Question Period Note: COVID-19 – Education-Related Supports for Indigenous Peoples and Communities

• Our Government will invest over $2.3 billion in predictable base funding and initiatives that respond to the needs of First Nation elementary and secondary students in 2020-2021.

• On October 30, 2020, our Government announced over $200 million in additional funding to provide education-related supports to Indigenous Peoples and communities, including Indigenous post-secondary institutions.

• This is in addition to the $112 million announced in August to support a safe return to First Nation schools, and the emergency allocation of $30.6 million for the First Nations and Inuit Youth Employment Strategy.

N\A

If Pressed on Investments for Indigenous Post-Secondary Institutions

• Our Government is helping Indigenous institutions address increased costs and financial uncertainty resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.

• On October 30, 2020 we announced $25.9 million to provide immediate support to Indigenous post-secondary institutions in 2020-21.

• This support will help to retain staff, automate services to process student applications and registrations, adapt courses for online learning, and implement public health and safety measures for in-person services.

• Our Government is committed to supporting Indigenous education and through these investments we continue to do so.

If Pressed on Investments for Early Learning and Child Care Facilities

• Our Government is to supporting over 35,000 First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Nation children who access culturally relevant Indigenous early learning and child care programs through meaningful investments.

• We announced $120.7 million to help Indigenous early learning and child care facilities safely operate during the pandemic.

• This funding will be co-managed through existing early learning and child care partnerships and will assist Indigenous communities in addressing their most critical needs, including implementing enhanced cleaning protocols, hiring additional staff, and offering training.

If Pressed on Investments for On Reserve Community Infrastructure

• Our government will continue to support First Nations as they expand their infrastructure on reserve.

• We invested $59 million for First Nations to adapt their on reserve community infrastructure.

• First Nations can use the funds to implement public health and safety measures in community buildings by adding hand washing stations, buying hand sanitizers, personal protective equipment for staff, and cleaning supplies, installing signage and barriers to promote physical distancing, and doing safety checks and upgrades to existing ventilation systems.