The legacy of colonialism has meant that Indigenous communities have long been without Indigenous-led policing and justice. To correct past wrongs, it is essential that better Indigenous-led policing, justice, and emergency services are developed, guided by input from communities on what they need.

Indigenous Peoples have been underrepresented in policing, which has meant policing is not culturally appropriate. Law enforcement must be tailored to the unique needs of Indigenous communities to ensure it works for them. The federal government is committed to doing this work with Indigenous communities to ensure a brighter, safer future. Budget 2024 takes action to
strengthen Indigenous oversight and development of policing.

With Indigenous communities often located in remote areas, where there is a higher risk of natural disasters, it is essential to invest in their emergency management response and recovery resources. The legacy of colonialism has meant that Indigenous emergency response resources have been underfunded, and are ill-equipped to fight wildfires and other disasters, which are becoming more frequent and intense due to climate change.

Budget 2024 is investing in better community safety, with a commitment to partnership and Indigenous control, so that services truly meet the unique needs of communities

Key Ongoing Actions

• $260 million in 2023-24 for emergency management response and recovery activities on reserve.
• $861 million over five years, starting in 2021-22, and $145 million per year ongoing, to enhance funding for policing and community safety in Indigenous communities.
• $74.8 million over three years, beginning in 2021-22, to improve access to justice for Indigenous people and support the development of an Indigenous justice strategy to address systemic discrimination and the overrepresentation of Indigenous people in the justice system.

First Nations Emergency Management and Preparedness

Canada’s 2023 wildfire season was the most destructive on record, resulting in the evacuation of more than 95 Indigenous communities. That number is more than the four previous years combined. To support wildfire responses and recovery activities in First Nations communities, the 2023 Fall Economic Statement provided $260 million. But the growing frequency and intensity of these events
demands further proactive investment in mitigation and adaptation efforts to save lives, and minimize damage and disruption in Indigenous communities.

Budget 2024 proposes to provide:

• $9 million in 2023-24 to Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada to support Indigenous governments directly affected by the 2023 wildfires in the Northwest Territories;
• $145.2 million over five years, starting in 2024-25, for Indigenous Services Canada and Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada to work with First Nations to develop greater climate resiliency and deploy structural mitigation strategies that protect communities,
  homes, and essential infrastructure from climate disasters, including $10.4 million for Modern Treaty and Self-Governing First Nations; and,
• $20.9 million over three years, starting in 2024-25, for Indigenous Services Canada to support the First Nations Fire Protection Strategy, 2023 to 2028 by distributing fire alarms and fire extinguishers to homes and community facilities on-reserve, as well as fire-related education
  programs.

Red Dress Alert

In Budget 2021, the government committed $2.2 billion over five years to the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.

In Budget 2023, the government made investments to launch a Red Dress Alert. A Red Dress Alert would notify the public when an Indigenous woman, girl, or two-spirit person goes missing. It is part of the federal government’s work to advance the National Action Plan to address Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. But this work is not done.

Since Budget 2023, the government has engaged with Indigenous partners, provinces, and territories to co-develop the Red Dress Alert. The government heard the need for specific, regionally-tailored approaches to meet the diverse needs of Indigenous communities across the country.

• To help keep Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirit people safe Budget 2024 proposes to provide $1.3 million over three years, starting in 2024-25, to co-develop with Indigenous partners, on a priority first phase, a regional Red Dress Alert system.

Support for Indigenous Justice Programming

The federal government is committed to addressing the overrepresentation of Indigenous people in the justice system and discrimination within the justice system. Advancing reconciliation requires supporting Indigenous-led, culturally appropriate, and community-based justice services, and ensuring policies are informed by the lived experiences of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis.

Last year, the government tabled the inaugural five-year United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act Action Plan, through which the government committed to 181 Action Plan Measures, including finalizing an Indigenous Justice Strategy, in consultation and cooperation with Indigenous Partners, provinces, and territories. The Indigenous Justice Strategy will be an important step towards addressing systemic representation and overrepresentation of Indigenous Peoples in the Canadian justice system.

To advance the Indigenous Justice Strategy, Budget 2024 proposes to provide $87 million over five years, starting in 2024-25, and $11.3 million per year ongoing, to the Department of Justice for Indigenous justice programming, including:

• $56.4 million over five years and $11.3 million per year ongoing for the Indigenous Justice Program and the Indigenous Courtwork Program;
• $5.5 million over three years to continue work on the revitalization of Indigenous laws and legal systems; and,
• $25.1 million over three years to renew funding for capacity building and engagement throughout the development and initial implementation of the Indigenous Justice Strategy.

First Nations and Inuit-led Policing

First Nations and Inuit people face unique challenges—whether it’s the remoteness of communities or the need for policing that is culturally appropriate.

Currently, the First Nations and Inuit Policing Program provides support for communities to administer their own police force, or receive enhanced policing services from the RCMP or another standing police force. These agreements are cost-shared between the federal and provincial or territorial governments.

Through Budget 2021, the government has committed $861 million over five years, and $145 million per year ongoing, for policing and community safety in Indigenous communities. Of this, $43.7 million was committed to co-develop a legislative framework for First Nations policing that recognizes First Nations policing as an essential service. To further address policing needs identified by Indigenous communities, Budget 2024 proposes to provide:

• $267.5 million over five years, starting in 2024-25, and $92.5 million per
  year ongoing to Public Safety Canada for the First Nations and Inuit
  Policing Program and to support the work of Public Safety Canada’s
  Indigenous Secretariat; and
• $200 million over five years, starting in 2024-25, to repair, renovate and replace policing facilities in First Nations and Inuit communities.

The federal government is continuing to co-develop legislation with First Nations partners to recognize First Nations policing as an essential service.

Searching the Prairie Green Landfill

In 2022, three First Nations women went missing in Winnipeg, and the remains of two are still undiscovered to this day. Families of the missing women are rightfully calling for a search of the Prairie Green Landfill, where the remains of one of the three missing women were found in 2022.

For too long, previous governments have failed to listen, and to act, when Indigenous voices spoke up. We cannot make the same mistakes today. Indigenous families deserve closure.

On March 22, 2024, the federal government announced $20 million in 2024-25 to support, in partnership with the Government of Manitoba, Indigenous partners, and impacted families, efforts to search the Prairie Green Landfill for the remains of missing and murdered Indigenous women. This builds on the $1.2 million already provided by Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada to support feasibility and planning assessments.

The ongoing work to search the Prairie Green Landfill is a painful reminder that Canada is still in the midst of a national crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people. The government is committed to implementing the Federal Pathway to Address Missing and
Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People and to supporting healing and justice for victims, as well as their families, friends, and communities.

TOTAL BUDGET = $751M over 5 years

Program	2025-2026	2026-2027	2027-2028	2028-2029		2028-2029	TOTAL
First Nations Emergency Management and Preparedness	36	36	36	29		29	175
Red Dress Alert	1	0	0	0		0	1
Support for Indigenous Justice programming	20	22	22	11		11	87
First Nations and Inuit Policing	54	68	93	118		134	467
Searching the Prairie Green Landfill	0	20	0	0		0	20