2025-26 Gender-based analysis plus

Subprogram Goals

The program funds and supports the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of communicable diseases and provides public education and awareness to encourage healthy practices (i.e. infection, prevention and control). The four mandatory areas include Vaccine Preventable Diseases/Immunization, Sexually Transmitted and Blood Borne Infections, Tuberculosis, and Communicable Disease Emergencies. The program acknowledges the impacts of the social determinants of health and colonization on health disparities, and the compounding role these factors have on sub-populations within Indigenous communities. Ongoing work within each area ensures these considerations are central to program initiatives.

Focus Population

First Nations living on-reserve and Inuit in Nunatsiavut and Nunavik, with the exception of the Tuberculosis sub-program, which funds Tuberculosis elimination efforts across Inuit Nunangat.

Distribution of Benefits

Specific Demographic Groups to be Monitored

People living in remote communities may experience reduced access to health services, health human resource shortages, housing infrastructure challenges and food insecurity which contribute to an increased burden of worse health outcomes. Select outcomes are monitored by age group and sex to identify factors influencing health outcomes, including increased susceptibility to severe disease among older adults, reduced access to prevention and care among youth, and sex-related differences in exposure risks, caregiving responsibilities, and access to services among females.

Key Program Impact Statistics

Note: Annual year over year changes are not included for this subprogram, as trends are best observed in averages with multiple year spans.

GBA Plus Evidence Collection Plan

The Program relies on data collected by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) for many of its indicators; consequently, the extent of GBA plus disaggregation is dependent on the data available through existing data-sharing agreements. The Program is working with PHAC to review formal data-sharing processes and increase access to disaggregated data. In parallel, the Program collects extensive communicable disease surveillance data from First Nations communities annually to inform program work. To minimize reporting burden on communities, routine surveillance currently captures limited GBA Plus variables beyond age group and sex, where appropriate.

A key challenge to conducting comprehensive GBA Plus analyses across nationally notifiable communicable diseases is the limited availability of individual and community level surveillance data. Efforts are underway to improve this access, including the work on advancing data sharing agreements between PHAC, ISC and national Indigenous partner organizations, which will enable more timely and granular data availability by additional GBA Plus variables such as gender, sexual orientation, clinical characteristics, and socioeconomic factors.

The Program is working to ensure the preservation and integrity of legacy data and applications in the custody of the National Capital Region and regional teams (Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec) by developing and implementing a new software solution to integrate case management, contact tracing, and surveillance data system for the prevention and control of communicable disease outbreaks, and to enable a stronger GBA Plus monitoring. This process is currently at gate two of a three-gated internal IT infrastructure review and approval process. Once implemented, the system will standardize data collection, management, and sharing across participating jurisdictions, improving data quality and supporting the collection of more comprehensive GBA plus variables, thereby facilitating more timely monitoring.

Subprogram Goals

Frontline Environmental Public Health Officers work closely with community leadership to keep communities safe by prioritizing risk to the safety of drinking water, wastewater, housing, public facilities, food and solid waste, and by supporting communicable disease control and emergency preparedness and response. Routine inspections and monitoring are dictated by a national framework, which is guided by federal and provincial guidelines and regulations. Service delivery is responsive to emergencies. Nationally, guidance and support is also provided on addressing health impacts of climate change and major industrial development. Risks associated with climate change and major industrial projects are identified and mitigation advice provided.

Focus Population

Services are focused on First Nations communities south of the 60th parallel. Environmental Public Health (EPH) Officers work with community leadership to prioritize services that benefit vulnerable populations including children, breast/chest feeding people, seniors, persons with disabilities, and others. The BC First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) delivers EPH services and programs to BC First Nations.

Distribution of Benefits

Specific Demographic Groups to be Monitored

First Nations in rural, remote, and isolated communities, individuals living with a disability, chronic illness, or physical or mental health issue(s), lower income households, and those living in crowded housing benefit directly and indirectly from these services as they face disproportionate risks from hazards in natural and built environments (e.g., unsafe drinking water which can lead to enteric illnesses, poor housing condition, emergency management inadequacies) due to chronic underfunding, severe weather, jurisdictional gaps, and complexities due to remoteness.

These demographic groups are not systematically monitored by environmental public health officers delivering the service.

Key Program Impact Statistics

GBA Plus Evidence Collection Plan

The Impact Assessment and Health Service team is administering the First Nations Baseline Assessment Program on Health and the Environment (BAPHE). Last year, the team developed a new reporting tool (DCI HC-151) that will be used by funded First Nations communities and organizations to report on the results, including GBA Plus data. The requirement for the DCI HC-151 starts in the 2025-26 fiscal year. Therefore, final reports submitted starting July 29, 2026 will include GBA Plus data pertaining to projects conducted under BAPHE.

ISC is moving ahead with procuring a Unified Environmental Public Health Information System that would merge seven (7) information systems into one and make it easier to report on remoteness and breakdown community care facilities into specific types of facilities, e.g. day care vs. long-term care facilities.

Subprogram Goals

The subprogram provides funding/supports programming for prenatal health, postpartum health and newborn care, nutrition, early literacy and learning and physical, emotional, and mental health for children 0-6 years old. The department, through the Indigenous Early Learning and Childcare (ELCC) Transformation Initiative, works with Indigenous partners including communities and the Indigenous Women's Well-Being Advisory committee to ensure Indigenous peoples lead the design of programming.

The Maternal Child Health (MCH) program supports service accessibility through home-visiting by nurses and community-based staff to undertake health promotion and screening/ assessment/referral to other services. Many regions also deliver Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder activities via a home visitation model, and some regions deliver these programs using combined approaches that best suit their local needs. The Indigenous Midwifery program supports efforts to bring birthing closer to home through the restoration of traditional and culturally-specific Indigenous midwifery practice.

The Aboriginal Head-Start on Reserve program is delivered by First Nations communities using both centre-based and outreach models, supporting access.

Focus Population

First Nation communities; Inuit. Several Métis midwifery programs are also funded.

• Maternal Child Health, the Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program and Indigenous Midwifery primarily serve birthing parents during the reproductive years, with a particular focus on the period from pre-conception through pregnancy and the postpartum.
• The Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder program provides prevention for pregnant individuals and gender nonspecific screening and case management for children 0-6 years old.
• Aboriginal Head Start on Reserve targets First Nations children on reserve from 0-6 years old and their families.

Specific Demographic Groups to be Monitored

The Healthy Child Development subprogram will monitor outcomes for parents/guardians and their children, with attention to factors like age, community geographic considerations (e.g region, remoteness), and other socioeconomic factors as relevant.

Key Program Impact Statistics

GBA Plus Evidence Collection Plan

The new Indigenous Midwifery data collection instrument (DCI) was created in 2023, collaboratively with the National Council of Indigenous Midwives (NCIM), the Indigenous Women's Advisory Committee (IWAC), and ISC regional midwifery leads. The DCI was intended to capture detail on each pathway (i.e. step) communities commonly take to restore Indigenous midwifery services, including readiness activities, training to increase the workforce, new service delivery/programs, infrastructure to support program delivery, and addressing jurisdictional barriers to allow Indigenous midwives to practice in their communities. It was first used for reporting in the 2024-2025 fiscal year, but unfortunately the quality of data gathered was inconsistent. Discussions are currently underway regarding how to address this; options may include verbal reporting, trainings on the DCI, or revisions for clarity.

The co-developed distinctions-based results framework for Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care (lead by Employment and Social Development Canada with Indigenous partners) are close to completion. In the First Nations context which directly corresponds to the recipients currently funded by ISC, the approved First Nations results framework is available online (PDF). The framework is evergreen, and a Request for Proposals (RFP) has been posted by AFN to seek proposals from qualified bidders to conduct a pilot and feasibility testing of the draft First Nations Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) results framework, and to provide input on the draft First Nations ELCC evaluation strategy, including the drafting of surveys or other tools to evaluate First Nations ELCC programming. While this work is being conducted, the current data collection methodology will continue to be in place.

The program continues work with Indigenous partners, including the Indigenous Women's Well-being Advisory Committee and the Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care Transformation Initiative. This work ensures Indigenous people design new programming and results frameworks.

Subprogram Goals

The program funds and supports culturally relevant, community-based programs and services that promote healthy behaviours and create supportive environments. Flexible funding allows communities and funding recipient organizations to design and implement activities tailored to their unique needs and priorities, including any subpopulations they wish to prioritize. Activities include healthy eating, food security, physical activity, reducing commercial tobacco use, chronic disease prevention and management, and injury prevention.

Focus Population

• Aboriginal Diabetes Initiative funding available to all First Nations and Inuit communities;
• Nutrition Education Initiatives (NEI) funding available to isolated northern First Nations and Inuit communities eligible for Nutrition North Canada;
• Canada's Tobacco Strategy funding available to First Nations and Inuit communities and Métis organizations.

Distribution of Benefits

Specific Demographic Groups to be Monitored

Healthy Living programs and services are intended to support health promotion and chronic disease prevention activities throughout the lifespan in all First Nations living on-reserve and Inuit living in Inuit Nunangat, including in isolated/remote northern communities, and those at high risk for diabetes and chronic disease. Communities have the flexibility to implement programming based on their unique needs and priorities. The program will work with FNIGC and data from the Regional Health Survey (RHS), to monitor long term outcomes associated with diabetes, smoking, and related information, with attention to gender, remoteness, and other socioeconomic demographic considerations.

Other Key Program Impacts

Feedback from the 2024–2025 NEI reports submitted by funding recipients indicates that the program is greatly appreciated and seen as important in supporting education on healthy food choices. Participants described learning new ways to access healthy food, including cooking from scratch, food management, and healthier substitutions. Parents reported being more conscious of the types of food they purchase, with some ordering food from outside the community to improve access to fresh produce. Land-based activities encouraged interest in traditional foods and cultural practices, strengthening the community through shared experiences and supporting youth learning of traditional knowledge and language.

