Statement by the Honourable Jane Philpott in response to the 2018 Spring Report of the Auditor General of Canada

OTTAWA, May 29, 2018 /CNW/ - The Minister of Indigenous Services, Jane Philpott, issued the following statement today:

"I thank the Auditor General for his 2018 Spring Report and accept the recommendations of Report 5—Socio-economic Gaps on First Nations Reserves.

Our government has made a commitment to a renewed relationship with Indigenous peoples. One based on recognition of rights, respect, cooperation and partnership. Through this renewed relationship and through actions our government is taking, I believe we will achieve better outcomes that help to close the socio-economic gaps and improve individual and community well-being.  

Our government has made significant investments over the past three budgets to address funding gaps in areas like health, education, housing and water infrastructure, child and family services and more.

Additionally, the new department of Indigenous Services - created last fall - has a mandate to improve the delivery of programs and services for Indigenous peoples and to close socio-economic gaps. To do this, the department focuses on five priority areas: health, education, children and families, infrastructure, and economic prosperity.

We also recognize, as is the focus of this report, that to improve outcomes we cannot only address funding gaps. We also need the necessary data to measure progress and improve the mechanisms that enable success. This is why we are working with First Nations on improving approaches to better measure and track progress, using meaningful and reliable data.

Together with the Assembly of First Nations, for example, Indigenous Services Canada is co-developing a new fiscal relationship that gives First Nations communities sufficient, predictable and sustained funding. This work includes a shared vision of mutual accountability and the co-development of a national outcome-based framework aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to better track and report on progress to close the unacceptable socio-economic gaps between Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations.

As part of the comprehensive First Nations education transformation, we are developing, in collaboration with First Nations, regional performance measurement frameworks that will enable accurate tracking of results and outcomes.

We also know that some of the greatest impacts on outcomes can occur when programs and services are led and delivered by First Nations for First Nations. As we continue this important work in partnership to close socio-economic gaps and measure progress, we remain committed to advancing the self-determination of Indigenous peoples, and to supporting communities that wish to take greater control of their own programs and services.

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SOURCE Indigenous Services Canada

media may contact: Rachel Rappaport, Press Secretary, Office of the Honourable Jane Philpott, Minister of Indigenous Services, 819-934-2796; Media Relations, Indigenous Services Canada, 819-953-1160