Question Period Note: Education

N.A.

• All First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples should have access to education and to the supports that can help them reach their full potential.
• Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) co-developed a transformative policy and funding approach for First Nations elementary and secondary education on reserve.
• ISC implements distinctions-based post-secondary education strategies to increase access to post-secondary education for Indigenous students, and aims to narrow existing post-secondary education gaps between First Nations, Inuit, Métis Nation, and non-Indigenous Canadians.

Elementary and Secondary Education
Indigenous Services Canada’s Elementary and Secondary Education Program supports the delivery of kindergarten to grade 12 education for eligible First Nations students who are ordinarily resident on reserve, by providing funding directly to First Nations recipients and education organizations designated by First Nations partners.
In 2019, Indigenous Services Canada implemented a co-developed policy and funding approach that transformed First Nations elementary and secondary education on reserve. Under this approach, core funding for First Nations elementary and secondary education is allocated through interim regional funding formulas that reflect student enrolment and provincial rates for education, plus adaptations and national common investments beyond provincial comparability, including language and culture programming, full-day kindergarten for children aged four and five, before- and after-school programming, and school food programming.
The transformed policy and funding approach to Elementary and Secondary Education on reserve includes an expanded effort to support the regional and local diversity of First Nations education systems through the development of regional education agreements that are tailored to the particular goals, needs and priorities of First Nations partners.
Post-Secondary Education
Budget 2017 announced a comprehensive and collaborative review, with Indigenous partners, of all current federal programs that support Indigenous students who wish to pursue post-secondary education. The review took place between 2017 and 2018 and ISC engaged with the Assembly of First Nations, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami and the Métis National Council on potential post-secondary education reforms. This engagement resulted in the development of the distinctions-based post-secondary education strategies.
Stakeholder feedback from the review and partner policy proposals informed Budget 2019’s total investment of $814.9 million over 10 years and $61.8 million ongoing. In 2019-2020, ISC launched distinctions-based post-secondary education strategies, which align with the principle of First Nations, Inuit and Métis Nation control of their post-secondary education. The strategies provide eligible recipients with the flexibility to fund programs and services, which can include the development of education curricula, as well as other priority initiatives to support their unique needs.
Education Infrastructure
While additional targeted investments of $2.35 billion have supported 336 Education Infrastructure and supporting projects since 2016, there remains a significant financial demand assessed at $3.8 billion by the AFN for the construction, expansions, planning and design of new schools.

