Establishment of the Ministry

In 2017, following the recommendation of the Royal Commission on Indigenous Peoples (1996), the government of Justin Trudeau announced its intention to dissolve Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada and create two separate departments: Indigenous Services Canada and Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada. (See also Federal Ministry of Indigenous and Northern Affairs.)

Aboriginal Services is about improving the quality of services provided to Aboriginal people so that they are provided by Aboriginal communities rather than the Crown. Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada oversees the relationship between Indigenous peoples and the government, particularly with regard to treaty rights and self-government.

The department also manages the Northern Affairs portfolio, which addresses the needs of communities living in Canada’s north. In July 2018, Northern Affairs was merged into the Department of Intergovernmental and Northern Affairs and Canadian Domestic Trade. The following year, the Department of Northern Affairs reverted to the name Crown-Indigenous Relations. The department now has two ministers: a minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and a minister of Northern Affairs.

Carolyn Bennett, Prime Minister for Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs, describes INAC as an “outdated and paternalistic department”. […] Designed to implement the Indian Law “. The new ministries, for their part, are “based on distinctions and are anchored in the recognition of rights, respect, cooperation and partnership.” The Federal Government describes this restructuring of the department as the “next step” towards the abolition of the Indian Law.

mandate

Crown-Indigenous Relations Canada builds on the work of INAC in developing federal-First Nations relations, Inuit-Crown relations and federal-Métis relations, and seeks to support self-determination and certain other issues related to Indigenous peoples in Canada, such as land claims and reconciliation. (See also Truth and Reconciliation Commission.)

The department is also responsible for leading the federal government’s work in the north. In particular, it works with territory governments and other leaders to develop policies for Indigenous and non-Indigenous people living in northern communities on issues such as oil and gas (See also Pipelines in Canada), lands and resources (See also Natural resources; mineral resources), environment and health.

Focus and developments

Since its creation, the department has identified several priority areas, including improving relations with Indigenous peoples, promoting self-government and supporting progressive policies in the North. It is committed to finding new ways to work with Indigenous peoples on the path to reconciliation. The federal government has established “permanent bilateral mechanisms” with Indigenous leaders to “identify shared priorities, jointly develop policies and monitor progress.”

Northern Affairs has its own priorities, including a shared leadership model in the Arctic, climate change adaptation programs, improvements in Nutrition North Canada and decentralization in Nunavut. Together with various partners, the federal government has developed a framework to “enable people and communities to work together for a dynamic, prosperous and sustainable region.”