KLEIN: Indigenous spending nears $32B, but results still lacking – Winnipeg Sun

Jul 16, 2025

The federal government’s 2024-25 budget sets aside nearly $32 billion for Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) and Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC). That’s more than what Ottawa is spending on National Defence ($29.9 billion), and over half of what’s being transferred to provinces for health care through the Canada Health Transfer ($52.1 billion).

Let’s get the facts straight. According to the Main Estimates, ISC will receive $21 billion, while CIRNAC gets $10.9 billion — a total of $31.9 billion in Indigenous-related spending this year. This is not an isolated figure. Ottawa has invested approximately $200 billion since 2015 in Indigenous priorities including education, housing, child welfare, water infrastructure, and more. Yet despite this decade-long investment, persistent gaps remain — and the public has few clear answers on how these funds are making a measurable difference.

Read More: https://winnipegsun.com/opinion/klein-indigenous-spending-nears-32b-but-results-still-lacking