Key Program Impact Statistics

GBA Plus Evidence Collection Plan

The Healthy Living Program collects information about the number of people within age and gender demographics that access various programs and services. Monitoring remains broad and inclusive to reflect this community-driven approach. This information is complemented by surveillance data when possible; for example in 2025-26, the Healthy Living Program requested a secondary analysis of the 2015-16 First Nations Regional Health Survey (RHS), comparing health, nutrition, and lifestyle indicators for First Nations individuals living in remote and special access communities (RHS Phase 3) with those of the overall on-reserve population. The information provided from the First Nations Information Governance Centre highlights similarities and differences across adults, youth, and children to better understand how geographic context may influence health outcomes and behaviours. The data provides insight into chronic conditions, self-reported health, dietary patterns, traditional food consumption, and smoking.

Demographic data (including gender, age) for 2025-26 (based on community annual reports collected in 2024-25) for Nutrition North Canada Nutrition Education Initiatives are available. Similar gender and age information is being collected in 2025-26 for the first time through the Healthy Living Data collection instrument (DCI). The program anticipates completing analysis of the DCI results in Fall 2026.

Subprogram Goals

The program works with national, regional, and community Indigenous partners and is guided by Indigenous led strategies that ensure services are culturally grounded and distinctions based. To operationalize these strategies, the program provides flexible funding for mental wellness promotion, crisis response, trauma specific supports, and substance use treatment. Goals include:

• Reducing suicide rates and risk through the National Inuit Suicide Prevention Strategy and the Youth Hope Fund.
• Addressing substance use through treatment programs and wrap around supports associated with Opioid Agonist Treatment (OAT) sites.
• Responding to crises through interdisciplinary teams and 24/7 crisis lines.
• Improving youth mental health supports for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis youth.

Focus Population

Primarily First Nations on reserve and Inuit in Inuit Nunangat. Elements of the Mental Wellness Program also address the specific needs of youth, people who use substances, and Survivors of complex and intergenerational trauma.

Distribution of Benefits

Specific Demographic Groups to be Monitored

Remoteness, gender, income, and disability shape mental wellness outcomes and access barriers. Monitoring should also prioritize outcomes for program elements that are intended to meet specific demographic groups, such as the Youth Hope Fund, and the Trauma Informed Health and Cultural Support Programs (Survivors and families impacted by Residential Schools, Day Schools, and Missing and Murdered Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people).

Key Program Impact Statistics

GBA Plus Evidence Collection Plan

The Mental Wellness Program has established a GBA Plus evidence plan that strengthens its ability to report on diverse groups through clear governance processes, updated data collection instruments, and expanded disaggregation practices. All annual reporting instruments are being revised for the 2026-27 cycle to include gender, age cohort, disability status, identity based factors, and mandatory remoteness disaggregation. Evidence collection will draw from program generated data, including community identified priorities documented in health and wellness plans and annual workplans, as well as external sources such as census data and survey responses with GBA Plus indicators.

The Program is also conducting an evergreen five year qualitative analysis of submitted block reports that examines equity from a themed lens, including 2SLGBTQI+ identified issues, gender based mental wellness and community wellness issues, disability and access to care, care needs across the lifespan, and gender based violence. This analysis supports ongoing efforts to validate structural strengths, identify persistent gaps, and refine evidence collection practices to ensure that distinctions based, culturally grounded, and intersectional considerations are embedded throughout all reporting and performance measurement activities.

Subprogram Goals

The First Nations and Inuit Home and Community Care Program funds Indigenous health service providers to deliver quality, culturally safe home and community care based on community priorities. Services can include nursing, palliative personal and supportive care, in-home respite, health system linkages and referrals, access to medical supplies and devices, client management records and program management, rehabilitation; adult day care, meal programs, and, in-home mental health care. Services support individuals of all ages with acute, chronic, complex, palliative, and end-of-life care needs, helping them remain in their preferred care setting, maintain independence, and avoid unnecessary hospitalizations or institutionalization. The program also supports recovery, early discharge from hospital, continuity of care, and integration with other health and social services. In addition, it promotes best practices and standards of care, including prevention and management of lower limb conditions in Indigenous communities.

Focus Population

First Nations and Inuit of all ages living on-reserve, in settlements north of 60th parallel, or within Inuit Nunangat who are living with chronic conditions, acute illnesses, functional decline, disabilities or are at end-of-life, and who require health and social support services in their homes or communities.

Distribution of Benefits

Specific Demographic Groups to be Monitored

• Individuals with assessed medical needs who benefit from access to home-based services that help manage symptoms and health conditions, support functional health needs, and reduce unnecessary hospital visits. These interventions indirectly promote continuity of care, family involvement, improved quality of life, and support aging in place, and culturally relevant and safe care.
• Individuals living on reserve or in Inuit Nunangat who may gain or maintain employment as a health professional or in an administrative position.
• Indigenous caregivers on reserve (often women) who may benefit from professional services that reduce caregiving burden and enhance their well-being while supporting a person they are caring for.

Other Key Program Impacts

Through an end-of-life care project supported by the program, 8 Indigenous partners planned and implemented new strategies to support the delivery of equitable palliative and end-of-life care services in their communities, resulting in vulnerable clients experiencing greater comfort and safety as they transition to death and healthcare staff feeling better equipped and supported in their daily practice. Examples of improvements include renovating community care environments to support safe and high-quality care, and the provision of training for healthcare providers on palliative care and medical assistance in dying, while facilitating organizational discussions on how to provide culturally safe and appropriate care.

Key Program Impact Statistics

This subprogram has not identified any disaggregated or equity-relevant performance indicators.

GBA Plus Evidence Collection Plan

In 2025-26, ISC planned to engage Indigenous organizations on the Home and Community Care data strategy and incorporate feedback from ongoing Indigenous partner engagement to support the development of a comprehensive approach to measuring current and projected demands for program services. This work is ongoing and will continue in 2026-2027.

The data strategy will support trend analysis and forecasting by integrating multiple sources of data to better understand current and future service demands and advance health equity for populations served by local programs. This includes looking for patterns of inequity and inequality and measuring these impacts over time. The data strategy working group will consider options that support data disaggregation to capture geographical variability patterns as well as qualitative and quantitative data. In addition, the program is planning to collect and synthetize data from targeted initiatives and, where appropriate, work with project partners to publicly share project outcomes.

The finalized data strategy will consider systemic barriers and available demographic information, applying an intersectional lens throughout stages of data collection, analysis and reporting. The strategy will support evidence-based program decision-making that reflects the diverse realities and experiences of First Nations and Inuit communities with home health service needs.

Subprogram Goals

The program complements non-medical social services offered at the provincial/territorial level for off-reserve for individuals. The Program directly benefits the elderly, persons with disabilities, and those with low income by ensuring that individuals can receive the care they need without leaving their home communities. Many clients are elders living in remote communities, who would otherwise be forced to move great distances from their home communities to receive the care they need, which is particularly important for those who have experienced historical injustices like residential schools.

Focus Population

The program provides in-home, group-home and institutional care supports to eligible low-income individuals ordinarily residing on-reserve and Status Indians in the Yukon.

Distribution of Benefits

Specific Demographic Groups to be Monitored

• Persons with low income: The program is specifically intended to service individuals with low income.
• Individuals Living in Remote Communities: Because the cost of providing care is so high in remote communities, individuals living in them would not have access to non-medical social services without the program.
• Women: Since they disproportionately bear the burden of providing unpaid care, women benefit indirectly from this service provision.

Key Program Impact Statistics

GBA Plus Evidence Collection Plan

Further to the data plan for Home and Community Care, which will also benefit Assisted Living, the Home and Long Term Care (HLTC) cluster evaluation is also expected to yield feedback on external-facing aspects of the program. The evaluation is expected to yield information on several GBA Plus-related issues, including reliance on unpaid care work, a burden born disproportionately by women, and the effect of remoteness on a community's capacity to provide services. As such, the HLTC cluster evaluation is expected to provide crucial feedback that will support future program improvements in the collection of data that support the implementation of GBA Plus-informed programming.

Subprogram Goals

The Clinical Client Care program provides emergency services (triage, life sustaining care and emergency evacuation services), urgent care (assessment and treatment of new or worsening symptoms), and non-urgent care (e.g. routine checkups, maternal-child health, chronic disease prevention and management). Services are provided through 79 remote and isolated health facilities and two hospitals in First Nations communities across Canada. It provides culturally-sensitive care, respects traditions, and addresses the health impacts of intergenerational trauma. Cultural values and the social determinants of health inform Clinical Care Pathways. The program focuses on continued collaboration with all partners to ensure accessible services and address barriers to healthcare delivery. It accounts for the disproportionate burden of diseases, like cardiovascular conditions and diabetes, among Indigenous clients, especially in remote communities. Historically, access to services in remote and isolated communities has been inconsistent. Efforts are now focused on improving service availability for all residents, workers, and visitors.

Focus Population

First Nations; anyone in Clinical and Client Care served communities.

Specific Demographic Groups to be Monitored

• Aging groups, as health needs increase with age.
• Women of childbearing age given specific pregnancy/maternal health needs through all stages of gestation and after.
• Children, given rapid growth and weaker immune systems.
• Remote and isolated communities, given disproportional rates of preventable diseases and inconsistent service availability.

Key Program Impact Statistics

GBA Plus Evidence Collection Plan

Currently, the mix of paper-based data collection and the lack of a robust national health data system creates a barrier to easily aggregate data across the communities served. With appropriate resourcing and planning, and in accordance with the First Nations principles of Ownership, Control, Access and Possession (OCAP^®) of health data, the implementation of electronic medical records (EMR) could allow the program to collect GBA Plus-related data. ISC is developing a recommended inventory of EMR data elements for First Nations consideration, which includes elements that will support some aspects of GBA Plus reporting.

