QUESTION PERIOD — Crown-Indigenous Relations
Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples
May 29, 2025
My question is for the Leader of the Government in the Senate. Senator Gold, the Mi’kmaq of Nova Scotia have been working on a section 35 self-government agreement on income assistance, including implementation of the new Indigenous Services Canada, or ISC, disability income support payments. While I recognize that this is technically a new government with a new leader, the commitment made by the Prime Minister to reconciliation has been made on the campaign trail, in his mandate letter and in the Speech from the Throne.
My question is this: Can you confirm that the government will commit to flow the disability income support funding held by ISC so that Ta’n Etli-tpi’tmk can ensure disabled income assistance clients living on reserve receive this benefit, which is two months overdue?
Thank you for your question. As you mentioned, the previous government committed $927.3 million in investments for the on-reserve income assistance program over five years starting in 2024-25 and $169 million ongoing to provide income support on reserve and to expand programming to meet demand, and this will address the urgent and essential needs of income assistance clients who are living in poverty on reserve and continue case management and pre-employment supports.
With regard to the new disability supports on reserve in Nova Scotia, I’ve been informed that Indigenous Services Canada is currently working to flow the funding to communities in the manner they prefer whether through Ta’n Etli-tpi’tmk, the organization wherein Mi’kmaq control the management of income assistance, or directly to the nations.
Senator Gold, His Majesty stated:
. . . it is my great hope that in each of your communities, and collectively as a country, a path is found toward truth and reconciliation, in both word and deed.
Will your government uphold the honour of the Crown by meeting its commitments and restarting good faith negotiations with Ta’n Etli-tpi’tmk by sharing information to complete the sectoral self-government agreement and fiscal agreement on Mi’kmaq income assistance?
Thank you for your question — it’s an important one — and I will certainly raise this with the minister at my earliest opportunity.
