relating to an Indian specific claim.

The ISCC also provides information to the public concerning its activities and results, issues special reports, and from time to time is called upon to conduct speaking engagements.

The Commission typically completes its work on a claim, including issuing its final report, two to five years after receipt of the initial request for an inquiry. The complexity of a claim influences the duration of an inquiry. In 2006–2007, the ISCC conducted 38 ongoing inquiries, seven of which were completed (with reports on five of them to be issued in 2007–2008), and released reports on three inquiries completed in previous reporting periods. The Commission also worked on 26 mediation efforts.

Results of this program activity

• In 2006–2007, the ISCC worked on 38 ongoing inquiries and 26 mediation efforts.
• From April 1, 2006 to March 31, 2007, the Commission completed seven inquiries: the Blood Tribe/Kainaiwa, Big Claim; the Cowessess First Nation, 1907 surrender, Phase II; the James Smith Cree Nation, treaty land entitlement; the Kluane First Nation, Kluane Game Sanctuary and Kluane National Park Reserve creation; the Opaskwayak Cree Nation, streets and lanes; the Paul Indian Band, Kapasiwin townsite; and the Sakimay First Nation, Treaty land entitlement. It released reports on two of these completed inquiries; the remaining five will be issued in the next fiscal year.
• The Commission released reports on three inquiries completed in previous reporting periods: the Blueberry River First Nation and Doig River First Nation: Highway right of way Indian Reserve (IR) 172 claim; the Taku River Tlingit First Nation, Wenah specific claim; and the Williams Lake Indian Band, Village site claim. These and all of the Commission’s reports can be found on the ISCC Web site.
• ISCC continued to implement measures to ensure excellence of operations and expand its body of knowledge about specific claims.

Areas for improvement and lessons learned

Since its inception in 1991, the ISCC has gained credibility as an independent, neutral body that conducts public inquiries into specific claims disputes between First Nations and the Government of Canada. To be effective, the ISCC, in all of its dealings, must be perceived as independent, neutral and objective by both First Nations and the government.

A unique and important aspect of the inquiry process is a visit by Commissioners and key staff to the First Nation community to hear directly from Elders and community members with regard to the claim. The process emphasizes principles of fairness, equity and justice, which promote reconciliation and healing between First Nations and non-First Nations Canadians. Face-to-face meetings and careful consideration of oral evidence is valuable to the claims resolution process.

The Commission provides broad mediation and facilitation services at the request of both the First Nation and the Government of Canada. Together with the mediator, the parties decide how the mediation process will be conducted. This method ensures the process fits the unique circumstances of each particular negotiation. These mediation services may be provided at any stage of the claims process. In a number of cases, the Commission has provided mediation/facilitation services to the specific claims process prior to the acceptance or rejection of the claim. The experience of the Commission has been that the use of mediation/facilitation services in those instances has proven to be a useful tool to support the resolution of specific claims.

Section III — Supplementary Information

Organizational Information

Financial Tables

Table 1: Comparison of Planned to Actual Spending (including FTEs)

($ millions)	Actual 2004–2005	Actual 2005–2006	2006–2007
			Main Estimates	Planned Spending	Total Authorities	Actual Spending
Indian Specific Claims Commission
Indian Specific Claims Commission	n/a	6.9	5.6	5.6	6.8	6.5
Total	n/a	6.9	5.6	5.6	6.8	6.5
Less: Non-Respendable Revenue	n/a	—	n/a	—	n/a	—
Plus: Cost of services received without charge	n/a	0.7	n/a	0.6	n/a	0.7
Total Spending	n/a	7.6	n/a	6.2	n/a	7.2
Full-Time Equivalents	45	46	49	49	45	45
Due to rounding, figures may not add to totals shown.

Table 2: Resources by Program Activity

2006–2007 ($ millions)
Program Activity	Budgetary					Non-Budgetary	Total
	Operating	Capital	Grants	Contributions and Other Transfer Payments	Gross/Net	Loans, Investments and Advances
Indian Specific Claims Commission
Conduct inquiries and provide mediation services
Main Estimates	5.6	—	—	—	5.6	—	5.6
Planned Spending	5.6	—	—	—	5.6	—	5.6
Total Authorities	6.8	—	—	—	6.8	—	6.8
Actual Spending	6.5	—	—	—	6.5	—	6.5
Due to rounding, figures may not add to totals shown.

Table 3: Voted and Statutory Items

Vote or Statutory Item		2006–2007 ($ millions)
		Main Estimates	Planned Spending	Total Authorities	Actual Spending
Indian Specific Claims Commission
45	Program expenditures	5.0	5.0	6.2	5.9
(S)	Contributions to employee benefit plans	0.5	0.5	0.6	0.6
	Total Commission	5.5	5.5	6.8	6.5
Due to rounding, figures may not add to totals shown.

 Table 4: Services Received Without Charge

($ millions)	Indian Specific Claims Commission
Accommodation provided by Public Works and Government Services Canada	0.4
Contributions covering employers' share of employees' insurance premiums and expenditures paid by TBS (excluding revolving funds)	0.2
Workman's compensation coverage provided by Human Resources and Social Development Canada	—
Salary and associated expenditures of legal services provided by Justice Canada	—
Total 2006–2007 Services Received Without Charge	0.6
Due to rounding, figures may not add to totals shown.

Table 5: Loans, Investments and Advances (Non-Budgetary)

($ millions)	Actual 2004–2005	Actual 2005–2006	2006–2007
			Main Estimates	Planned Spending	Total Authorities	Actual Spending
Indian Specific Claims Commission
N/A	—	—	—	—	—	—
Due to rounding, figures may not add to totals shown.

Table 6: Sources of Non-Respendable Revenue

($ millions)	Actual 2004–2005	Actual 2005–2006	2006–2007
			Main Estimates	Planned Revenue	Total Authorities	Actual Revenue
Indian Specific Claims Commission
N/A	—	—	—	—	—	—
Due to rounding, figures may not add to totals shown.