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Minister’s Message

On behalf of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) and the Canadian Polar Commission, I am pleased to present to Parliament and the people of Canada the Report on Plans and Priorities for 2009–2010.

Looking over the year gone by, I am proud of the collective progress we have made through our determined effort, genuine collaboration and concrete action to address the fundamental obstacles that stand in the way of greater prosperity for Aboriginal peoples and Northerners. Through this collaborative approach, progress has been made on numerous fronts. The Prime Minister’s historic apology to all former students of Indian Residential Schools was an important step in the ongoing journey toward healing and reconciliation. Progress has also been made in economic development, housing, safe drinking water, land claim settlements, improving education and the extension of human rights protection to First Nations on reserve. I am equally proud of the work we have done to move forward on our vision of a new North that realizes its full social and economic potential for the benefit of all Canadians.

Looking ahead, increasing Aboriginal and northern participation in the Canadian economy is a key element of this year’s plan with the ultimate objective of ensuring that Aboriginal and northern Canadians enjoy the same opportunities for success when it comes to education, housing, health care, social services and other key ingredients of healthy and fulfilling lives. As revealed in this plan, our government will be taking steps to ensure that Aboriginal Canadians fully share in economic opportunities, putting particular emphasis on improving education for First Nations in partnership with the provinces and First Nations communities.

In support of our Northern Strategy, we will be continuing our efforts to develop the tremendous potential of Canada’s North — improving infrastructure, supporting Northern science research and harnessing the North’s vast resources in a way that is environmentally sustainable, as well as good for the economy and Northerners. We will be continuing our work towards reducing regulatory and other barriers to help facilitate resource development in the North. These measures will help bring jobs and create employment across the country.

It is also important to acknowledge the challenges that remain, that more progress is needed and that this can only be achieved through ongoing co-operation with our many partners. The 2009–2010 Report on Plans and Priorities acknowledges these challenges and maps out practical courses of action to address them in a manner designed to strengthen accountability to Parliament and to all Canadians.

Investments made in Budget 2009 will allow the department to accelerate progress on several elements of this plan by providing additional support to current initiatives or generating new ones. I look forward to reporting on these initiatives in future reports to Parliament.

The Honourable Chuck Strahl, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indian

SECTION I — Departmental Overview

Raison d’être and Responsibilities

Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC), including the Office of the Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians (OFI), is the federal department primarily responsible for meeting the Government of Canada’s obligations and commitments to Aboriginal peoples (Indians, Inuit and Métis), and fulfilling the government’s constitutionally mandated role in the North. To this end, INAC helps Canada’s Aboriginal and northern peoples foster healthy and sustainable communities, and pursue economic and social development. More specifically, INAC leads 33 other federal departments and agencies in:

  • promoting improved education for Aboriginal peoples;
  • pursuing frameworks for effective governance and self-governance;
  • helping empower Aboriginal citizens and protect those who are most vulnerable;
  • working to resolve outstanding land claims; and
  • supporting the sustainable economic development that contributes to Aboriginal and northern employment and strengthens local communities.

These diverse and complex responsibilities flow from the department’s central mandates: Indian and Inuit Affairs, Northern Development, and the Office of the Federal Interlocutor for Métis, and Non-Status Indians.

Indian and Inuit Affairs and the Office of the Federal Interlocutor

INAC’s mandate derives from the Canadian Constitution, the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development Act, numerous legislation and regulation under the responsibility of the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and treaties. The mandate continues to be shaped by evolving jurisprudence which impacts on its policy decisions and program development.

The mandate of the Office of the Federal Interlocutor derives from an Executive Order providing authority to the Minister to act as federal government’s primary Interlocutor with and in regard to Métis and Non-Status Indians and urban Aboriginal people. The Office of the Federal Interlocutor maintains and strengthens the Government of Canada’s relations with organizations representing these groups.

