QUESTION PERIOD — Indigenous Services
Indigenous Mental Health Services
March 24, 2026
My question is for the Leader of the Government in the Senate.
The budget, as tabled, shows that many core First Nations and Inuit programs, including, but not limited to, mental health supports, the Inuit Child First Initiative, Jordan’s Principle, Urban Programming for Indigenous Peoples and friendship centre operations, have no guaranteed funding beyond March 2026. That is next week.
Multiple analyses, including reporting from the CBC Indigenous news section, confirm that these programs appear as sunset items, with zero in future fiscal years, despite their critical and life-saving roles in supporting the living witnesses of residential schools, intergenerational survivors, families, youth, Elders and remote communities working with the effects of genocide.
Will the Government of Canada provide this chamber with a clear and definitive statement on the status of First Nations mental health funding and all related —
Thank you, senator.
Thank you for the question, senator.
Economic reconciliation and funding services are commitments of the government. Reconciliation emerges when the government creates meaningful partnerships with communities and stakeholders to move projects and priorities forward. The government is committed to a procurement strategy for Indigenous businesses. The government is committed to equitable police services in First Nations and Inuit communities. I also answered a question concerning the funding of urban programming for Indigenous Peoples with no expiration but that will, instead, move to a new model where services are delivered directly by friendship centres.
The government’s commitment to funding Indigenous services is there, and it is evident in the last budget that was tabled by the government.
Health programs are tied to legal obligations, treaty rights for health, human rights commitments and Canada’s responsibilities for truth and reconciliation. Given the uncertainty created by the absence of confirmed funding beyond March 2026 and the significant operational risk this poses for First Nations communities and service providers, will the government commit to engaging directly and transparently with First Nations leadership and services organizations?
For instance, as far as Jordan’s Principle is concerned, the government has committed more than $1.5 billion to renew Jordan’s Principle for the coming year to protect uninterrupted access to essential services for children and their families. As far as health benefits accessibility and mental health financing, over the last five years, $3.5 billion has been invested to support holistic, Indigenous-led mental health programs that incorporate First Nations —
Thank you, Senator Moreau.
