Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Good afternoon, committee. I'm Christopher Sheppard, president of the National Association of Friendship Centres. I want to recognize that I'm joining you today from Treaty 6 in Saskatoon, the homeland of the Métis. I'm thankful for the welcome that I've received while being a visitor here in Saskatchewan.
I am joined, as usual, by my national executive director, Jocelyn Formsma.
We want to thank you again for the invitation to appear before you. We are grateful as we know there are many demands on your time and attention and, as usual, you are working late.
We have already provided our pre-budget submission for 2020 in advance of federal budget 2020-21. We have also provided a briefing note that we have drafted in partnership with other federated charities and non-profits calling for sector support for human and community services.
Due to our previous testimony to this committee, you are already aware that the NAFC represents over 100 local friendship centres and provincial and territorial associations from coast to coast to coast. Friendship centres are urban indigenous community hubs that are owned and operated by indigenous people and provide a wide range of wraparound community supports through programs and services for every age and demographic of people. Collectively, we are one of the largest and most comprehensive service-delivery networks in Canada.
In 2019, 93 friendship centres served approximately 1.4 million first nations, Inuit, Métis and non-indigenous people across over 1,200 programs in 238 buildings and employing over 2,700 staff. The current funding for urban programming for indigenous people will sunset in March 2022, with some predictions that the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and aftermath will last for the next two years.
Friendship centres need some assurance that UPIP will continue with enhancements and an updated program design that will be sure to meet the needs of urban indigenous communities in light of new realities that we cannot yet foresee.
In our pre-budget submission, we have focused on the much-needed investments in the friendship centre network across Canada, UPIP renewal with enhancements, investments in indigenous community-owned infrastructure, children, youth and family programming, and engagement on a national urban indigenous health framework.
In addition, we have also joined the YMCA, YWCA, United Way, the Boys and Girls Club and Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Canada in a call for a federal community services COVID-19 relief fund to support critical human and community services, and to implement a philanthropic match program. The friendship centre network across Canada is a remedy to challenges that lie ahead. Our structure creates layers of accountability for the work we do and the resources that we invest in the communities that we serve. Our network is highly effective, agile and competent in responding to community needs and sharing information among each other and our partners.
Our results are impressive for the amount that we currently receive. Imagine what we could do with flexibility and appropriate financial support.
As we mentioned in our last appearance, we encourage the federal government to look to us as an answer to the question of how we can better equip indigenous people living in urban settings. Properly equipping and resourcing friendship centres now and including friendship centres in response-and-recovery strategies is but one way to care for and invest in the viability of our communities and economies across Canada.
The NAFC has offered, and continues to offer, its perspectives, expertise and knowledge of urban indigenous communities and community members to inform the federal government and guide effective remedies both now and as we continue on this journey.
We look forward to being a part of this ongoing conversation and to the questions you might have today.