INAC’s responsibilities for Indian and Inuit Affairs include:

  • negotiating land claim and self-government agreements with members of Aboriginal communities, and overseeing the implementation of settled claims on behalf of the federal government;
  • facilitating economic development opportunities for Aboriginal individuals, communities and businesses;
  • funding the delivery of province-like services such as education, housing, community infrastructure and social support to Status Indians on reserves;
  • addressing and resolving issues that arise from the legacy of Indian residential schools;
  • liaising effectively between Government of Canada (federal services and policies) and Inuit communities, governments and organizations; and
  • fulfilling duties prescribed by the Indian Act, including managing Indian reserve lands and financial resources belonging to First Nations communities, and approving or rejecting by-laws in First Nations communities.

The Office of the Federal Interlocutor’s responsibilities in relation to Métis and Non-Status Indians include delivering improved federal services to Aboriginal people who do not live on reserves, and serving as a point of contact within the Government of Canada for Métis, Non-Status Indians and urban Aboriginal people.

Northern Development

INAC’s Northern Development mandate is derived from a series of legislative acts, including statutes enacted in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and those that concern modern treaties north of 60°, and environmental and resource management. Statutes that enact the devolution of services and responsibilities from INAC to territorial governments also frame the mandate. As a result, INAC is the lead federal department responsible for two-fifths of Canada’s land mass.

INAC has a direct role in the political and economic development of the territories and significant resource, land and environmental management obligations. The territorial governments generally provide the majority of programs and services normally funded by INAC to Aboriginal people and other Northerners.

INAC’s responsibilities for Northern Development include:

  • promoting political and economic development in Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut;
  • negotiating the transfer of federal responsibilities for land and resource management to the territorial governments;
  • managing the resources, land and environment of the North in places where federal responsibilities have not been previously transferred to territorial governments;
  • coordinating initiatives, such as the management of contaminated sites, and subsidizing the delivery cost of nutritious perishable food; and
  • advancing circumpolar interests, such as Canada’s Arctic sovereignty, climate change adaptation and environmental protection, Canadian representation at circumpolar forums, and scientific research in, and understanding of, the North.

The Canadian Polar Commission also supports polar research and strengthens Canada’s international reputation as a leader among circumpolar nations. In addition to promoting knowledge of Canada’s polar regions and their importance to the country, the Commission also provides polar science policy direction to government.

Entrusted with the responsibilities of both mandates, INAC will continue to advance initiatives both of immediate relevance to Aboriginal peoples and of critical importance to all Canadians. Through increased emphasis on educational programs, for example, the department will work to improve scholastic achievement in members of First Nations communities and increase Aboriginal participation in economic development.

In the North, progress toward the implementation of a comprehensive Northern Strategy will be fostered through such INAC-led initiatives as the Canadian Arctic Research Station, and the projected establishment of a stand-alone agency to support northern economic development. Sustainable economic development, an improved regulatory system, environmental protection and capitalization on the tremendous potential of the land and people of the North will bring increased employment and prosperity to all Northerners.

Program Activity Architecture Changes for 2009–10

The department has significantly revised its program activity architecture for 2009–10. Changes include a new strategic outcome for the North that groups the four existing northern program activities, and a restructured strategic outcome for the Office of the Federal Interlocutor organized around the department’s programs. In addition, the Internal Services program activity was reorganized to be in keeping with new Treasury Board guidelines, and the Office of Indian Residential Schools Resolution Canada, which joined the department on June 1, 2008, was added to the Claims Settlements program activity under the government strategic outcome. Minor changes, mostly to headings, were also made at the sub-activity level to better reflect program associations.


detailed Program Activity Architecture

Planning Summary



Financial Resources ($ millions)
  2009–10 2010-11 2011-12
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada 7,336.8 6,995.7 6,717.7
Canadian Polar Commission 1.0 1.0 1.0



Human Resources (FTEs)
  2009–10 2010-11 2011-12
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada 4,805.4 4,631.2 4,553.2
Canadian Polar Commission 5 5 5

Indian and Northern Affairs Canada



Strategic Outcome: The Government
Performance Indicators Targets
Develop a performance indicator for the Government Strategic Outcome March 31, 2010


Program Activities Forecast Spending
2008-09
Planned Spending Alignment with Government of Canada Outcomes
2009-10 2010-11 2011-12
Governance and Institutions of Government 623.9 641.2 642.2 647.3 A diverse society that promotes linguistic duality and social inclusion
Co-operative Relationships[1] 239.8 270.5 231.0 227.7 A diverse society that promotes linguistic duality and social inclusion
Claims Settlements[2] 777.0 828.0 681.8 665.2 Strong economic growth
Total ($ millions) 1,640.7 1,739.7 1,555.1 1,540.1  

Due to rounding, figures may not add to totals shown.
[1] Reflects changes in the approved funding profile for the negotiation of specific and comprehensive claims.
[2] Reflects changes in the approved funding profile for the settlement of specific and comprehensive claims as well as a change in the approved cash flow for the implementation of the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement.



