Question Period Note: Launch of the National Action Plan and Federal Pathway in response to the MMIWG Inquiry

• On June 3, 2021, the Government of Canada alongside Indigenous partners and organizations, families, survivors, and provinces and territories, launched the National Action Plan and the Government’s contribution, the Federal Pathway.
• Initiatives of both aim to end violence against Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit LGBTQQIA+ people.
• The federal government, together with partners, released the first annual progress report on the National Action Plan on June 3, 2022. The federal government also released its first annual progress report on the Federal Pathway.
• The federal government is committed to working closely with all partners on this critical, ongoing priority.

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Launch of the Annual Progress Report of the Federal Pathway
• In the Federal Pathway, the Government of Canada committed to producing an annual progress report on key milestones and progress made against the commitments.
• On June 3 2022, the Government of Canada published the first annual progress report on the Federal Pathway.
• This report contains an update of more than 50 initiatives and programs led by 25 federal departments and agencies that were launched under the Federal Pathway and identifies the work ahead.

Actions since forming Government
• Since 2017, the Government has passed various legislation, implemented programs, policies, services, and made investments to address the national tragedy of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and Two-Spirit LGBTQQIA+ people.
• Budget 2021 contains investments of $2.2 billion over five years and $160.9 million ongoing. Budget 2022 builds on these investments, providing additional funding for education, housing, health, mental wellness and climate leadership.
• Other initiatives announced in Budget 2022 focus on mental health and wellness supports, and distinctions-based housing.

MMIWG – Role of the MMIWG Secretariat
• Budget 2021 invested $16.6 million dollars over six years for the establishment of a permanent MMIWG Secretariat.
• The Secretariat leads the coordination of the Government of Canada’s efforts towards addressing violence against Indigenous women, girls and Two-Spirit LGBTQQIA+ people including implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the Federal Pathway.
• The Secretariat engages with all partners in the development and implementation of the National Action Plan through the collaboration structure.
• The MMIWG Secretariat manages the Wellbeing of Families and Survivors, Indigenous-Led Data, and supports Indigenous partners to continue to participate in the work going forward.

MMIWG – Related CIRNAC Investments
• Since 2019, the Government has invested $30 million over five years to engage partners on the National Action Plan.
• Also included are five new CIRNAC-led programs in Budget 2021:
o $12.5 million over five years to support healing for families and survivors;
o $8.5 million over six years to improve data related to missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit LGBTQQIA people;
o $108.8 million over two years for Indigenous cultural spaces;
o $36.3 million over five years for capacity funding for Indigenous women’s and Two-Spirit LGBTQQIA+ organizations; and,
o $16.6 million over 6 years to establish a permanent MMIWG Secretariat.

If pressed on working groups
• The release of the National Action Plan was accomplished through coordinated efforts of many partners.
• These working groups, made up of more than 100 Indigenous women and Two-Spirit LGBTQQIA+ people, formed a governance structure representing: First Nations, Inuit, Métis, urban, Two-Spirit LGBTQQIA+, data, federal, and provincial and territorial governments.
• Many working groups continue to implement their chapters. The Federal Government has been working with partners on the implementation of the Federal Pathway and the National Action Plan, and on the progress reports that were released on June 3, 2022.
If pressed on Budget 2021 supports for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls
• Budget 2021 has proposed to invest an additional $2.2 billion over five years, and $160.9 million ongoing, to end violence against Indigenous women, girls and Two-Spirit LGBTQQIA+ people.
• These investments build on previous investments taken to respond to the National Inquiry, including those in the Interim and Final Reports.
• Over 25 federal departments are working together to implement Budget 2021 investments.

If pressed on Budget 2022
• By building on past investments, Budget 2022 will continue to address the root causes of violence against Indigenous women, girls and Two-Spirit LGBTQQIA+ people.
• Related new investments announced in Budget 2022 include funding for education, housing, health and mental wellness for Indigenous Peoples.
• Other initiatives related to MMIWG focus on mental health and wellness supports, and distinctions-based housing.

