Question Period Note: Truth and Reconciiliation Commission Implementation

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action provide all Canadians a path forward for Canada’s journey of healing and reconciliation.
To date, close to 80 per cent of the Calls to Action under the responsibility of the federal government alone or shared responsibility with provincial/territorial governments and other key partners, are completed or well underway.
Our government fully understands the importance of the Calls to Action and will continue to work with our partners to accelerate progress.
This work will require sustained and consistent action to continually make progress on the journey of reconciliation.

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:
o $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 50;
o $126.5 million to establish a National Council for Reconciliation and endow it with initial operating capital, as per Call to Action 53-54;
o $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);
o $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,
o $10 million over two years to support the establishment of a National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, as per Call to Action 80.

If Pressed on the Implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples – Call to Action #43

The Government’s relationship with Indigenous Peoples is one based on the recognition of Indigenous rights and rooted in respect, co-operation, and partnership.
Canada remains committed to implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Important work is ongoing on key legislative initiatives that support the implementation of the Declaration, including the protection of Indigenous languages, child and family services, and impact assessment regimes.
We remain committed to its ongoing implementation in partnership with Indigenous Peoples.

Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls – Call to Action #41

The National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls presented its final report at a public closing ceremony in Gatineau, Quebec on June 3, 2019.
Our Government is working with Indigenous partners and provincial and territorial governments to co-develop a National Action Plan to respond to the Final Report’s Calls for Justice.
Our Government is committed to ending the ongoing national tragedy and to help prevent and eliminate violence against Indigenous women, girls, and LGBTQ and Two-Spirit People.

Establishing a National Council for Reconciliation – Call to Action #53

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, $126.5 million, beginning in 2020-21, was announced to establish the Council 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.