Subprogram Goals

The Community Oral Health Services (COHS) program offers services primarily in Isolated communities and communities without access to oral health services. It supports culturally appropriate community-based programs, services, initiatives, and strategies. Communities tailor it to their specific needs. Sites are primarily in schools to remove barriers for children. Community members, also known as COHS Aides, are a pivotal part of the program, who serve as a link between clients and providers and contribute immensely in expanding the reach of the program. Services are delivered by dental hygienists, dental therapists as well as community workers or COHS aides.

Focus Population

All populations living within First Nations and Inuit communities, with a focus on children (0-7 years), parents/caregivers and pregnant women.

Distribution of Benefits

Specific Demographic Groups to be Monitored

• Children aged 0-7 years of age, as they are a focus of the program, especially as it concerns primary and secondary preventative oral health services aimed at reducing oral disease and improving positive oral health outcomes.
• Children aged 0-4 may face barriers to accessing community oral health services, as it is primarily a school-based program.

Key Program Impact Statistics

GBA Plus Evidence Collection Plan

The program collected oral health data, that could be disaggregated by age, region and biological sex. Program findings and results will be presented annually to community partners and key stakeholders. The program will continue to monitor outcomes disaggregated by age, sex and region, on an annual basis, along with the creation of a national oral health report every 5 years. These findings can help inform where program resources are to be focused, based on age and region.

Subprogram Context

The program improves the efficiency of health care service delivery to First Nations through eHealth partnerships, technologies, tools, and services for defining, collecting, communicating, managing, disseminating, and using data.

Subprogram Goals

The program considers the health needs and health care system interactions of First Nations people. Digital health increases health care access for First Nations in remote and isolated communities with limited in-person services. For those requiring accompaniment for medical travel, such as youth and seniors, digital health makes it possible to remain in community. For those in need of mental health resources, digital health provides telehealth rooms and equipment that ensures they have the privacy they may require.

Focus Population

First Nations communities and institutions.

Distribution of Benefits

Specific Demographic Groups to be Monitored

• Prevalence of electronic medical health records by geographic and other community level characteristics.
• Access to telehealth services, especially for remote communities.

Key Program Impact Statistics

The eHealth Infostructure subprogram has continued to make progress on establishing dedicated GBA Plus indicators and expects to publish results next year.

GBA Plus Evidence Collection Plan

The eHealth Infostructure subprogram is developing additional GBA Plus indicators that would measure the distribution and resilience of connectivity services in health facilities, with disaggregation to demonstrate regional disparities.

Subprogram Goals

Jordan's Principle supports substantively equal access to government services by taking into account the distinct circumstances, experiences, and needs of First Nations children. Approved requests may include funding for medical transportation for children who live in remote communities, mental health services, and specialized care for children with chronic illnesses or disabilities. Requests may be made directly or through service coordination organizations to support families with navigation of the system.

Focus Population

First Nations children (on- and off-reserve) who face gaps or delays in accessing government health, social, or educational services because of their identity as First Nations children or who have been denied access public services due to their First Nation identity. It supports individual and group requests for health, social, and educational needs.

Distribution of Benefits

Specific Demographic Groups to be Monitored

Current Jordan's Principle administrative data captures service-level information (e.g., requests, approvals, funding, and types of supports provided) rather than outcome-based impacts. As such, it does not include direct measures of improved health outcomes for First Nations children or enable reporting on outcomes by sociodemographic group. Instead, available data supports monitoring of client characteristics (e.g., age, sex, on/off reserve, geographic location, chronic health conditions) and types of products, services, and supports requested for individual and/or group requests.

As Jordan's Principle helps address unmet needs and gaps in access to services and supports, changes in the volume or types of requests and supports requested may provide insight into barriers or gaps in other service systems. However, these data should be understood as indicators of service needs and access, rather than direct measures of outcomes for First Nations children.

Key Program Impact Statistics

GBA Plus Evidence Collection Plan

Jordan's Principle relies primarily on administrative data to monitor client characteristics (e.g., age, sex, on-/off-reserve residence, and geographic location), service requests, approvals, and types of supports provided. To strengthen its GBA Plus evidence base, the initiative will explore additional geographic dimensions such as community, region, and remoteness. These analyses will support the identification of trends and potential differences in service access, utilization, and approval patterns across population groups and geographic areas, informing program design and continuous improvement.

Subprogram Goals

The Inuit Child First Initiative ensures Inuit children have equal access to essential government funded health, social and education products, services and supports.

Focus Population

The Inuit Child First Initiative is exclusively available to eligible Inuit children from birth to age of majority in the province or territory of residence.

Distribution of Benefits

Specific Demographic Groups to be Monitored

Through the long-term approach, which is still in co-development, Inuit partners will be asked to consider monitoring outcomes for Inuit children including using GBA Plus indicators that consider factors such as remoteness, family low-income status, sex and disability. The amount of information on groups indirectly impacted (e.g. parents and caregivers of Inuit children, Women, Workers in the health, social, educational and not for profit sector) is yet to be determined. Groups that are and could continue to face barriers include families in Inuit Nunangatwith low-income, in a lone-parent household, and with disabilities or physical or mental health issues.

Key Program Impact Statistics

GBA Plus Evidence Collection Plan

Currently. the Inuit Child First Initiative relies primarily on administrative data to monitor client characteristics (e.g., age, sex and geographic location), service requests, approvals, and types of supports provided. Current administrative data does not capture outcome-based measures, and therefore does not support reporting on differential health or wellbeing outcomes for sociodemographic groups.

The long-term approach will consider gathering information, including data, that confirm supports have been secured and/or delivered as intended. Through this process, ISC, ITK, and ITOs will collaborate on an approach to performance measurements and results framework that could encompass GBA Plus or the needs and outcomes of diverse Inuit subpopulations. Any further reporting will need to be done in partnership with ITOs, factors such as remoteness, family low-income status, and disability are likely to be priorities.

If available, results from the Qanuippitaa? National Inuit Health Survey (QNIHS) which is managed by the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami will be utilized. Results from the survey will include disaggregated data by gender and other factors relevant to GBA Plus.

Supplementary Context

Since January 1, 2020, An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families affirms the inherent right of Indigenous jurisdiction over child and family services. Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) supports implementation through capacity-building funding, coordination agreement discussions, implementation funding, and collaboration with Indigenous, provincial, and territorial partners.

Subprogram Goals

The Act supports the inherent right of Indigenous self-government, including jurisdiction over child and family services. It does so by strengthening community capacity, facilitating coordination agreements and fiscal arrangements with federal and provincial/territorial partners, and providing ongoing funding and implementation support. The Act supports the delivery of culturally relevant, community-driven services that reflect Indigenous laws, priorities, and traditions while meeting the unique needs of children, youth, and families. It also establishes national principles and standards, including the best interests of the child, cultural continuity, and substantive equality.

Focus Population

The Act supports First Nations, Inuit, and Métis rights holders under section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982. Indigenous governing bodies (IGBs) receive capacity-building and implementation supports, while Indigenous children, youth, and families are the ultimate beneficiaries through improved safety, well-being, and cultural continuity.

Distribution of Benefits

Specific Demographic Groups to be Monitored

• First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities (in urban, rural, remote and northern communities) including before the exercising jurisdiction and following the implementation Indigenous-led child and family services under the Act,
• First Nations, Inuit and Métis populations (in urban, rural, remote and northern communities) associated with communities exercising jurisdiction under the Act, whose well-being and access to child and family services are monitored and reported publicly.

Key Program Impact Statistics

GBA Plus Evidence Collection Plan

Consistent with the intent of the Act, the program logic model is grounded in the understanding that IGBs and communities are best positioned to implement and deliver culturally relevant child and family services that reflect the distinct priorities, rights and needs of their children, youth and families. In support of GBA Plus and while respecting Indigenous data sovereignty, ISC will continue to strengthen its evidence base by leveraging existing administrative and community-level data (e.g., information related to capacity-building supports, coordination agreements and implementation activities) through reporting commitments established in Coordination Agreements (CAs). As distinctions-based and community-led data strategies continue to be co-developed, Indigenous partners will be better positioned to measure and monitor community-level outcomes and assess how the implementation of the Act affects diverse populations. This evidence will support the development of disaggregated, culturally relevant performance information to inform continuous improvements, strengthen accountability, fulfill the reporting commitment in the CAs, and support Indigenous-led decision-making.

Supplementary Context

The First Nations Child and Family Services Program oversees, administers, and provides contribution funding for the provision of culturally appropriate prevention, and legislated protection services including least disruptive measures, for First Nations children, youth, and families ordinarily resident on reserve or in Yukon.

Subprogram Goals

The FNCFS Program aims to support First Nations and FNCFS Service Providers in working collaboratively together to address the overrepresentation of First Nations children in care by supporting service delivery models that are prevention-focused and aim to mitigate the structural drivers including remoteness that could place First Nations children, youth, and families at risk of involvement with the child welfare system. The FNCFS Program also aims to support First Nation designed models with the ultimate goal of thriving children and families that are supported by First Nation community-driven child and family services.

Focus Population

The FNCFS Program benefits First Nation children, youth, and families living on reserve or in the Yukon, including support for youth, and young adults that are exiting the child welfare system at the age of majority.

Distribution of Benefits

Specific Demographic Groups to be Monitored

First Nation children, youth, and families living on reserve or in the Yukon, including support for youth, and young adults that are exiting the child welfare system at the age of majority (up to their 26th birthday or to the age as defined in provincial/Yukon legislation (whichever is greater)). The program will continue to monitor results by communities' remoteness.