Strategic Outcome: The People
Performance Indicators Targets
Scores on the Aboriginal Human Development Index (HDI) and Community Well-Being Index (CWB) for First Nations and Inuit Reduce the difference between the HDI/CWB scores of Aboriginal communities and those of the general Canadian population


Program Activities Forecast Spending
2008-09
Planned Spending Alignment with Government of Canada Outcomes
2009-10 2010-11 2011-12
Education 1,666.0 1,705.2 1,751.5 1,796.9 A diverse society that promotes linguistic duality and social inclusion
Social Development[1] 1,484.5 1,458.3 1,491.1 1,510.3 A diverse society that promotes linguistic duality and social inclusion
Managing Individual Affairs[2] 24.4 30.2 21.9 21.7 A diverse society that promotes linguistic duality and social inclusion
Total ($ millions) 3,174.9 3,193.7 3,264.6 3,328.9  

Due to rounding, figures may not add to totals shown.
[1] 2008–09 forecast includes additional resources provided for social development; planned spending in 2009–10 and 2010–11 includes funding for Child and Family Services announced in Budget 2009.
[2] Reflects changes in the approved funding profile for the Certificate of Indian Status Project.



Strategic Outcome: The Land
Performance Indicators Targets
Percentage of First Nations applying sustainable land management strategies Study completed to establish both baseline data and a target for improvement


Program Activities Forecast Spending
2008-09
Planned Spending Alignment with Government of Canada Outcomes
2009-10 2010-11 2011-12
Clarity of Title to Land and Resources[1] 8.5 10.9 7.2 7.2 Strong economic growth
Responsible Federal Stewardship[2] 137.8 76.0 51.2 48.9 A clean and healthy environment
First Nations Governance over Land, Resources and the Environment 15.4 25.2 25.4 25.4 Strong economic growth
Total ($ millions) 161.7 112.2 83.8 81.5  

Due to rounding, figures may not add to totals shown.
[1] Primarily reflects changes in the approved funding profile for the implementation of treaty land entitlement claims.
[2] Primarily reflects changes in the approved cash flow for the Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan and in funding provided to address urgent health and safety pressures for First Nations communities (additional funding was provided in 2008–09).



Strategic Outcome: The Economy
Performance Indicators Targets
First Nations socio-economic Well-Being Index (employment, income, education and housing sub-indices) A 25 percent decrease in the overall Well-Being Index gap between members of First Nations communities, Inuit, and Métis peoples, and other Canadians


Program Activities Forecast Spending
2008-09
Planned Spending Alignment with Government of Canada Outcomes
2009-10 2010-11 2011-12
Individual and Community Business Development
203.0
45.6 45.6 45.6 Strong economic growth
Community Investment[1] 172.2 173.1 173.1 Strong economic growth
Community Infrastructure[2] 1,046.4 1,327.6 1,214.1 959.2 Strong economic growth
Total ($ millions) 1,249.4 1,545.4 1,432.9 1,177.9  

Due to rounding, figures may not add to totals shown.
[1] Includes Budget 2008 funding for economic development including resources which may be allocated to other government departments or to other program activities.
[2] Primarily reflects changes in the approved funding profile for Budget 2008 (water and wastewater action plan) and Budget 2009 (housing, school construction, water and wastewater projects) which does not extend beyond 2010–11; does not reflect in-year reallocations to address pressures in other program areas.