If pressed on implementation of the Federal Pathway
• As stated in the Speech from the Throne, the Government of Canada is committed to accelerating the work to implement both the Federal Pathway and the National Action Plan.
• Many commitments in the Federal Pathway and Budget 2021 have been implemented or are well underway to being implemented, aimed at seeing concrete and tangible results on the ground.
• A progress report has been co-developed with over 25 government departments and agencies and was released on June 3, 2022.

If pressed on implementation of the whole National Action Plan
• Implementing the National Action Plan will require a concerted effort by all.
• The Government continues to work with Indigenous partners, families and survivors, provinces and territories, and other organizations on the implementation of the National Action Plan.
• The federal government, together with partners, released the first annual progress report on the National Action Plan on June 3, 2022.

Supports for Indigenous shelters

• Indigenous Services Canada currently funds the operations of emergency shelters to serve Indigenous Peoples and their families.
• In June 2021, 12 new shelters were announced, with $85 million committed to build and support their operations over five years and $10.2 million annually. These shelters raise the total number of shelters to 58.
• In July 2021, $724.1 million was announced to support 38 emergency shelters and 50 transition homes over five years. This includes the expansion of culturally-relevant violence prevention activities and $96.6 million annually.

If pressed to provide further details on shelters and second-stage housing

• Through the Shelter and Transitional Housing Initiative, ISC and the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation are working with Indigenous partners to ensure a distinctions-based response to the pressing need for more Indigenous-operated shelters.
• Through this Initiative and the 2020 Shelter Initiative, the current network of 46 emergency shelters supported by ISC will increase to 96 with the addition of 50 second-stage housing facilities.
• ISC and the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation will continue to work with Indigenous partners to ensure continued success.
If pressed on genocide
• Some actions and policies have directly led to the loss and extinguishment of Indigenous languages, cultures and traditional practices.
• The Government has accepted the Final Report of the National Inquiry and respects their findings.
• The Government is grateful for the work of all partners on the development of a National Action Plan to eliminate violence against Indigenous women, girls and Two-Spirit LGBTQQIA+ people.

If pressed on oversight committee for the National Action Plan
• The Government of Canada recognizes the need for an independent oversight body to monitor the implementation of the National Action Plan.
• Accountability is key to ending the violence against Indigenous women, girls and Two-Spirit LGBTQQIA+ people to hold all those responsible for implementation to account.
• The Government of Canada has started to engage with Indigenous partners, families and survivors on this oversight committee.

If pressed on Ombudsperson / Tribunal
• Accountability is critical to ending violence against Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit LGBTQQIA+ people and this accountability is shared by all levels of government and the private sector.
• The Final Report of the National Inquiry calls for an Indigenous and Human Rights Ombudsperson and tribunal to ensure accountability, redress and advocacy.
• The Ombudsperson is a priority identified by Indigenous partners, families and survivors in the 2021 National Action Plan.

If pressed on the Federal-Provincial-Territorial-Indigenous Partner Table
• The federal government and provinces and territories have a responsibility for ending violence against Indigenous women, girls and Two-Spirit LGBTQQIA+ people.
• Through a proposed federal-provincial-territorial-Indigenous Partner table, the federal government is seeking to formalize this relationship.
• An officials-level committee between the federal government and provincial and territorial governments was established and has been in place since 2019. MMIWG is also currently being discussed at related, established FPT-I tables.
• The Federal Government is engaging with provincial and territorial governments on a formalized FPT-I Table dedicated to MMIWG.

If pressed on alignment to other plans
• Through the coordination role undertaken by the MMIWG Secretariat, a whole-of-government approach is being taken to deliver programs, policies and legislation to end violence against Indigenous women, girls and Two-Spirit LGBTQQIA+ people.
• This work aligns with plans such as: the National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence, Canada’s Anti-Racism Strategy, the Indigenous Justice Strategy, and the Women, Peace and Security Plan.
• All of these efforts together contribute to the transformative change required so that Indigenous women, girls and Two-Spirit LGBTQQIA+ people live free from violence.