Budget 2016 makes historic investments in Indigenous issues

Date

On March 22, 2016, the federal government tabled its first budget, which “proposed to invest $8.4 billion over five years [...] to improve the socioeconomic conditions of Indigenous Peoples and their communities and bring about transformational change.” Areas of investment include education, housing, health, justice, child welfare and more.

A significant change from previous federal budgets is the commitment to lift the 2% funding cap for programs delivered by Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada that was put in place in the late 1990s at a time of significant fiscal restraint. In five years, total funding for Indigenous programs will be 22% above the level of funding that would have been provided under the previous 2% funding cap. 

For a summary of the budget’s allocation to Indigenous issues, see the Assembly of First Nations 2016 Federal Budget Overview.

For all the details, see Budget 2016 Chapter 3 - A Better Future for Indigenous Peoples