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Horizontal Initiatives

International Polar Year

Lead Department(s): INAC — Northern Affairs Program
Start Date: April 1st 2007
End Date: March 31st 2012

Description
To support Canada’s participation in International Polar Year (IPY), the Government of Canada has invested $150 million over five years. This funding is being used to carry out an innovative and multidisciplinary Arctic science program. The Government of Canada Program for IPY is led by INAC in conjunction with six lead federal departments and agencies: Environment, Fisheries and Oceans, Health, National Sciences and Engineering Research Council Industry (on behalf of Industry), and Natural Resources. IPY will bring opportunities to welcome many top international scientists and other visitors to Canada. Canada’s significant involvement and investment in the International Polar Year 2007–2009 contributes to the government’s stewardship of Canada’s Arctic. The Government of Canada IPY Program is working with northern communities in developing and conducting activities such as research, training and capacity building.

Key areas of the Government of Canada Program for IPY include:

1. new science and research in and for the North, which includes the involvement of northern communities
2. ensuring the health and safety of scientists and communities conducting research in the North
3. communication information about the program and the science undertaken
4. building capacity, through training opportunities for youth and Northerners aimed at enhancing participation in northern scientific research
5. ensuring that the resultant scientific knowledge and data are properly managed, archived and made accessible; and
6. support for the appropriate procedural, regulatory and infrastructure framework for conducting scientific research.

The distribution of funds among federal departments and agencies is according to their involvement in the various aspects of the program, including the science and research program, support for logistics, communications and outreach, training, and capacity building. Funding is being provided to support Northern IPY Coordinators who act as points of contact on IPY matters for northern communities and researchers. They are working with the relevant licensing and permitting bodies to provide information and advice on licenses and permits needed for IPY initiatives.

The Northern IPY Coordinators maintain a regional network to support all aspects of Canada’s IPY Program in four locations across the North, with a fifth location to be added in 2008. The work that they are doing to identify key issues for IPY in northern communities and organizations, to provide a contact between community groups and IPY researchers and facilitate the involvement of northerners in the development of IPY initiatives are an important component of the IPY program.

Shared Outcome(s):

• Increased understanding (of impacts of a changing climate and of health and well-being of northern communities) that informs policy and decision making, and contributes to recognition of Canada as an expert on the Canadian North.
• Enhanced northern research capacity through newly trained scientists, knowledge and skills transfer to Northerners, and greater participation in planning and delivery of research by Northerners.

Governance Structure(s):

• Assistant Deputy Minister (ADM) Committee on IPY (chaired by the ADM of Northern Affairs, INAC);
• IPY Federal Program Office (housed at INAC);
• Director Generals, Communications Committees on IPY; and
• IPY Advisory Subcommittees.

The Government of Canada Program for IPY works in conjunction with the Canadian IPY National Committee and the Canadian IPY Secretariat who link to the International Joint Committee for IPY and IPY committees from other participating countries.

Federal Partners Involved in each Program	Names of Programs	Total Allocation From Start to End Date	Planned Spending for 2008–2009	Expected Results for 2008–2009
Indian Affairs and Northern Development	Government of Canada Program for IPY	$56,617,380	$21,425,688	Initiate a targeted science and research program to address priorities on climate change impacts and adaptation and health and well-being of northern communities
Health		$158,234	$0
Environment		$11,169,875	$4,793,045
Fisheries and Oceans		$31,542,477	$12,273,463
Natural Resources		$3,063,000	$1,267,420
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council		$31,290,669	$11,461,106
Canadian Institutes of Health Research		$9,747,988	$3,555,547
Canadian Food Inspection Agency		$414,500	$161,700
Parks Canada Agency		$1,350,000	$608,750
Public Health Agency of Canada		$617,000	$172,000
Agriculture and Agri-food		$156,400	$115,900
Canadian Museum of Civilization		$795,200	$408,000
Centrally Earmarked Funds		$3,077,277	n/a	A Treasury Board submission will be developed to access this funding in support for Logistics and Health Safety proposals as well as Science Projects
Total		$150,000,000	$56,242,619

Contact Information:
Kathleen Fischer
Executive Director
International Polar Year Federal Program Office
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
10 Wellington Street, Room 745
Gatineau, Quebec K1A 0H4
Tel: 819-934-6085
Fax: 819-934-0584
fischerk@ainc-inac.gc.ca

