Question Period Note: Newfoundland and Labrador Inquiry into the Treatment, Experiences and Outcomes of Innu in the Province’s Child Protection System

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• Canada remains committed to working with Innu Leadership to find long-lasting strategies to support the well-being of the Innu of Labrador.
• While this is a provincial inquiry, Canada is a witness at hearings, provided testimony in 2025, and attends community events to listen and learn from Innu experience.
• Canada provides financial support through the Innu Nation to coordinate Innu participation and to ensure community based activities and healing services. We will work with all parties to address the inquiry’s recommendations, expected in late 2026.

The Newfoundland and Labrador Inquiry into the Treatment, Experiences and Outcomes of Innu in the Province’s Child Protection System began with the first formal hearings in February 2023. Although it is a provincial inquiry, Canada is a full participant.
The Inquiry hears directly from Innu about their experiences with the child protection system. The Inquiry reviews, researches and analyzes Innu involvement with child welfare, including identifying gaps and barriers to avoiding involvement, understanding systemic and underlying causes, and exploring individual, community and cultural impacts. In addition, the Inquiry is investigating several individual cases of children and youth who lost their lives and had experience in the system.
In 2022-23, before the inquiry began, Indigenous Services Canada provided approximately $1.3 million to the Innu to support their participation in the Inquiry. Funding of $300,000 was specifically for mental health and culturally appropriate support for those impacted by the Inquiry. The remaining $1 million was for logistical support for the participation of Innu in the Inquiry. In 2024-25, in response to a request for additional funding, and recognizing the increase was due to extended Inquiry timelines, inflation and the pandemic, an additional $1 million was provided.
It is expected that additional funding from ISC will be needed to support the conclusion of the Innu Inquiry, expected in October, 2026. It is estimated that an additional $1.6 million will be required from ISC to support conclusion of the Innu inquiry.
Healing Services Team Leads have been established in each Innu community. Each team will provide emotional and mental health support before, during and after the hearings, meetings and other events.
ISC also provides over $4.1 million directly to the Innu to support ongoing mental wellness programing, including $360,000 for health and cultural supports.

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