Key Program Impact Statistics

GBA Plus Evidence Collection Plan

The First Nations Child and Family Services Program's current information management system collects data for children in care which allows for disaggregation by gender (including the option of 'Another Gender'). In addition, raw data is also being collected for age and geography, with the application of data suppression, where applicable, for data integrity and privacy purposes.

Data collected from the new First Nations Child and Family Services (FNCFS) Activity Report, for which the first reporting year is Fiscal Year 2025-26, will advance the Program's ability to measure results. Some of the data specifically relate to service proximity, which is linked to remoteness. It also includes questions relating to the provision of Post-Majority Support Services, which assists youth and young adults transitioning out of care, and questions regarding the provision of culturally appropriate prevention activities and to the placement of children with a First Nation individual. The Program will examine potential options regarding disaggregated analysis.

Subprogram Goals

The Program enhances the safety and security of Indigenous women, children, families, and 2SLGBTQI+ people by funding emergency and second-stage shelters, as well as, providing funding for community driven family violence prevention projects that promote inclusive delivery for specific groups through prioritized themes in a Call for Proposals to include Indigenous women, children, youth and 2SLGBTQI+ people, Indigenous men and boys, and survivors of family violence. The Program funds the operations of a network of 110 emergency shelters and transition homes (second-stage) across Canada and supports family violence prevention activities.

Focus Population

The Program provides operational and capacity building funding for emergency and second-stage shelters (transitional housing), and prevention and awareness projects that support: First Nations on and off reserve; Inuit; Métis; women; children; families; 2SLGBTQI+ people; urban Indigenous communities; and Indigenous organizations in addressing family and gender-based violence. The Program reimburses Alberta for off-reserve services and supports shelter capacity building through partnerships with Indigenous organizations (e.g., National Indigenous Circle Against Family Violence).

Distribution of Benefits

Specific Demographic Groups to be Monitored

The Program recognizes gaps in the continuum of care, particularly the need for second-stage housing, and will continue monitoring outcomes for shelter users transitioning to longer-term housing. The program will continue to monitor impacts and outcomes for distinctions-based groups, and by clients' age, sexual orientation, gender identity, and residency on/off reserve.

While family violence affects entire communities, women, girls, Indigenous Peoples, 2SLGBTQI+ people, and those in northern, rural, and remote communities experience disproportionate rates and heightened vulnerability due to intersecting risk factors.

Other Key Program Impacts

In 2024-25, the Program supported over 300 violence prevention projects across Canada that focused on several priority themes, including Indigenous men and boys, 2SLGBTQI+ people, and human trafficking.

Key Program Impact Statistics

GBA Plus Evidence Collection Plan

The program continues to work with regions and Indigenous partners to collect, amalgamate and roll-out its Data Collection Instrument (DCI) specific to the operations of emergency shelters and transitional housing, as well as supports for violence prevention projects. DCI updates will be done on an annual basis in collaboration with regional offices, shelter directors, and national partners, including the National Indigenous Circle Against Family Violence.

Subprogram Goals

The initiative supports the self-determination of Indigenous communities to design community safety and well-being interventions that suit their needs. The initiative supports Indigenous-led safety and wellbeing programs; promotes reconciliation, resiliency and capacity building; addresses intergenerational trauma and systemic barriers; addresses over-policing and distrust between Indigenous Peoples and law enforcement; responds to 2SLGBTQI+ needs; and aligns with recommendations from MMIWG2S and Métis perspectives.

Focus Population

First Nations on and off reserve, Inuit communities; Métis communities; urban Indigenous peoples; women, girls; 2SLGBTQI+ people on and off reserve.

Distribution of Benefits

Specific Demographic Groups to be Monitored

The program focuses on monitoring the distribution of programming that addresses the needs of specific demographic groups, including distribution of funding to benefit First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples, as well as programming that is targeted at woman and girls, 2SLGBTQI+ people, men and boys, children and families, elders, urban populations, and small or remote communities.

Key Program Impact Statistics

GBA Plus Evidence Collection Plan

To align with program delivery, reporting allows Indigenous partners to measure and report success in ways that are meaningful to them. The program will try to gather disaggregated data; however, results may vary based on the willingness of individuals to self-identify.

Subprogram Goals

The program provides funding for education infrastructure in First Nation communities including new construction, as well as expansions, renovations and major repairs to existing facilities. Revisions to the School Space Accommodation Standards (SSAS) include allocations for Knowledge Keepers, inclusive education/health services, emergency services, cultural teachings and events, and accessible/gender neutral facilities. The subprogram uses the School Priority Ranking Framework (SPRF) to prioritize education infrastructure projects that are applicable under the Capital Facilities and Maintenance Program. The SPRF can be applied to education facilities replacement, major renovations, and expansion projects. This tool focuses on health, safety, and overcrowding concerns. This tool is also used to prioritize projects in situations where a complete loss of an asset has occurred, such as a result of a fire.

Focus Population

First Nations children and youth in K-12 education facilities on reserve.

Distribution of Benefits

Specific Demographic Groups to be Monitored

Safe, healthy, and modern schools support student success and improve educational attainment. Investments in school infrastructure enhance safety, wellbeing, and community stability while helping keep families together. Access to education within First Nations communities reduces the need for travel, lowering exposure to violence and other risks for women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people. In the long term, these investments support family unity and the retention of Indigenous language, culture, and heritage.

The data suggests there are regional differences in the condition of education infrastructure and this will be investigated to understand the root causes.

Key Program Impact Statistics

GBA Plus Evidence Collection Plan

Within the planning phase, steps have been taken to support GBA Plus-informed needs. For example, feasibility studies for education facilities utilize stakeholder engagements, Indigenous knowledges, facility assessments, education reports, education specifications, and inclusive services and programs. These deliverables in the feasibility study help inform the design of the education facility. Moving forward, work on design and post occupancy reviews will be explored to help validate the GBA Plus needs identified during the feasibility stage.

In collaboration with the Elementary and Secondary Education program, the Education Infrastructure Program is also analyzing available data on number of enrolments, attendance and graduation rates to determine if there is any correlation with facilities that have been upgraded (new building envelope and mechanical systems), expanded or projects that include new builds.

Subprogram Goals

The First Nations On-Reserve Housing Program uses a needs-based funding allocation formula to distribute targeted housing funding across regions for First Nations to plan and manage housing needs; design, construct and acquire new housing units; as well as renovate existing housing units. In addition to factors such as household overcrowding and the condition of housing units, the funding formula accounts for the socioeconomic circumstances of communities by incorporating income assistance rates. The program's Housing Manager Subsidy is also allocated using a formula-based approach that considers community population size and remoteness.

Focus Population

First Nations on reserve.

Distribution of Benefits

Specific Demographic Groups to be Monitored

Adequate housing is crucial for health and well-being. However, First Nation communities face a long-standing housing shortage, leading to overcrowding, poor indoor air quality and related health risks, particularly for children, elders and persons with disabilities, which is further intensified in remote communities. Investments in housing can improve quality of life, reduce socio-economic disparities and increase participation in the economy. In addition to monitoring the impact of its funding in smaller and more remote communities, the program collects data on housing outcomes for households with children and youth to better understand and assess the program's impact on these populations.

Key Program Impact Statistics

GBA Plus Evidence Collection Plan

In the future, the program will report on the "Percentage of children in First Nations communities living in unsuitable housing." Data from this indicator is expected to be available by March 2027. Additionally, the housing team recently developed an evergreen housing needs assessment tool which will allow for tracking and updating disaggregated data and results related to housing on-reserve.

Subprogram Goals

The goals of the sub-program are to: ensure safe drinking water and effective wastewater treatment in First Nations communities; eliminate all remaining long-term drinking water advisories on public systems on reserve and ensure long-term investments and resources are in place to prevent new ones from occurring; improve reliable and sustainable drinking water and wastewater infrastructure; meet health, environmental, and regulatory standards; and support First Nations' self-determination through advancement of self-determined governance models and First Nations community-led service delivery, which includes the gradual transfer of infrastructure and capacity-building services to First Nations organizations, including planning, decision-making, funding, and technical support.

Focus Population

First Nations communities, including individuals and households living on reserve who rely on public drinking water and wastewater services from First Nation public systems as well as the First Nations organizations and governments who are responsible for planning, owning, operating, and maintaining those systems.

Distribution of Benefits

Specific Demographic Groups to be Monitored

• Children and youth: First Nations communities on reserve have a relatively young population, with nearly 30% under age 15. Reliable access to water and sanitation services directly supports healthy development, physical and mental well-being, school attendance, educational outcomes, and youth participation in community life.
• Women and girls: Women and girls report disproportionate burdens associated with water insecurity. The Native Women's Association of Canada (NWAC) has identified unique cultural and stewardship relationships between women and water. Access to safe water supports health, menstrual and reproductive needs, caregiving responsibilities, educational attainment, and economic participation.
• Remote and isolated communities: Water and wastewater program and service delivery in First Nations communities can be impacted by geographical remoteness. Examples include project delays due to scheduling challenges on the part of contractors and their availability, shortened winter road seasons, and higher project costs due to the risk and time associated with procuring and transporting materials. For remote and isolated First Nations communities, effective water quality monitoring is both a critical health necessity and a complex logistical challenge. Due to geographic isolation, limited infrastructure, extreme weather, availability of winter roads, and lack of certified water operators within the community, traditional water testing methods often face significant delays.

Other Key Program Impacts

Children and youth may experience significant benefits from improved water and wastewater services. Nearly half of First Nations people living on reserve are under age 25, making young people a key beneficiary group. Reliable access to safe drinking water and sanitation supports physical and mental health, reduces stress and uncertainty associated with drinking water advisories, and contributes to healthier home and school environments. Access to clean water supports school attendance, learning, and educational attainment, which are important determinants of future employment and income. Improved access to these essential services may also contribute to supporting long-term individual and community well-being.