Strategic Outcome: The North
Performance Indicators Targets
Employment rates for Aboriginals and Northerners in Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut By 2011: Yukon — 71 percent; Northwest Territories — 70 percent; Nunavut — 58 percent


Program Activities Forecast Spending
2008-09
Planned Spending Alignment with Government of Canada Outcomes
2009-10 2010-11 2011-12
Northern Governance[1] 7.7 22.0 17.2 14.2 A diverse society that promotes linguistic duality and social inclusion
Healthy Northern Communities[2] 119.7 133.2 143.2 85.5 Healthy Canadians
Northern Land and Resources[3] 157.5 169.8 71.7 65.8 A clean and healthy environment
Northern Economy[4] 23.8 22.0 31.7 31.7 Strong economic growth
Total ($ millions) 308.7 347.0 263.8 197.3  

Due to rounding, figures may not add to totals shown.
[1] Reflects changes to the approved funding profile to support the Government of Nunavut’s efforts to strengthen its financial management, practices and systems.
[2] Reflects a change in the approved funding profile for the Northern Air Stage Food Mail Program (additional funding was provided in 2008–09), for activities and research stemming from the International Polar Year and Budget 2009 funding for Arctic research infrastructure.
[3] Primarily reflects changes in the approved cash flow for the Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan and for the implementation of adaptation initiatives in support of Canada’s Clean Air Agenda.
[4] Primarily reflects changes in Budget 2009 funding profile for the creation of a new regional economic development agency (expected to be a stand-alone agency beginning in 2010–11) and the renewal of the Strategic Investments in Northern Economic Development program.



Strategic Outcome: Office of the Federal Interlocutor
Performance Indicators Targets
Socio-economic conditions of Métis, Non-Status Indians, and urban Aboriginal people Improved socio-economic conditions of Métis, Non-Status Indians, and urban Aboriginal people by 2011, according to the indicators incomes, educational attainment, and employment


Program Activities Forecast Spending
2008-09
Planned Spending Alignment with Government of Canada Outcomes
2009-10 2010-11 2011-12
Urban Aboriginal Strategy


40.8
13.3 13.4 13.4 Income security and employment for Canadians
Métis and Non-Status Indian Organizational Capacity Development 14.6 14.6 14.6 A diverse society that promotes linguistic duality and social inclusion
Métis Rights Management[1] 12.1 A diverse society that promotes linguistic duality and social inclusion
Total ($ millions) 40.8 40.0 28.0 28.0  

[1] Reflects the current approved funding profile provided for the Effective Management of Métis Aboriginal Rights initiative.


Canadian Polar Commission



Strategic Outcome: Increased Canadian Polar Knowledge
Performance Indicators Targets
Performance indicators to be developed March 31, 2010


Program Activity Forecast Spending
2008-09
Planned Spending Alignment with Government of Canada Outcomes
2009-10 2010-11 2011-12
Research Facilitation and Communication 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 A clean and healthy environment

INAC’s Priorities

Canada’s shifting social, economic, and political landscape has strongly influenced INAC’s priorities, performance and programs. While the post-apology context has provided an unprecedented opportunity to move forward in a spirit of mutual respect and responsibility, Canada and most of its major trading partners now find themselves in uncertain and difficult economic times. INAC will continue to do its part to advance the Aboriginal and northern agenda in this new and challenging environment.

Departmental activities will include the review of many INAC programs and policies, with a view to achieve better results, align more closely with provincial approaches and integrate seamlessly into strategies across the federal government. Greater focus will be given to strengthening core business practices to ensure the effective, efficient and accountable delivery of INAC programs. As well, the department will continue to tackle manageable goals in five priority areas: education; reconciliation, governance and self-government; economic development; empowering citizens and protecting the vulnerable; and resolution of land claims.

Future Challenges and Opportunities

A unique convergence of trends will drive the Aboriginal and northern agenda for years to come, representing both opportunities and challenges for the federal government. These trends include:

A young and rapidly growing Aboriginal population

Canada’s Aboriginal population is young and growing almost twice as fast as the country’s general population (1.8 percent per annum versus 1.0 percent). This population growth will affect demand for education, housing, public infrastructure, family services and other programs. At the same time, the growth suggests potential for strong Aboriginal participation in regional and national economies. If properly supported through skills training and education programs adapted to the unique circumstances (e.g. poor health, poverty, remote location) of Canada’s Aboriginal communities, this burgeoning population could provide Canada with the skilled labour force of tomorrow.

