Current Reality
The tables are based on Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC’s) Census Core Table 9A and INAC’s Census Core Table 6.05 as reported in the 2019 Indigenous Economic Progress Report
Between 1996 and 2016, a 2 per cent cap on annual increases was in place; between 2004-05 and 2013-14, provincial expenditures increased roughly 2 per cent a year after adjusting for inflation (during this same time period). This is in the context of declining enrolment, meaning students in the provincial education system received INCREASING per capita funding, Indigenous students under federal jurisdiction received LESS per capita funding.
Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO) estimates that, nationally, the total funding shortfall for education programming in all band-operated schools in 2012-13 was between $300 million and $595 million. PBO estimates this shortfall grew to between $336 million and $665 million in 2016-17.
“Federal Spending on Primary and Secondary Education on First Nations Reserves”: Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer, Dec. 6, 2016
http://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2016/dpb-pbo/YN5-113-2016-eng.pdf
Budget 2021 invests $1,188 over 5 years with $181.8M ongoing across three priority areas: COVID-19 support, funding mechanisms and First Nations control over education and adult education.
Budget 2022 invests $310.6M over 5 years to support better student outcomes through a Regional Education Agreement with the First Nations Education Council , which includes 22 member communities in Québec