Key Program Impact Statistics

GBA Plus Evidence Collection Plan

Indigenous Services Canada is exploring how access to water and wastewater services benefit some sub-groups within a First Nations communities, such as women, pregnant people, children and youth, or elders, in distinct ways.

Subprogram Goals

The program engages directly with First Nations on the expected outcomes of health infrastructure projects. The program encourages physical accessibility in facilities and supports culturally relevant designs. Local content clauses are recommended in contracting to prioritize First Nation-owned companies or those employing First Nation workers. ISC employs a prioritization framework to allocate limited resources between major capital health facility projects in an objective and transparent way. Facilities are assessed against several weighted criteria, including community health service demands, space requirements, building condition and age, community remoteness/isolation, and accessibility.

Focus Population

First Nations and non-First Nations people on reserve (excluding BC).

Specific Demographic Groups to be Monitored

Many First Nation communities suffer from disproportionately high rates of chronic disease. Investments in health facilities and other health infrastructure are crucial to mitigating against the effect of chronic disease and future health crises.

Investments in health infrastructure help to make sure that First Nations families can remain together while seeking healthcare by avoiding medical-related travel. Increasing access to healthcare in-community also aids in breaking the cycle of intergenerational trauma as a result of anti-Indigenous racism that individuals may face in healthcare systems out of community. This will also have a longer-term benefit on First Nations languages and culture, as Elders will be present in communities to share their knowledge with younger generations.

ISC does not directly collect social and demographic data to analyze and assess the immediate impacts of health infrastructure investments on different socio-demographic groups. ISC is also examining how remoteness and regional differences impact the results of the investments.

Other Key Program Impacts

Increasing the quality of existing infrastructure, and construction of new health infrastructure, enables communities to offer a broader range of health services locally, including prenatal and postnatal care services, mental health services, addiction treatment and counselling services, and other specialized programming. Local service delivery approaches improve access to services by reducing the amount of time that individuals need to spend away from their homes and communities. Health infrastructure investments help communities to implement the design and delivery of their health care programs and services in a way that is culturally relevant.

Key Program Impact Statistics

GBA Plus Evidence Collection Plan

The Program engages with First Nation recipients on the expected outcomes associated with new major capital health infrastructure projects, including how infrastructure improvements are expected to address current health service needs. This will allow the Health Facilities Program and First Nation recipients to better identify potential GBA Plus considerations related to health infrastructure projects, and which relevant data could be collected by First Nations to track performance.

To provide a stronger analysis base, data on physical accessibility in current health infrastructure is gathered through consultations with the ISC regions who deliver the Health Facilities Program and First Nation recipients/partners.

Subprogram Goals

This sub-program funds the planning, design, construction, and maintenance of roads, bridges, energy systems, connectivity, structural mitigation, fire protection, cultural and recreational facilities, and administrative buildings. It also supports activities like skills development, fire protection, service transfers, and asset management planning. These assets connect First Nations communities physically and digitally to the rest of Canada, facilitating the flow of goods, labour, and knowledge from and onto reserve; support trade and access to resources development; and increase clean energy production and energy security. These assets also enable the construction and maintenance of major infrastructure assets such as housing, water, and education infrastructure and facilitates service delivery and transfer to First Nations. Other community infrastructure safeguards lives, supports health and socio-economic development, and advances self-determination and reconciliation commitments.

Focus Population

First Nations on reserve.

Specific Demographic Groups to be Monitored

Residents of remote First Nations communities and communities at higher climate change risk have specific infrastructure-related needs. Due to such factors as higher construction and transportation costs, more limited labour market options, shorter construction seasons, and more frequent and severe disasters, residents of such communities might achieve worse infrastructure outcomes. The Sub-program uses remoteness and climate risk information to understand communities' needs and disaggregates results by remoteness. At the project level, the Sub-program allocates funding to sub-assets that reduce health and safety risks, e.g., roads, energy systems, structural mitigation, and fire protection, which contributes to better outcomes of equity deserving populations.

Key Program Impact Statistics

GBA Plus Evidence Collection Plan

Starting in 2024-25, the sub-program has been developing GBA Plus analysis of overall sub-program impacts and asset-specific impacts and reviewing program tools, which may lead to potential better integration of GBA Plus considerations into program planning and reporting, provided the sub-program has access to relevant data.

Subprogram Goals

The program supports First Nations to reclaim jurisdiction over reserve lands through the Framework Agreement on First Nations Land Management, strengthen land management capacity under the Indian Act through the Reserve Land and Environment Management Program, and engage community members in developing comprehensive Land Use Plans. The program promotes democratic decision-making in reserve land management. Participation in Community Lands Development initiatives is voluntary and based on First Nation's land management priorities. Land Codes developed under the Framework Agreement on First Nations Land Management must be ratified by community, while Land Use Plans require community engagement and approval before implementation. The Reserve Land and Environment Management Program provides guaranteed base funding to support land management capacity development.

Focus Population

First Nations on reserve.

Specific Demographic Groups to be Monitored

Community Lands Development initiatives currently monitor and report on participation and outcomes by region. A 2025-2026 First Nation land management workforce survey conducted by the National Aboriginal Lands Managers Association found that the workforce is predominantly female (66%) and over 50 (56%), suggesting that woman and older workers may be more affected by workforce related impacts. The survey also found that 70% of land management professionals worked in communities with more than 1,000 members, which may indicate barriers to participation for smaller communities.

Key Program Impact Statistics

GBA Plus Evidence Collection Plan

In 2025-2026, Indigenous Services Canada collaborated with the National Aboriginal Lands Managers Association to develop a Land Management Workforce Survey. The survey was distributed to its members, including First Nation land management professionals working in communities operating under a Land Code, a comprehensive self-government agreement, the Reserve Land and Environment Management Program, or solely under the Indian Act. The survey provided updated workforce data, building on a previous survey conducted in 2016.

Findings on the demographic composition of the land management workforce and community-level characteristic will help inform program renewal efforts. In particular, the results will be use to identify and address barriers that may disproportionately affect woman, older workers, and smaller communities, while supporting outreach and training opportunities for youth to strengthen the future land management workforce.

Subprogram Goals

Land is a critical asset for First Nations, enabling governance, economic development, and well-being. Additions to Reserve (ATR) help close socioeconomic gaps by providing access to land for economic growth, housing, and infrastructure. ISC supports the administration and addition of reserve lands, including: developing policies and tools for lands managed pursuant to the Indian Act; implementing the Additions to Reserve Policy Directive; providing policy and technical support to streamline ATR processes; enhancing land information systems and land submissions tools; and, registering land instruments and offering guidance on land registration. First Nations increasingly seek to add urban land to create jobs and generate revenues, reinvesting in cultural and social services for community-wide benefits.

Focus Population

First Nations with reserves and those looking to add, or are in the process of adding, land to their reserve land base.

Specific Demographic Groups to be Monitored

Some First Nations access funding and complete additions to reserve at a higher rate than their counterparts, likely because of certain demographic characteristics. These include: region, remoteness, and population size.

Key Program Impact Statistics

GBA Plus Evidence Collection Plan

ISC has identified opportunities for future data linking related to ATR. This will include data related to both ATR technical component funding as well as completed ATRs. Some of these indicators may relate to how these items related to community well-being, average income levels, participation in other lands and environment related funding streams, own-source revenues, education levels, incomes, housing, etc.

Subprogram Goals

The program supports First Nations in assessing and remediating contaminated sites on reserve lands by prioritizing sites based on risks to human health and the environment. Through Grants and Contributions funding, technical support and capacity-building, First Nations are empowered to manage contaminated sites, strengthen local decision-making and advance self-determination. Restoring contaminated lands supports safer communities, sustainable land use, and future community and economic development. Program delivery also creates opportunities to build local capacity and support employment and contracting opportunities within First Nations communities.

Focus Population

First Nations individuals living on reserve lands south of the 60th parallel.

Distribution of Benefits

Specific Demographic Groups to be Monitored

Results are disaggregated by community population size and remoteness to assess whether smaller, remote and isolated communities are experiencing remediation progress and are not being overlooked due to access constraints, limited contractor availability, higher costs or shorter field seasons. This supports reporting on whether remediation activities and benefits are distributed, as much as possible, across affected communities.

Other Key Program Impacts

Interviews, surveys and community site visits conducted as part of the 2024 Evaluation of the Contaminated Sites On-Reserve Program found that First Nations that First Nations value contaminated site assessment and remediation for improving confidence in the safe use of reserve lands and supporting overall community well-being. Participants emphasized that First Nations are best positioned to identify local priorities and incorporate community knowledge into remediation decisions. Interviewees also noted that contaminated sites can have greater impacts on some community members, including children, Elders and pregnant individuals, highlighting the importance of addressing community-specific needs through engagement and risk-based decision-making.

Key Program Impact Statistics

GBA Plus Evidence Collection Plan

In 2025–26, CSOR advanced its GBA Plus evidence approach by reviewing how existing program data can better support monitoring and reporting of differential impacts across affected First Nations communities on reserve. The program identified community population size and remoteness as relevant GBA Plus lenses because smaller, remote and isolated communities may be more likely to experience delivery barriers, including access constraints, limited contractor availability, higher costs and shorter field seasons.

Existing program indicators, including the percentage of high-risk sites undergoing remediation and the number of sites completing remediation activities, can be disaggregated by these lenses to report whether remediation progress is occurring across affected communities. Existing findings can also support future program design by showing where remediation activities are taking place, which communities are benefiting from completed remediation activities, and whether outcomes vary by community characteristics.

Engagement with First Nations communities occurs through regional environmental officers, who work directly with First Nations funding recipients throughout the project lifecycle, including project planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting. This engagement helps inform program information on community priorities, site conditions and delivery considerations.

During the next reporting cycle, CSOR will continue to explore improving community-level data linkages, including population size, remoteness, geographic zone and site status, to support future gender and diversity impact assessment.