Additionally, more Aboriginal businesses and communities are creating wealth and employment opportunities through partnerships essential to continued growth in Canada’s major economic sectors. Economic development programming will aid these businesses and communities in making up an increasingly important segment of the Canadian economy.

Social and economic progress for Aboriginal Canadians

Social and economic progress has been made. The Indian Residential Schools Apology and the launch of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the passage of Bill C-21, which protects human rights on reserves, and the establishment of a market-housing fund to support on-reserve private homeownership are all steps in the right direction. There remains, however, much that must be done to reduce the gaps that persist between the socio-economic outcomes of Aboriginal Canadians and those of the general Canadian population. To this end, the department must recognize and address the diverse challenges that arise as a result of location, historical context, and the unique demographic realities of Canada’s Aboriginal population.

Unprecedented northern opportunities

Land claim and self-government agreements with Aboriginal northern peoples, devolution of federal powers to territorial governments, prudent management of land and resources, and ground-breaking private sector investment have prepared Canada’s North for a period of unprecedented development. Unparalleled opportunities will transform not only the lives of all Northerners, including Aboriginal people, but also the communities in which they live, and Canada as a whole.

Resource development, claims settlements, new program delivery arrangements (i.e., devolution) and modern legislative frameworks for Aboriginal and northern communities are creating an environment that helps communities take control over their own affairs and pursue their own priorities.

It is important to note, however, that while the North is currently a place of incredible opportunity for regional economies, and revenue for governments, it is also on the front line of climate change impacts and adaptation. The importance of the North to sovereignty continues to increase as sea ice melts and the opening of the Northwest Passage becomes a reality. INAC must balance the need to support the North’s economic potential with sustainable development and environmental protection.

Growing Aboriginal leadership and provincial willingness to engage

With a growing number of enterprising, resourceful Aboriginal leaders advancing their communities’ social and economic goals, members of First Nations communities have a stronger sense of accountability in numerous communities. Many economic and governance successes are indeed best practices and could serve as examples for future initiatives.

Provinces and territories are increasingly realizing the potential benefits of looking beyond jurisdictions and working together to find practical solutions, notably where the Aboriginal population will form an important segment of the workforce.

Moving Forward

When responding to new and emerging opportunities, INAC has great potential to bring direct benefits and heightened self-reliance to Aboriginal and northern people and communities. However, these opportunities are linked increasingly to a broader range of partnerships with provinces, territories and the private sector, and INAC must at times depend on the priorities and schedules of these parties. The availability of resources, judicial decisions, and other unanticipated events and developments also impact INAC’s ability to support Aboriginal and northern Canadians. For INAC to ensure the effectiveness of its planned activities as much as possible, it must consider how to:

  • ensure that programs adapt and respond in effective and accountable ways to the many facets of Aboriginal and northern realities;
  • build and nurture the partnerships necessary to achieve strategic outcomes; and
  • promote responsible and sustainable resource development in the face of rising concerns about climate change and the environment.

Evolution of INAC’s policies, programs and organizational capacity

As one of 34 federal departments and agencies involved in Aboriginal and northern programming, INAC is challenged to meet the needs of its client base without working at cross purposes with other players. This is also true within INAC, as the department responds to a range of needs in a variety of regional contexts.

Canada’s Aboriginal and northern communities, as well as Canadian taxpayers, must get the full benefit of investments. For its part, INAC will continue to lead the government on Aboriginal and northern economic development issues. During the planning period, INAC will help renovate policies and programs to place greater emphasis on implementation, enhance program effectiveness and accountability, and improve the ways in which Aboriginal and northern individuals and communities are supported.

To ensure the department has the capacity to pursue these activities, INAC will continue to:

  • develop robust performance indicators that focus on outcomes;
  • advance human resources development by emphasizing recruitment and further expanding the Integrity, Values and Conflict Resolution Centre;
  • strengthen information and resource management capacities in direct support of strategic outcome planning and enhanced stewardship of resources; and
  • focus on communications activities that raise public awareness about Aboriginal and northern realities and opportunities.

