A New Fiscal Relationship Backgrounder: Ministry of Indigenous Services
Current Challenges
- Government funding is often short-term, proposal and program-based, and prevents planning and flexibility to respond to local needs
- Reporting burden; a former Auditor General has reported that communities can be required to file more than 100 reports annually to fulfill funding obligations
- The Default Prevention and Management Policy is punitive and counterproductive.
The Path Forward
- Predictable, long-term funding through fair transfers
- New fiscal relationship based on mutual accountability
- Different visions of and paths to self-determination respected
- Indigenous-led programs and services supported by strong Indigenous institutions and governments
- Flexibility in government responses to meet specific needs