Subprogram Goals

Since 2016, the program has supported sustainable waste systems through modern infrastructure, training, and partnerships essential for health, safety, and environmental protection. Prior, limited funding left many First Nations without waste management infrastructure, leading to contaminated sites for which the government is responsible. The program conducts outreach to diverse groups, including Elders and youth. It aims to enhance waste management awareness and provide support to low-capacity communities, especially in remote areas. This is achieved through funding organizations such as the First Nations Technical Services Advisory Group (TSAG) and the Indigenous Zero Waste Technical Advisory Group (IZWTAG) who provide community-based training for waste management personnel and facilitate school and community awareness activities.

Focus Population

First Nations individuals on reserve, including self-governing Indigenous Peoples and remote communities.

Distribution of Benefits

Additionally, the subprogram has identified that historically, capital investment in landfills and land transfer stations in the most remote communities (Zone 4) has been limited, when compared to other Zones, due to a combination of factors including seasonal accessibility for construction, high cost (costs are three times higher for remote construction), and capacity to undertake these projects.

Specific Demographic Groups to be Monitored

Remote communities experience higher costs and longer wait times for waste management (projects). Men predominantly hold jobs in this sector, but local economic benefits from related industries may indirectly support women and individuals without specialized training. The elderly and those living with disabilities may lack the physical or mental ability or needed supports to participate in waste management systems, but this is not tracked by the program.

Other Key Program Impacts

First Nations of Quebec and Labrador Sustainable Development Institute (FNQLSDI) – EcoNation Program:

First Nation Waste Management Initiative funding supports the EcoNation program, which engages youth in environmental issues by helping them raise awareness and educate their communities about recycling, composting, and sustainable waste management. Every year the FNQLSDI arranges training, support and resources to youth who in turn act as land guardians in their communities. As part of their role, the youth raise awareness of waste management services through community events, information booths, radio broadcasts, door-to-door visits and awareness activities, which results in increased participation and involvement in waste-related projects. The EcoNation program supports Indigenous youth in developing organizational, communication, and engagement skills, fostering a strong network of future leaders.

Key Program Impact Statistics

GBA Plus Evidence Collection Plan

The co-developed community-by-community 2026 Needs Assessment has revealed that 40% of new landfill requirements are in in Zone 4 regions, while they represent 16% of First Nations Communities. The program will continue to monitor the increased costs required to implement waste management systems in Zone 4 communities, and will respond to these needs as they occur.

Subprogram Goals

The purpose of the community economic programs is to assist First Nation and Inuit communities to develop capacity to participate in regional and national economies, including through the creation of community-owned businesses for essential goods and services. These businesses generate local employment as well as own-source revenue that communities use to fund programs and services for members such as health, social and cultural activities. Investing in community economic capacity strengthens governance of communities and their self-determination determination.

Focus Population

First Nations and Inuit communities south of the 60th parallel.

Distribution of Benefits

Specific Demographic Groups to be Monitored

Census based indicators will enable reporting on results related to low-income First Nations and Inuit populations in a disaggregated manner.

Additionally, Budget 2022 provided an additional five years of funding that included a commitment to expand access to the program by rural communities and communities with smaller populations that often face capacity barriers to accessing funding. As such, the program tracks rural and small community access to these programs while the time-limited funds are available.

Other Key Program Impacts

The 2025 program evaluation provided additional qualitative data on the positive impacts to community well-being based on interviews with key informants that included community economic development officers who regularly interact with the programs.

For example, the report indicated "interviews described holistic impacts that were observed within their communities, including a sense of pride, ownership, and motivation. […]Another [Economic Development Officer] shared, "You'll hear things like 'we've been talking about this for 30 years' and now it's finally done, and this feels really good. There's an uplift in mental health from this sense of pride and it really lasts.

Key Program Impact Statistics

GBA Plus Evidence Collection Plan

2025-2026 represents the third year of implementation of the data collection and analysis methodology for assessing rural and remote communities facing capacity challenges. The 2025-2026 Fiscal Year results for this indicator present an opportunity to assess impacts over time.

Subprogram Goals

Indian Oil and Gas Canada manages oil and gas resources on First Nation lands, fulfilling Crown obligations and supporting First Nations' self-reliance and economic prosperity. It supports the transition of Crown oversight to First Nations Assertion of Jurisdiction through regulatory development, capacity building, and governance. It helps First Nations advance control of their resources and facilitates industry development, resulting in royalties that community leadership can access for community benefit. GBA Plus is incorporated into the program's policies, regulations, and legislation. Regulatory improvements co-developed by Indian Oil and Gas Canada and a First Nations Technical committee include diverse community voices and address concerns of women, youth, Elders, and traditional lifestyle followers.

Focus Population

First Nations with oil and gas interests on Reserve lands across Canada.

Distribution of Benefits

Specific Demographic Groups to be Monitored

• Men continue to dominate the energy industry and experience a greater share of the benefits of this program.
• First Nations have a limited land base, therefore it is important to successfully remediate and reclaim lands used for oil and gas activities to reduce potential impacts on future generations.

Other Key Program Impacts

Youth will face the long-term consequences of land degradation and climate change. Orphaned oil and gas leases and infrastructure may disproportionately affect youth and those following traditional lifestyles (e.g. hunting, gathering). Current regulatory amendments and reclamation strategies aim to address environmental impacts. Many producing nations have technical experts on the joint technical committee and co-management board and contribute to the co-development of regulations.

Key Program Impact Statistics

GBA Plus Evidence Collection Plan

IOGC ensures measures are taken to protect the environment, monitors for compliance, spill reporting, remediation and reclamation requirements for the timely and satisfactory return of lands contracted for exploitation to the First Nation for their use. The prescriptive nature of the proposed Regulations, provide clear expectations to protect the environment, incorporate traditional environmental knowledge throughout the lifecycle, and help mitigate the potential negative impacts based on factors such as gender, age, education, language, geography, culture and income. The environmental review process requires the oil and gas company to engage with the First Nation and ensure concerns that arise are addressed throughout the life cycle of the contract.

First Nations have a limited land base and successfully remediating and reclaiming land to surrender back to First Nations reduces environmental liabilities for youth and future generations. Therefore, the evidence collection plan will track the number of hectares that are surrendered back to First Nations, by province to monitor the reduction in environmental liabilities.

Subprogram Goals

The program enhances Indigenous participation in large, multi-year economic opportunities. It enables federal partners to coordinate efforts, pool resources, close funding gaps, and leverage external investments. Initiatives are designed through regional engagement, enabling First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities and organizations to identify their specific priorities and address barriers to economic participation. SPI's distinction-based eligibility and collaborative approach promotes accessibility across regions while allowing investments to reflect the diverse needs, capacities, and circumstances of Indigenous communities. The program also offers a "navigator" service to help Indigenous entrepreneurs access funding not covered by ISC's economic development programs. By supporting tailored, community-driven initiatives, the program contributes to closing socio-economic gaps through job creation, business development, capacity building, and own-source revenue generation.

Focus Population

First Nations, Inuit and Métis; leaders, organizations and communities; small and medium-sized businesses.

Distribution of Benefits

Specific Demographic Groups to be Monitored

• First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities and organizations with varying levels of capacity, including those facing barriers to advancing economic opportunities, are considered when assessing program impacts and outcomes.
• Impacts by gender should also be monitored (job creation and negative impacts). Community-level socioeconomic characteristics should also be monitored and to assess for contribution to economic development/own-source revenue development.

Other Key Program Impacts

Engagement with participating communities has highlighted that First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities have different levels of capacity and readiness to pursue economic opportunities. Communities have identified the importance of flexible support, coordination among partners, and tailored approaches to address barriers related to capacity, geography, and access to opportunities. Feedback from participants also points to the value of relationship-based delivery and streamlined processes in advancing community priorities. For example, some SPI-supported initiatives have contributed to broader outcomes such as cultural revitalization and community pride. These experiences demonstrate the value of adapting SPI investments to reflect the distinct priorities and circumstances of Indigenous communities and organizations.

Key Program Impact Statistics

The subprogram will have GBA Plus relevant indicators to report next year.

GBA Plus Evidence Collection Plan

Following the completion of its ten-year evaluation in June 2025, the Strategic Partnerships Initiative (SPI) is taking steps to strengthen the integration of Gender-based Analysis Plus (GBA Plus) across its performance measurement and reporting practices. The evaluation identified the need for more consistent and systematic incorporation of GBA Plus, including improved data collection and reporting to better assess program impacts across diverse groups. In response, SPI is advancing work to modernize its performance measurement framework, with a focus on enhancing the disaggregation and use of data to support more robust GBA Plus.

SPI has developed new data points for incorporation into the program's updated reporting process. New reporting indicators for implementation will disaggregate data such as total jobs created, communities participating, businesses supported/created based on distinction group and jobs created by gender. Building on evaluation findings, these updates will support more consistent integration of GBA Plus considerations and improve the availability of relevant data for reporting. Once finalized and implemented, these enhancements will support more robust application of GBA Plus and monitor impacts in a more comprehensive and consistent manner going forward.

Subprogram Goals

The subprogram leads Indigenous procurement policy on behalf of the federal government. Public Services and Procurement Canada and the Treasury Board Secretariat collaborate to achieve the 5% Indigenous procurement target. The subprogram includes direct responsibility for the Procurement Strategy on Indigenous Business (PSIB) and the Indigenous Business Directory. The subprogram also co-chairs a Co-Development Table with Indigenous partners. Through the use of Indigenous Procurement Plans (IPPs), this could include Indigenous-specific bid evaluation criteria focused on employment, training, ownership, or subcontracting to benefit Indigenous businesses.

Focus Population

First Nations; Inuit; Métis.

