Government of Canada highlights funding for Indigenous communities to support critical infrastructure

Ottawa: As part of Budget 2021, the Government of Canada is making historic investments in Indigenous infrastructure to address critical infrastructure needs by 2030, and invest in economic, social and health outcomes in First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities.

Today, the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Indigenous Services; the Honourable Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations; and the Honourable Daniel Vandal, Minister of Northern Affairs, highlighted an investment of $4.3 billion over four years for the Indigenous Community Infrastructure Fund. Starting in 2021-22, this fund will support immediate demands, as prioritized by Indigenous partners, with shovel-ready infrastructure projects in First Nations, Indigenous Self-Government and Modern Treaty Partners, Inuit, Métis Nation communities, northern First Nation and northern Métis communities, and urban and off-reserve Indigenous communities and organizations. This includes:

$2.709 billion to support First Nations on reserve
$517.7 million to support Self-Government and Modern Treaty Partners
$517.8 million to support Inuit communities
$240 million to support Métis communities
$18 million to support northern Indigenous communities
$194.9 million to support urban and off-reserve Indigenous communities and organizations
Over the past week, the Government of Canada has announced investments in a number of these significant initiatives.

The Government of Canada recognizes that access to quality infrastructure, which includes water treatment facilities, sufficient transportation infrastructure, well-built homes, quality health facilities, schools, and other community infrastructure is vital to a community’s physical, mental, social and economic health and well-being.