Labrador Innu Comprehensive Healing Strategy (LICHS)

Lead Department(s): Indian and Northern Affairs Canada — Lead; Health Canada; Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
Start Date: June 2001
End Date: March 2010

Total Federal Funding Allocation:
Cabinet approved the LICHS in June 2001 and provided $81 million over three years including: $59 million for INAC; $20 million for Health Canada and $2 million for Solicitor General. The initial LICHS ended March 2004, but was extended for one-year; INAC received a further $15 million to provide basic programs and services; and Health Canada received $5.5 million to continue the work already begun under the LICHS. Cabinet approved a new 5-year strategy for INAC and Health Canada (HC) partners in December 2004. Budget 2005, provided funds of $102.5 M for fiscal years 2005–2006 to 2009–2010 for the continuation of the LICHS.

Description
The LICHS was developed by INAC, HC and former Solicitor General in response to the 2000 gas-sniffing crisis facing the Labrador Innu to help resolve the serious health, social and safety issues in the communities of Davis Inlet and Sheshatshiu. While notable progress has been achieved, many serious issues remain. To address these issues, INAC and HC sought Cabinet approval and funding for the continuation of the LICHS. The proposed approach responded positively to the priorities in the October 2004 Speech from the Throne for addressing the needs of Aboriginal Canadians.

Shared Outcome(s)
The partners, in consultation with the Innu, developed the following 5-year vision with respect to the continuation of the LICHS. This vision is for the federal government, the Province and the Innu to work in partnership to: advance Innu community healing; build increased Innu capacity for the management and delivery of some government programs; conclude a land claim Agreement-in-Principle; address issues arising from sexual, physical and emotional abuse; achieve improvements in health, education, family and social well-being, economic development, community development, public safety and First Nation governance; and, manage the LICHS in an integrated and effective fashion.

Governance Structure(s)
Main Table. Chaired by the Chief Federal Negotiator, Labrador Innu file. Membership includes representatives of the Labrador Innu leadership, Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, and federal partners to the LICHS. Tripartite sub-committees for: reserve creation, education, new school at Sheshatshiu, income support, child youth and family services, economic development, health, and evaluation.

Federal Partners Involved in each Program	Names of Programs	Total Allocation (2005–2006 to 2009–2010) ($ millions)	Planned Spending for 2008–2009 ($ millions)	Expected Results for 2008–2009
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada	Sheshatshiu school design	$0.1
	Education	$14.8	$6.6	Complete implementation plan for Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN) research. Begin implementation of first phase.
	Child, Youth and Family Services	$27.9	$7.7
	Income Support	$6.1	$1.5
	Electrification — Natuashish	$6.0	$3.5
	Airport Agreement — Natuashish	$0.5	$0.1
	Facilities O&M Capacity Building	$3.6	$0.6
	Housing Capacity Building	$0.6
	LTS Capacity Building	$1.4	$0.1
	Reserve Creation	$0.2		Reserve creation completed
	Devolution Planning and Transition	$0.8	$0.2	Innu capacity improved via: child, youth and family services (CYFS) and Income Support Tripartite Committees, and Education Working Group
	New Paths (Outpost)	$1.0	$0.2	Complete New Paths projects.
	Strategies for Learning	$2.2	$0.4
	Planning and Consultation	$0.5	$0.1
	Safe houses	$1.4	$0.4	Complete construction, staff, finalize programming.
Health Canada	Addictions/Mental Health	$12.6	$2.6	Treatment programs continue through the Family Treatment (in Sheshatshui) and Healing Lodge (in Natuashish) programs.
	Maternal/Child Health	$3.3	$0.7	Health promotion programs continue through the Family Resource Center (in Sheshatshui) and Wellness Center (in Natuashish).
	Community Health Planning	$1.1	$0.23	Program evaluation information will inform future health programming in both communities.
	Management and Support	$4.32 (2007–2008)	$0.89 (2007–2008)	Improved coordination of health services being achieved through tri-partite projects on integration and adaptation of health services at community and health authority levels.
	Safe houses	$1.65 (2007–2008)	$0.4 (2007–2008)	Program delivery, policy, and operations, continue.
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation	Safe houses	$0.95		Complete construction

Results to be Achieved by Non-federal Partners
Increased collaboration among the parties has emerged.