Specific Demographic Groups to be Monitored

• In many northern and rural communities, challenges are compounded by a multitude of intersecting factors at the individual and community level (i.e., remoteness, access to education and information, transportation, etc.).
• Due to the nature of Government procurement contracts being predominately larger contracts, larger Indigenous businesses or organizations benefit from having higher levels of capacity and access to capital, and thus smaller businesses have voiced that they have faced challenges in accessing or winning contracts with the Government of Canada.

Key Program Impact Statistics

This subprogram does not currently have any GBA Plus performance measurement indicators.

GBA Plus Evidence Collection Plan

As part of the program's policy development process, ISC will explore disaggregated data collection, including by distinction and geography. This may also include data on Indigenous businesses owned by youth, women, and 2SLGBTQI+ people. As ISC continues to develop an engagement tracking methodology and data strategy, it will seek to incorporate specific recommendations from diverse Indigenous businesses, where possible, distinction-based organizations, and businesses owned by youth, women and 2SLGBTQI+ people. ISC will continue to explore options to improve the availability and quality of procurement data.

Subprogram Goals

The ATC stream consists of a suite of sub-programs that supports small- and medium-sized Indigenous businesses to access business financing which includes non-repayable contributions. Through a distinctions-based, co-developed approach with Indigenous partners, ATC funding improves accessibility and responsiveness to the needs of Indigenous entrepreneurs who have difficulty accessing mainstream financing. The program addresses barriers faced by Indigenous entrepreneurs by increasing access to capital (Aboriginal Business Financing Program). It includes additional targeted supports for entrepreneurs who face barriers specifically Indigenous women (Indigenous Women Entrepreneurship Initiative), and Indigenous youth (Indigenous Youth Entrepreneur Initiative). ATC also strengthens Indigenous-led financial institutions capacity for developmental lending through targeted supports including capacity building, training, and funding to offset additional costs related to developmental lending.

Focus Population

The program targets the following populations: Indigenous entrepreneurs; Indigenous women entrepreneurs; Indigenous youth entrepreneurs; Indigenous Financial Institutions (IFIs); Métis Capital Corporations (MCCs).

Distribution of Benefits

Specific Demographic Groups to be Monitored

Indigenous women entrepreneurs and Indigenous youth entrepreneurs are targeted groups of subcomponents of the program, so outcomes for these groups are monitored. Additionally, Indigenous entrepreneurs can face barriers or challenges associated with geographic characteristics, such as whether they live/operate in an urban, rural, or remote environment—additional efforts are made to monitor these outcomes.

Key Program Impact Statistics

GBA Plus Evidence Collection Plan

Currently, Indigenous partners collect data disaggregated by binary gender (male/female), region and age categories. A new set of indicators was developed and integrated into the funding agreements with partners as part of the Budget 2024 implementation. Collecting data related to age, gender and location are important as research has consistently shown that Indigenous entrepreneurs within these demographics face additional barriers to accessing financing and business supports. Through ongoing co-development with Indigenous partners, further plans to improve data collection are being discussed and finalized. Implementation will be dependent on available resources and operational capacity.

While available research has provided important information on certain groups of entrepreneurs, multiple data gaps on Indigenous entrepreneurs remain. Data disaggregated by economic sectors, industries, geographical locations, and distinctions are limited. There is little to no data on Indigenous businesses owned by 2SLGBTQI+ entrepreneurs and the barriers they face accessing business financing. Ongoing discussions with partners may lead to identifying opportunities to data collection that helps address some of these gaps based on partners' priorities.

Subprogram Goals

The ABO stream seeks to foster a culture of entrepreneurship, improve access to business opportunities, and enhance the capacity of Indigenous business development organizations and Indigenous businesses. Through capacity-building funding and complementary non-financial supports, the ABO stream helps address capacity, knowledge, geographic, and network barriers that can limit Indigenous participation in business and economic opportunities. The ABO stream aims to increase its accessibility through streamlined program delivery approaches, including enhanced guidance and communications, clearer and more inclusive program materials, and updates to data collection and performance measurement to better reflect participant experiences and outcomes.

Focus Population

Indigenous Entrepreneurs, including First Nations, Inuit, Métis and Indigenous organizations.

Distribution of Benefits

Specific Demographic Groups to be Monitored

• Indigenous women, who face barriers including access to capital, financial literacy, and tailored supports despite starting businesses at twice the rate of non-Indigenous women.
• Indigenous youth, who comprise approximately 50% of Indigenous entrepreneurs but face barriers related to capital, experience, and education.
• Indigenous entrepreneurs in rural, remote and northern communities, who face barriers to accessing capital, business supports, markets, and networks due to geographic isolation.

Other Key Program Impacts

Program feedback indicates increased accessibility of the ABO stream, with a greater number of applications from smaller, regional, and community-based organizations delivering locally focused initiatives and projects. These projects are better positioned to reach diverse populations, including Indigenous women, youth, and individuals in rural and remote communities. Stakeholders also demonstrate improved understanding of program objectives, resulting in stronger alignment between proposed activities and program intent.

Key Program Impact Statistics

The ABO stream is working to formalize indicators that measure the number and percentage of projects or initiatives that are: led by Indigenous women, based in rural or remote communities, and that target underserved groups (specifically, women, youth, persons with disabilities, and 2SLGBTQI+ individuals).

GBA Plus Evidence Collection Plan

In 2024, the ABO stream, ISC experts, and partners collaborated to review and enhance the ABO data collection framework, placing greater emphasis on GBA Plus. Since fiscal year 2024-25, a new collection process has focused on key indicators related to applicants, inquiries, and program performance.

Data gaps remain as the ABO stream does not collect disaggregated data on project outcomes or impacts. These gaps remain because of the nature of funded projects being standalone and tailored to specific organizational needs, each with unique milestones that are not comparable across projects. Consequently, consistent aggregation or demographic analysis is not feasible.

Despite these limitations, the ABO stream remains committed to supporting projects that benefit underserved groups, including Indigenous women and youth, and rural or remote communities. It has begun tracking the number of GBA Plus-related projects funded to better reflect inclusivity in program delivery.

Subprogram Goals

The subprogram supports operations of First Nations governments and tribal councils, as well as governance capacity building for First Nations and Inuit communities. This supports the advancement of self-determination and the transfer of departmental responsibilities from Canada to Indigenous organizations.

• Band Support Funding is determined by factors such as population size, service delivery, remoteness, and environment. First Nations governments prioritize their funding, empowering communities to make informed decisions based on local priorities.
• Employee Benefits supports staffing and retention to help ensure service delivery to communities.
• Tribal Council Funding contributes to the aggregation of service delivery and the capacity development of member First Nations.
• Professional and Institutional Development supports governance capacity development through projects that focus on core governance functions (such as financial management, human resources management, planning and risk management, and information management and technology).

Focus Population

First Nations and Inuit communities.

Distribution of Benefits

Specific Demographic Groups to be Monitored

The Band Support Funding formula accounts for total population but places more weight on on-reserve population, which may be to the disadvantage of First Nations that have higher off-reserve service population. First Nations communities with significantly smaller or larger populations can also face disproportionate funding levels due to the formula-based cut-offs related to population size and funding caps. Moreover, while program formulas include a geographic index, a newer index has been calculated and would need to be implemented to account for contemporary costs of remote communities.

Key Program Impact Statistics

GBA Plus Evidence Collection Plan

In 2025-26, ISC worked on the review of and updates to performance indicators and results collection methods for the Indigenous Governance and Capacity program. Specifically, work was undertaken to disaggregate results for the program by region (instead of only nationally) going forward. Further work is required to determine specific methods for results to also be disaggregated by community-level factors such as population size and remoteness.

In addition, a reporting section was introduced to the annual data collection process for the Professional and Institutional Development program to help identify potential project impacts for sub-groups within First Nations and Inuit communities.

The completion of the Evaluation of Indigenous Governance and Capacity is expected in March 2027.

Supplementary Context

The lead program for the government's legislative and administrative responsibilities for registration, membership, status cards, individual trust moneys, estates and band moneys. It supports the rights of the individual so they can access the services, benefits and programs to which they are entitled.

Subprogram Goals

Current Indian registration and status card applicants choose between male, female, and X on forms. Any future forms will also include these options. S-3 amendments extend status to descendants of women denied status. Over 68,000 registered who were unable to pass on entitlement can now do so. Through the Estates Program, ISC is responsible for approving wills, appointing executors/estate administrators, determining heirs, managing estates of deceased individuals, dependent adults and minors, acting as estate administrator of last resort, and supporting capacity-building initiatives with First Nations to strengthen estate administration. In addition to points of service at Regional Offices and First Nations offices, the program has expanded its urban partnerships for registration services, reaching the off-reserve population in greater numbers.

Focus Population

First Nations eligible for status. For decedent estates, those eligible First Nations individuals ordinarily resident on a reserve at the time of their deaths. For living estates, those registered/eligible to be registered individuals who require a third party representative to make decisions on their behalf and are ordinarily resident on a reserve.

Distribution of Benefits

Specific Demographic Groups to be Monitored

Individuals in remote areas face challenges accessing in-person services to apply for a Secure Certificate of Indian Status (SCIS), often relying on mail-in services due to limited digital infrastructure. The Digital Application Service (DAS) has been implemented in all Regional Offices for SCIS applications and will eventually support online applications. Additionally, the number of Trusted Source partnerships has grown to 37, allowing for easier access to registration and SCIS services.

ISC has updated the Dependent Adults Policy Guide to meet current service standards, though significant legislative gaps remain under the Indian Act. The Estates subprogram has pursued partnerships with Provincial Guardians and Trustees to enhance service levels, aiming to match provincial standards. While this does not fully resolve broader regulatory issues, it offers an immediate improvement in care for dependent adults living on reserves and their caregivers.

