Promote economic development and create jobs for Indigenous peoples.

What success looks like

Higher employment rates for Indigenous peoples and stronger economic growth in Indigenous communities.

Government's narrative on progress

The government is coordinating federal efforts in its response to this mandate commitment for Indigenous peoples and has identified potential areas of collaboration at both the regional and national levels. This includes ensuring program alignment among federal departments and agencies, including planning to review and respond to community opportunities; fostering economic reconciliation with the private sector; more closely aligning skills training to investment opportunities and organizational readiness; and increasing access to capital. Departments have explored potential policy and expenditure linkages to facilitate success, e.g. Atlantic Growth Strategy and Economic Pathways Partnership. In addition, the government is engaging with national Indigenous organizations to discuss approaches to economic development and collaborating on opportunities to ensure better service delivery models at the community level. The Government of Canada supports a suite of economic development and land management programs that are increasing the participation of Indigenous communities in the Canadian economy and enabling Indigenous people to pursue opportunities for employment, income, and wealth creation. To help close the employment and earning gaps between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, Budget 2018 proposes to invest $2 billion over five years, and $408.2 million per year ongoing, to support the creation of a new Indigenous Skills and Employment Training Program. This includes incremental investments of $447 million over five years, and $99.4 million per year ongoing, and a stronger focus on training for higher quality, better paying jobs rather than rapid re-employment. This additional funding will assist approximately 15,000 more clients gain greater skills and find jobs that will support their long-term career success. The government has consulted with, and heard from, Indigenous partners on the importance of a distinctions-based approach that recognizes the unique needs of First Nations, Inuit and the Métis Nation. Investments in commercial infrastructure, capacity development and partnerships within the federal government, provinces and the private sector are leading to major developments on and off reserve including commercial initiatives. For example, these investments will: help First Nations access long-term financing to undertake economic development projects in their communities ($20M), strengthen the First Nations and Inuit Summer Work Experience Program and the First Nations and Inuit Skills Link Program ($100M), grow Canada's Indigenous tourism industry ($8.6M), and improve Indigenous labour market programs through the new Indigenous Skills and Employment Training Program ($2B over five years and $408.2M per year ongoing) which is the successor to the Aboriginal Skills and Employment Training Strategy. In addition, the Government of Canada has increased funding for the Post-Secondary Student Support Program, which will help 4,600 First Nation students over a two-year period ($90M). The Procurement Strategy for Aboriginal Business was created to help Indigenous business access procurement opportunities within the federal government. The Government of Canada is one of the largest public buyers of goods and services in Canada, purchasing approximately $16 billion worth of goods and services every year on behalf of federal departments and agencies. The government is currently modernizing the federal approach to Indigenous procurement in order to grow Indigenous businesses and contribute to positive socio-economic outcomes in communities. To enhance Indigenous participation in the public and private sector, the government provides project-based funding to increase business and economic development strategies. For example, support has been provided for women’s participation in business and economic development opportunities; and, for the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada, to develop Canada’s unique and authentic Indigenous tourism industry in implementing the National Aboriginal Tourism Strategy. The government provides annual funding to the National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association for distribution to the national network of Aboriginal Financial Institutions (AFI). The government is currently working closely with partners on the development of options to recapitalize the AFI network to enhance access to capital for Indigenous entrepreneurs to start or expand their businesses.

Note: this is the government's own description, not an independent assessment.