Question Period Note: 2019–20 CIRNAC Departmental Results Report

• We are pleased to present the first CIRNAC Departmental Results Report since the department was established in July 2019.

• CIRNAC, Indigenous peoples and Northerners continue to work together to achieve progress in priority areas, including the renewal of the relationship between Canada and Indigenous peoples, modernizing institutional structures and governance to support self-determination of Indigenous peoples, and advancing work in the North.

• We will continue to work in partnership with First Nation, Inuit and Métis peoples to advance reconciliation, and right past wrongs.

Actual spending has increased from $4.4 billion in 2018–19 to $6.2 billion in 2019–20. The increase of $1.8 billion primarily reflects: funding for loan forgiveness of comprehensive land claim negotiation loans (+$919 million) and advancing reconciliation by settling specific claims (+$883 million).
In 2019–20, CIRNAC, Indigenous peoples and Northerners continued to work together to achieve progress in the following three priority areas: accelerating the renewal of the relationship with Indigenous peoples, modernizing institutional structures and governance to support self-determination, and advancing work in the North.

The Office of the Auditor General’s November 2016 report called for Canada to review its specific claims practices jointly with First Nations. CIRNAC’s ministerial mandate letters confirm the government’s commitment to undertake reforms in collaboration First Nations, currently being undertaken with the Assembly of First Nation Joint Technical Working Group and Chiefs Committee on Lands, Territories and Resources. As part of reforms, CIRNAC has adopted a more collaborative approach when working with First Nations to accelerate claims resolution. In 2018–19, more than 40 claims were resolved and more than 30 in 2019–20. The Assembly of First Nations led a policy reform engagement exercise with First Nations in Fall 2019, and are developing a report of policy reform options for discussion at the Chiefs Assembly in December 2020. CIRNAC has as Joint Technical Working Group in place to promote dialogue to develop a plan for Specific Claims reform and intends to bring options to a Cabinet process in Spring 2021.

If pressed on northern affairs (80 words)

• CIRNAC is working toward a final devolution agreement in Nunavut that will provide the territory with more control over its economic and political future.

• CIRNAC is also continuing its work to implement the Arctic and Northern Policy Framework and the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change, to lead the Northern Abandoned Mine Reclamation Program and to manage the Nutrition North program.

• This work supports CIRNAC’s ongoing efforts for a vibrant, prosperous and sustainable Arctic and northern region.