Budget 2022 falls short for off-reserve and Non-Status Indigenous people
April 7, 2022 (OTTAWA) – Today, Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland released Budget 2022, the government’s new fiscal plan for Canadians and the first Budget since the 2021 federal election. This year’s low-spend Budget offers little for off-reserve and Non-Status Indigenous people.
“Simply put, this Budget falls short for Indigenous communities across the board,” said Congress of Aboriginal Peoples (CAP) National Chief Elmer St. Pierre. “Unfortunately, in their attempt to keep purse strings tight, the government has once again let the needs of Indigenous communities fall through the cracks.”
Although encouraging to see commitment to work through the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation to co-develop and launch an Urban, Rural, and Northern Indigenous Housing Strategy, the $300 million investment over five years is simply insufficient to cover the needs of Indigenous households living in urban, rural, or northern areas who are in housing need. Over 80% of Indigenous people in Canada live off-reserve, yet the amount allocated for this program is much smaller than the funding for First Nations housing on reserve, Inuit communities, and Métis communities.
CAP commends the government for extension of the COVID-19 Indigenous Community Support Fund, which we have advocated directly to Minister Freeland for, and will continue to help our communities from coast to coast deal with the impacts of COVID-19.
“If the federal government is serious about their commitment to reconciliation with Indigenous communities, it’s past time they put their money where their mouth is,” said Chief St. Pierre.
-30-
Media Contact:
Brenna Doucette
Director of Communications
b.doucette@abo-peoples.org
613-552-2726
The Congress of Aboriginal Peoples is the national voice representing the interests of Métis, status and non-status Indians, and Southern Inuit Indigenous People living off-reserve. Today, over 80% of Indigenous people live off-reserve.