Emphasis on partnerships

Most INAC programs are delivered through funding agreements with Aboriginal communities, federal-provincial or federal-territorial agreements, or formal bilateral or multilateral negotiating processes. Accordingly, INAC will pursue a number of initiatives during the planning period to make partnerships more effective, including:

  • improving important claim and self-government negotiation processes, with an emphasis on specific claims;
  • implementing the federal government’s Consultation and Accommodation Action plan;
  • co-operating closely with First Nations communities to implement recently enacted statutes that give communities expanded jurisdiction over monies and resources; and
  • signing federal-provincial-First Nations community protocols on education, and child and family services.

The Office of the Federal Interlocutor will continue to implement the 2007–2012 Urban Aboriginal Strategy, which is based on problem-solving partnerships with provincial governments, urban Aboriginal organizations, municipalities and other federal departments. As well, the Office of the Federal Interlocutor will collaborate with a wide range of partners to respond to Métis rights, support tripartite governance arrangements for Métis and Non-Status Indians, and establish a research network to address policy challenges.

The Inuit Relations Secretariat will launch the Inuit Research Agenda during the current planning period, and begin negotiations around selected elements of the Inuit Action Plan to address education, economic development, youth and urban Inuit issues. Strengthening relations with the Inuvialuit, Nunavut, Nunavik and Nunatsiavut regions will be a priority for the Inuit Relations Secretariat as well.

Focus on sustainable development and environmental stewardship

Aboriginal and northern Canadians have a fundamental relationship with the land and its resources. For years, they have been calling attention to the effects of climate change, and demanding a broader, more sustainable approach to how all Canadians relate to nature.

Aboriginal and northern Canadians will become increasingly major players in the development of Canada’s resources. South of 60°, the reserve land base is expected to increase by over 55 percent between 1990 and 2010. This dramatic expansion will encompass extensive mineral and other resources. And all across Canada, land claims and self-government agreements give Aboriginal control over — or participation in — the management of large land masses with resource and hydro-development potential.

During the planning period, INAC will act on a number of issues, including contaminated sites, environmental assessments, infrastructure challenges, and Aboriginal and northern resource management capacity and governance. In addition, INAC’s Environmental Stewardship Strategy will be one of the department’s vehicles for co-ordinating efforts to enhance sustainable land and resource management.

Moving forward, the greatest challenge is to resist the urge to try to fix everything at once. INAC has set out manageable priorities that focus on the following:

  • improving education outcomes;
  • strengthening Canada’s relationship with Aboriginal peoples;
  • improving economic well-being, prosperity and self-reliance;
  • contributing to better health outcomes and safer communities; and
  • addressing, resolving and implementing claims.

Together, the advancement of this Aboriginal and northern agenda and a fundamental review of departmental policies and programs will put as many individuals and communities as possible on a path toward greater economic participation, the diminished need for government support and improved conditions and services in First Nations communities over the long term.

Risk Analysis

INAC uses a formal risk management and oversight regime to identify, monitor and manage risks that could compromise the achievement of the department’s strategic outcomes. The regime includes frequent risk assessment, the integration of risk information with departmental planning, resource-allocation and reporting processes, and regular reporting of risk exposures to senior executives. Collectively, these regime components ensure that INAC’s managers and senior executives monitor significant risks regularly and have the information necessary to make proactive, educated decisions.

In managing risk, INAC aims to strengthen organizational resilience, reinforce management excellence and, ultimately, enhance program results and reduce the need for crisis management. The department’s Risk Management Team works collaboratively with departmental managers across the country to support risk management initiatives and foster awareness of risks and best practices to manage risk. At the senior executive level, the Risk Champion (Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Regional Operations Sector) promotes the value and importance of risk management and participates actively in risk management initiatives.

In 2009–10, the department is taking two new and important steps forward. Risk management practices will become further embedded in the operational planning and priority-setting exercises respective to each strategic outcome. As well, risk-awareness sessions will be provided to all managers and planners across Canada.

The updated Corporate Risk Profile, along with other risk assessments undertaken in the past year, has informed the department’s plans and priorities for 2009–10. The department’s corporate risks are:

  • implementation risk;
  • information for decision making risk;
  • program alignment risk;
  • legal risk;
  • human resources capacity and capabilities risk;
  • Aboriginal-relationship risk;
  • Government partnership risk; and
  • Management practices risk.