Other Key Program Impacts

Due to the Indian Act's sexist and colonial history, there is an interest in ensuring that women and children have access to registration. While historic sex-based inequities have been addressed, the program wishes to monitor the impacts at a community level and ensure the inequities are not carried forward to subsequent generations. To address this concern, the Department has published the total number of registrations each year.

The current public concern is related to the second generation cut-off, an issue that primarily impacts youth and has bigger impacts on First Nations with a larger and more urban based population. As part of the process to consult on solutions to this issue, the Department has communicated the total registered population that is 6(2) to each First Nation and made the results publicly available through OpenData to promote transparency and awareness.

Supplementary Information Sources

The 2024 Annual Report on Registration under the Indian Act, First Nations Membership and Status Cards provides a breakdown of the registered population by province and gender. The report also goes into details about the second generation cut-off and sex based inequities, while reporting publicly on registration and card issuance on a calendar year basis.

Key Program Impact Statistics

GBA Plus Evidence Collection Plan

The Estates Reporting System tracks information relevant to dependent adults under ISC's jurisdiction. Information includes sex, marital status and residence on/off reserve.

The Indian Registration System and Secure Certificate of Indian Status Web Application collect information on age, sex at birth and province of residence. The program uses life events including birth and marriage to assess how gender has impacted entitlement to registration due to past sex-based inequities under the Indian Act.

Subprogram Goals

The New Fiscal Relationship (NFR) grant provides predictable and flexible funding for a variety of core programs. The Grant provides the flexibility to invest in and plan for services that reflect community priorities. Funding levels are not recalculated annually leading to reduced reporting. The Grant responds to First Nations' need for predictability. Short-term funding is not stable and does not allow for longer-term planning; it limits self-determination. The New Fiscal Relationship provides governance capacity supports through the First Nations Financial Management Board to help address disparities. Supports includes remote assistance for financial administration activities and for communities at risk of default.

Focus Population

First Nations

Distribution of Benefits

Additionally: In 2026, the New Fiscal Relationship Grant advanced its GBA Plus Evidence Collection Plan by examining whether there was a correlation between community population size or remoteness and Grant participation. Community size does not appear to affect Grant participation. As of 2025-26, 36% of First Nations in the NFR Grant had an on-reserve population of less than 250 members, while 33% of First Nations overall had less than 250 members. There does appear to be a correlation between remoteness and Grant participation: data on this is reported in the following sections.

Specific Demographic Groups to be Monitored

Smaller and more remote First Nations have challenges attracting and retaining individuals with the financial expertise needed to help meet the Grant eligibility requirements, as well as challenges accessing private sector auditing services. These barriers can inhibit the ability of some First Nations to meet the New Fiscal Relationship Grant eligibility criteria and thereby take advantage of the Grant's flexibility, increased predictability and ongoing sufficiency through guaranteed funding escalation.

Findings from the evaluation of the Grant indicate that larger and less remote communities with more resources reported a smoother process in meeting and maintaining the Grant eligibility criteria. Whereas, First Nations with smaller finance departments, fewer staff and less financial capacity reported difficulty meeting and maintaining eligibility criteria, including preparing audited financial statements.

Key Program Impact Statistics

GBA Plus Evidence Collection Plan

As noted in the table above, indicators related to the New Fiscal Relationship Grant will be monitored disaggregated by community population size, using data from the Indian Registry system, and remoteness, using Statistics Canada's Remoteness Index.

In the future, NFR will report on disaggregated outcomes of the grant using the indicator "Ratio of average percentage increase, from one Census period to the next, of the Community Well-Being Index score for First Nation communities receiving the grant versus non-participating First Nation communities" starting in 2029. This delay is due to the nature of census data collection.

Subprogram Goals

Governance Operations: The program supports fair and effective First Nations governance by providing advice, guidance, and governance services. It works with First Nations and partner organizations to strengthen governance capacity while recognizing that communities may face different geographic, socioeconomic, and capacity-related challenges. The program seeks to provide timely and consistent support and also foster partnerships that help communities build sustainable governance capacity.

Band Recognition: The program supports First Nations pursuing band recognition through a transparent and procedurally fair process. It seeks to reduce barriers that may affect access to the recognition process while ensuring that requests are assessed based on a complete and reasonable evidentiary record. Feedback from First Nations informs ongoing improvements to policy and related guidance.

Focus Population

Governance Operations: First Nations operating under the Indian Act or the First Nations Election Act, including communities with varying governance structures. Nations that have adopted their own custom election codes are responsible for the administration and implementation of the adopted articles.

Band Recognition: First Nations seeking band recognition under the Indian Act, including communities of varying sizes and levels of remoteness.

Specific Demographic Groups to be Monitored

Governance Operations: The program monitors First Nations operating under the Indian Act or the First Nations Elections Act, including those seeking to transition to custom election codes. It also considers communities that may experience different governance outcomes or barriers based on remoteness, community size, governance capacity, and type of support requested. Monitoring these factors helps identify differences in access to governance supports, the uptake of governance tools such as custom election codes and by-laws, and barriers related to safety, public health, membership, land use, and capacity.

Band Recognition: Smaller collectives, remote communities, and collectives with varying governance capacity or access to historical and legal documentation. Monitoring these groups helps identify whether community characteristics, request complexity, or capacity-related factors affect access to the recognition process, processing timelines, and the ability to provide a complete evidentiary record.

Key Program Impact Statistics

This subprogram has not yet identified any disaggregated or equity-relevant performance indicators for public reporting.

GBA Plus Evidence Collection Plan

In 2025-2026, the program continued to use existing governance-related administrative data to support GBA Plus analyses, including information related to elections, electoral officer training, custom election codes, by-law development, support requests, and governance support activities. In 2025-2026, the program continued to analyze feedback collected through engagement with First Nations on the New Bands/Band Amalgamations Policy refresh, including themes reflected in the forthcoming What We Heard Report. This engagement is informing ongoing work to update the policy and related guidance, and helps identify barriers related to process clarity, documentation requirements, timelines, capacity, and access to support in the band recognition process The GBA Plus lenses used for this subprogram focus primarily on community-level factors such as region, remoteness, community or collective size, governance capacity, and type of governance support requested, and access to historical or legal documentation. These factors may affect how First Nations access governance services and transition to governance tools such as custom election codes or by-laws, and may affect access to the band recognition process and processing timelines.

In 2026-2027, the program will review existing data sources and tracking tools to confirm data availability, identify gaps, and improve the consistency of data collection for future reporting, including disaggregation by region, remoteness, band size, type of request, and processing time.

Subprogram Goals

This program supports Statistic Canada's Indigenous Peoples Survey (IPS): demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of First Nations off-reserve and in the North, Inuit, and Métis. It also supports the First Nations Information Governance Centre's (FNIGC) First Nations Regional Social Survey (FNRSS): trends in social and economic wellbeing for First Nations children and families on reserves and in select Northern communities. The program works to ensure relevant disaggregated data is available to support ISC programs, other departments, and other levels of government to design more effective and responsive programs.

Focus Population

First Nations; Inuit; Métis; rural; urban; Inuit land claims; First Nations communities.

Specific Demographic Groups to be Monitored

The program's surveys are a unique source of national culturally driven data that are not available from other sources. The surveys are designed to capture diverse experiences based on Indigenous identity and gender. Results are intended to help Indigenous communities and organizations, federal, provincial and territorial governments, and other interested parties make informed decisions relating to employment, education, health, language, income, housing, disability, and First Nations, Inuit and Métis mobility. Further, historical data gaps have often meant Indigenous data cannot be disaggregated. Thus, the ability to disaggregate Indigenous data for one or more factor is the subprogram's primary monitoring goal.

Key Program Impact Statistics

GBA Plus Evidence Collection Plan

While the FNIGC is currently developing the variables and questionnaire for the FNRSS, we anticipate that it will be possible to disaggregate all variables according to gender and other relevant variables. FNRSS questionnaire development is monitored by the program through monthly updates provided by FNIGC.

Subprogram Goals

TAID supports the development of the distinctions-based and Indigenous-led data capacity needed for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis governments and organizations to effectively understand, measure, and report on the multidimensional needs and strengths of Indigenous communities. This will enable them and the federal government to better understand the Peoples they serve through evidence-based insights that support effective service delivery, improved program efficiency, and greater visibility of the diverse needs of Indigenous communities and their constituent sub-populations. The initiative will culminate in distinctions-led statistical functions and/or institutions. TAID also supports development of improved data sharing practices at ISC.

Focus Population

First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities and organizations.

Specific Demographic Groups to be Monitored

The initiative is distinctions-based and involves working directly with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis partner organizations. Efforts to enhance distinctions-based and Indigenous-led data capacity are expected to result in indirect benefits for Indigenous communities and diverse sub-populations within them, depending on priorities identified by First Nations, Inuit, and Métis governments and organizations. Because First Nations data makes up a high percentage of ISC's data holdings, data sharing activities may disproportionately benefit First Nations. As partner organizations operate at the national and regional levels, smaller, lower-capacity communities may face barriers to having their interests reflected in program outputs.

Key Program Impact Statistics

The program does not current have any GBA Plus relevant performance indicators.

GBA Plus Evidence Collection Plan

The program continues to support Indigenous Delivery Partners to articulate their GBA Plus visions for Indigenous-led, distinctions-based statistical institutions or functions as they plan for the implementation of data strategies and the data capacities they require.

The program facilitates data sharing with external partners through improved internal processes. This includes developing a Policy on External Data Sharing, which is informed by the input gathered in the context of an engagement with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis partners.

More work is needed to measure program impacts in alignment with the priorities and needs of Indigenous Delivery Partners. Key performance indicators will be co-developed with Indigenous Delivery Partners to support implementation and ensure that measurements accurately reflect partners' project governance structures, as well as the impacts of data sharing at ISC. The availability of more granular and community-level data from co-developed indicators is expected to support the application of future GBA Plus.