Contact Information
Bruno Steinke
A/Director
Social Program Reform Directorate
Social Policy and Programs Branch
INAC
10 Wellington Street
Gatineau, Quebec K1A 0H4
819-994-4837

Urban Aboriginal Strategy

Lead Department(s): INAC — Office of the Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians (OFI)
Start Date: 2007
End Date: 2012

Total Federal Funding Allocation: $68.5 million

Description
The Urban Aboriginal Strategy (UAS) was developed in 1997, to help respond to the needs facing Aboriginal people living in key urban centres. Through the UAS, the Government of Canada seeks to partner with other governments, community organizations Aboriginal people and the private sector to support projects to local priorities.

In 2007, Canada decided to set national priorities that focus on greater economic participation and make a long-term commitment by investing $68.5 million over 5 years to help respond effectively to the needs of Aboriginal people living in key urban centres.

Shared Outcome(s)
The primary goal of the UAS is to better address issues facing Aboriginal people living in cities across Canada. To this end, the OFI works to achieve the following objectives:

• Targeting of urban Aboriginal socio-economic needs within new and renewed federal initiatives, where appropriate;
• Improving access to and the coordination of programs and services;
• Coordinating policy research, knowledge and information sharing in the urban Aboriginal area; and
• Improving horizontal linkages and policy integration within the federal government and seeking opportunities for partnership (i.e. the federal government, provincial, municipal governments, Aboriginal groups and private sector).

To accomplish these objectives, UAS projects will strategically focus investments in three priority areas (improving life skills, promoting job training, skills and entrepreneurship and supporting Aboriginal women, children and families).

Governance Structure(s)
All 13 UAS designated communities have established community-based Steering Committees that are the catalysts for planning, making funding decisions, and coordinating work through the Urban Aboriginal Strategy — along with other community activities – to respond to urban Aboriginal issues. Each UAS Steering Committee is composed of a cross section of the Aboriginal community, to ensure the Steering Committee decisions reflect broad community concerns and priorities. While the structure of the Steering Committees is meant to be reflective of local circumstances, each Steering Committee includes representation from the local Aboriginal community, the federal government, other levels of government and the private sector. The inclusive nature of the Steering Committee is indicative of the principle of partnership that underlies the UAS, particularly in keeping with the objective to establish strong and active partnerships between government and community.

In some of the designated cities under the UAS, federal funding is administered through a community entity (an incorporated organization having been delegated authority for delivering UAS projects on behalf of the various partners). Regardless of whether funding is delivered by a community entity or by federal officials or a combination of the two, funding through the UAS is designed to promote cooperation with other key partners (including other federal departments) and stakeholders in support of community interests.

Federal Partners Involved in each Program	Names of Programs	Total Allocation	Planned Spending for 2008–2009	Expected Results for 2008–2009
Office of the Federal Interlocutor for Métis and non-Status Indians	Urban Aboriginal Strategy	$68,500,000	$13,567,000	UAS projects will strategically focus investments in three priority areas (improving life skills, promoting job training, skills and entrepreneurship and supporting Aboriginal women, children and families).
Human Resources and Social Development Canada/Service Canada; Canadian Heritage; Health Canada; Public Health Agency Canada; Industry Canada; Justice Canada; and Public Safety Canada.	Various Programs	$ unknown at this time.	$ unknown. Funding is dependent on availability of funds at the departmental level and the types of priorities identified at the local level.

Results to be Achieved by Non-federal Partners
The refocused UAS improves program coordination within the Government of Canada to maximize its investments and enable greater federal program alignment with provincial and municipal programming on a 50:50 basis.

The UAS has been redesigned to better address issues facing urban Aboriginal people. Through sustainable partnership policy development, program coordination at the federal level and provincial and municipal governments, Aboriginal and private sector partners, the UAS addresses local priorities and engages partners in the process of reducing the level of disparity that urban Aboriginal people face.

The UAS strives to make significant progress along the road of horizontal management as well as shared accountability with its federal partners. It represents a practical step which illustrates how Canada’s government is moving in the right direction to ensure that Aboriginal people living in cities across Canada have greater access to the skills and experiences they need to gain access to and succeed in urban centres.

Contact Information
Allan MacDonald
Director General
Office of the Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians
66 Slater Street
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0H4
Telephone: 613-992-8186

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