Mr. Speaker, starting in 2024-25, the Government of Canada is providing $2 billion over 10 years, or $200 million annually, through the indigenous health equity fund in support of indigenous-led approaches to increase access to quality and culturally safe health care services. Since it was announced in 2023-24, Indigenous Services Canada, ISC, has been working with first nations, Inuit and Métis partners on its design and implementation. As a result, this funding has two components. First, there is distinctions-based funding, which means long-term, predictable and flexible support for first nations, Inuit and Métis health priorities, at approximately $190 million annually. Second, there is targeted initiatives funding, which means short-term support to indigenous organizations for innovative, activity-driven and crosscutting indigenous health priorities, at approximately $10 million annually.
With respect to distinctions-based funding, this funding support is being distributed annually as follows: $142.5 million for first nations, $28.5 million for Inuit and $19 million for Métis. For first nations, funding is being distributed on the basis of population, with adjustments for community size and remoteness. For Inuit, allocations to the four Inuit treaty organizations are being provided as per the direction of the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami’s board of directors, which is consistent with the Inuit Nunangat policy. For Métis, allocations to the Manitoba Métis Federation and current governing members of the Métis National Council are being provided as per their historical resolution on funding distribution.
With respect to implementation, it is important to note that the administration of funding is shared between ISC and Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada, with the former responsible for the distribution of funding to first nations and administration of the targeted initiatives program, and with the latter responsible for the distribution of funding to modern treaty and self-governing first nations, Inuit and Métis. While funding is currently in the process of being distributed to some partners, both departments are continuing to have discussions with regional indigenous leadership on how best to distribute this funding to their communities, which is respecting the principle of indigenous self-determination. Once these discussions conclude, funding will be fully transferred pending receipt of their implementation plans, which will provide both departments a sense of their priorities in health.
With respect to targeted initiatives, the program launched a call for proposal process on June 3, 2024. The deadline for submissions was July 31, 2024. Through this process, the program received nearly 60 proposals totalling more than $24 million. The department is finalizing its review, and decisions on funding are expected by the end of October. As a result, it would be premature to provide information on who submitted plans at this point in time. More information on specific projects that will be funded under this program will be forthcoming once decisions are finalized and communicated respectively with indigenous organizations.