Auditor General criticizes Indigenous Services Canada for failing to improve essential programs
Indigenous Services Canada is getting a failing grade on several fronts from the federal Auditor General.
in a heated argument report Released Tuesday, Karen Hogan found that the department has made unsatisfactory progress in implementing six previous audits completed between 2015 and 2022, leaving First Nations facing persistent barriers to access to health and dental care, safe drinking water and emergency services.
“Unless significant progress is made in addressing these barriers, the federal government may struggle to improve services and program outcomes and advance reconciliation,” the report said.
Hogan said in morning testimony to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Accounts that this lack of progress comes despite spending on Indigenous services almost doubling over the past five years.
“Indigenous Service Canada’s continued focus on rethinking how it delivers programs to improve their capacity to collaborate with First Nations is an important step forward in addressing persistent issues,” she told MPs in prepared remarks.
Indigenous Services Canada was created in 2017 when the Trudeau government dissolved the Department of Indigenous and Northern Affairs and split it into two.
The audit said spending on programs for indigenous people increased by nearly 84 per cent between 2019-20 and 2023-24, from $13 billion to $24 billion. However, the department failed to implement 53 per cent or more than half of the Auditor General’s recommendations.
In his report Hogan targeted a lack of sustained attention from management, a lack of clarity about what level of service the government should provide, a failure to help build the capacity of First Nations to deliver programs themselves, and a passive and siled approach to supporting communities.
The audit found:
- Persistent challenges regarding access to health services.
- Gaps in assessing the impact of oral health programs.
- Better measurement and reporting on socio-economic gaps and education.
- Access to safe drinking water is being hampered due to long standing issues.
- Serious shortcomings remain in emergency management amid growing threats.
Indigenous Services Minister Mandy Gul-Musty is scheduled to join other Liberal cabinet ministers to respond to the audit findings on Tuesday afternoon.