If pressed on Elementary and Secondary Education:
• ISC co-developed a transformative policy and funding approach for First Nations elementary and secondary education on reserve.
• ISC provides, at a minimum, funding that is based on what students receive in provincial schools, plus national common investments, including language and culture, full-day kindergarten for children aged 4 and 5, before- and after-school programming, and school food programming.
• Through this approach, funding for elementary and secondary education has grown by 112% between 2015-2016 and
2024-2025. If pressed on Graduation Rates:
• According to Census data, the gap between the First Nations (18-24) population living on reserve and non Indigenous Canadians secondary education attainment has narrowed from 44.5% in 2016 to 37% in 2021. If pressed on Annual Increases to Funding:
• The co-developed policy and funding approach for First Nations elementary and secondary education provides provincially comparable funding for students residing on reserve, plus national common investments.
• The education formulas are updated annually to account for a variety of factors, including student population and provincial funding rate changes.
• The formulas are refined in collaboration with First Nations to reflect the most accurate data available and have been stabilized to ensure that First Nations receive predictable funding year-over-year. If pressed on Education Infrastructure:
• ISC infrastructure investments support the creation of quality learning environments, promoting better educational outcomes for students living on reserves.
• Since 2016 and as of September 30, 2025, $2.35 billion of targeted funds (excluding operating expenses) has been invested to support 336 Education Infrastructure and supporting projects, 223 of which are complete. These projects will result in the construction or renovation of 234 schools benefitting approximately 40,000 students.
• ISC continues to support First Nations students through infrastructure funding to ensure they have safe places to learn and grow. If pressed on Language and Cultural Programming
• The Government of Canada recognizes that investments in language and culture are a critical component of successful First Nation education systems on reserve.
• ISC provides approximately $1,500 per student per year to support language and culture programming in on-reserve schools.
• In 2024-2025, 94% of students attending First Nations administered schools were taught at least one subject in a First Nations language and approximately 96% were provided with culturally-based curriculum or land-based learning services. If pressed on Regional Education Agreements
• The Government of Canada recognizes that the establishment of education systems designed, implemented, and managed by First Nations communities, is a significant step towards improving educational success for First Nations students.
• Regional education agreements are a pathway for First Nations partners to advance their vision for education systems to improve student success.
• To date, 12 regional education agreements have been signed with First Nations partners, and as of January 2026, 10 remain active and collectively support over 30,000 students across six provinces. If pressed on Adult Education
• Budget 2021 announced $350 million over five years to support First Nations adult learners on reserve to prepare, complete, or upgrade their secondary education.
• ISC launched the First Nations Adult Education in Yukon and Northwest Territories program in order to support local program development and delivery, to provide enhanced student supports to improve access to education in the North.
• This investment also supports First Nations to develop and pilot programming through a post-secondary education mechanism that responds to the unique needs of their students through the First Nations Adult Secondary Education Program. If pressed on Post-Secondary Education Support for Students:
• Since 2015, the Government of Canada has invested over $1.2 billion in Indigenous post-secondary education.
• These investments were used to expand existing financial assistance for First Nations students in their pursuit of a post-secondary education.
• They also supported the development and implementation of the Inuit and Métis Nation Post-Secondary Education Strategies, which include funding to support students, complementary programs and services and governance capacity to support service delivery. If pressed on Post-Secondary Education Support for Institutions
• The First Nations Post-Secondary Education Strategy supports the Post-Secondary Partnerships Program, which has a core budget of $22.1 million per year.
• This program provides funding to support First Nations to define their own partnerships with institutions, leading to more post-secondary education programs tailored to cultural and educational needs.
• ISC is also implementing the Inuit and Métis Nation Post-Secondary Education Strategies, which can support both post-secondary education institutions and community partnerships. If pressed the First Nations and Inuit Youth Employment Strategy
• The First Nations and Inuit Youth Employment Strategy supports initiatives to provide First Nations and Inuit youth, aged 15 to 30, with work experience, information about career options, and opportunities to develop skills to help gain employment and develop careers.
• It is a component of the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy led by Employment and Social Development Canada.
• The First Nations and Inuit Youth Employment Strategy is part of Canada's effort to enhance education, participation in the labour market, and economic success of Indigenous Peoples in Canada. If pressed on Budget 24 Investments
•Budget 2024 invested:
o $649.4 million over two years, starting in 2024-2025, to support elementary and secondary education on reserve;
o $545.1 million over three years starting in 2024-2025, for First Nations education infrastructure; and
o $242.7 million over three years, starting in 2024-2025 for First Nations students through the Post-Secondary Student Support Program.
• Budget 2024 also provided $1 billion over five years starting in 2024-2025 to create a National School Food Program, which includes investments for First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities, as well as self-governing and modern treaty partners.
• Budget 2024 also provided:
o $1 billion over five years starting in 2024-2025 to create a National School Food Program; and
o $150.7 million in 2025-2026 for the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy, of which $27.0 million was allocated to the First Nations and Inuit Youth Employment Strategy. If pressed on Budget 2025 Investments
• Budget 2025 proposed:
o to introduce legislation to make the National School Food program permanent, and provide $216.6 million annually in ongoing funding starting in 2029-2030 through the departments of Employment and Social Development Canada, ISC, and CIRNAC. This will maintain the funding currently provided by ISC of $47.5 million per year; and
o $307.9 million in funding over two years, starting in 2026-2027 for the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy, of which $27.0 million per year will be allocated to the First Nations and Inuit Youth Employment Strategy. If pressed on Reform of Provincial School Curricula
• Given that education off reserve falls under the jurisdiction of provinces and territories, the Government of Canada has no direct control over the development of curricula.
• ISC supports First Nations partners to engage with provincial and territorial governments on such matters.
• Canada has worked to leverage relationships with organizations such as the Council of Ministers of Education, in order to enhance the knowledge and awareness of Indigenous history and culture across Canada.