Each strategic outcome is also subject to risks, some of which are as significant as the corporate risks. These risks are identified in later sections of this report.

Expenditure Profile

Planned Spending Breakdown

Planned Spending BreakdownOver 60 percent of departmental spending (3 of 20 program activities) is committed to basic services, such as education, social services and community infrastructure to provide access to provincial-type services.

Total Planned Spending — Explanation of Trend

The increase in spending from 2005–06 to 2009–10 is primarily due to:

  • incremental funding provided to meet the demand for ongoing First Nations and Inuit programs and services;
  • transfer of responsibility for the Office of Indian Residential Schools Resolution of Canada to Indian and Northern Affairs Canada;
  • incremental funding for accelerating the resolution of specific claims;
  • payment to the Quebec Cree to settle implementation issues respecting the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement and related litigation;
  • funding provided in Budget 2006 for priorities, including education, women, children, families, water and housing;
  • Explanation of Trendfunding provided in Budget 2008 for a new framework for economic development, enhancing education outcomes, expanding First Nations child and family services and for the First Nations Water and Wastewater Action Plan; and
  • funding provided in Budget 2009 for First Nations housing and infrastructure, strengthening economic development in the North and Arctic research infrastructure.

Planned spending over the period from 2009–10 to 2011–12 diminishes mainly because of reductions related to the sunset of targeted funding for:

  • payment to the Quebec Cree to settle implementation issues respecting the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement and related litigation;
  • the First Nations Water and Wastewater Action Plan (Budget 2008);
  • the Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan (Budget 2004); and
  • Budget 2009 initiatives which do not extend beyond 2010–11.

2009–10 Main Estimates and Planned Spending

The 2009–10 Main Estimates for the department are approximately $6.9 billion. In addition, it is expected that adjustments of about $0.4 billion will be included in the 2009–10 Supplementary Estimates, resulting in total planned spending of approximately $7.3 billion.



  ($ millions)
2009–10 Main Estimates 6,934
Adjustments (planned spending not in Main Estimates)* 403
Total Planned Spending 7,337

*Includes: Budget 2008 funding for economic development; Budget 2009 funding for First Nations housing and infrastructure, strengthening economic development in the North and Arctic research infrastructure; funding for the Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan; funding for the Tsawwassen Final Agreement; and, funding for the implementation of the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement.

Voted and Statutory Items Displayed in the Main Estimates



Vote # or Statutory Item (S) Truncated Vote or Statutory Wording ($ millions)
2008-09
Main Estimates
2009-10
Main Estimates
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
1 Operating expenditures 665.4 937.7
5 Capital expenditures 22.7 44.4
10 Grants and contributions 5,314.9 5,657.9
15 Payments to Canada Post Corporation 27.6 27.6
20 Office of the Federal Interlocutor for Métis and non-Status Indians — Operating expenditures 5.3 9.0
25 Office of the Federal Interlocutor for Métis and non-Status Indians — Contributions 21.4 29.9
(S) Contributions to employee benefit plans 52.4 61.1
(S) Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development — Salary and car allowance 0.1 0.1
(S) Grants to Aboriginal organizations designated to receive claim settlement payments pursuant to Comprehensive Land Claim Settlement Acts 74.3 65.5
(S) Grant to the Nunatsiavut Government for the implementation of the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement pursuant to the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement Act 18.0 18.0
(S) Liabilities in respect of loan guarantees made to Indians for Housing and Economic Development 2.0 2.0
(S) Payments to comprehensive claim beneficiaries in compensation for resource royalties 1.5 1.5
(S) Indian Annuities Treaty payments 1.4 1.4
(S) Grassy Narrows and Islington Bands Mercury Disability Board
Total budgetary 6,207.0 6,856.1
L30 Loans to native claimants 25.9 47.4
L35 Loans to First Nations in British Columbia for the purpose of supporting their participation in the British Columbia Treaty Commission Process 34.6 30.4
Total non-budgetary 60.5 77.8
Total 6,267.5 6,933.9
Canadian Polar Commission
40 Program expenditures 0.9 0.9
(S) Contributions to employee benefit plans 0.1 0.1
Total 1.0 1.0

Due to rounding, figures may not add to totals shown.