Published plans and annual reports 2024–2025: Ministry of Indigenous Affairs

Ministry overview

Ministry's vision

The Ministry of Indigenous Affairs’ (IAO) vision is to create lasting wellness and prosperity with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities across Ontario to help make reconciliation meaningful to people.

Ministry programs

The Ministry of Indigenous Affairs carries out its obligations under four vote-items:

Ministry administration

The Ministry Administration program provides executive direction and strategic planning services, which are critical for ministry operations. The range of strategic services captured under this item include human resources planning and management; communications; fiscal controllership; strategic financial planning; audit coordination and response; and other matters of compliance. This item also provides support for: procurement, transfer payment administration and management, records and information management, the administration of the Freedom of Information and Privacy Protection Act as well as fees related to the provision of legal services to the ministry.

This program supports the following ministry key performance indicators:

1. Ensuring Government Capacity to Meet the Government’s Legal Obligation to Offer Services in French;
2. Ontario is Prepared for Emergencies and Natural Disasters.

Indigenous Affairs

This program captures the breadth of work the ministry undertakes related to strategic policy and planning, Indigenous relationship management, delivery of funding programs, and addressing Ontario’s legal obligations on Indigenous related matters. Within each of these areas of work, IAO offers a range of services that are internal to government or external to relevant Indigenous partners. Internal to government services include operations such as: leading Ontario’s policy agenda on Indigenous priorities; directly supporting the Premier’s Office and other provincial ministers; developing tools/services to support cross-ministry collaboration on Indigenous files; assisting with the delivery of key government priorities; sharing best practices on developing and building relationships with Indigenous communities; providing feedback on Cabinet submissions; partnering and coordinating with the federal government where possible; working across government to seek negotiated solutions to Indigenous legal matters; among others.

The ministry does offer some external facing services such as providing assistance, while also advocating to improve, Indigenous people’s access to provincial government programs, services, and information. The ministry also plays a role both internally and externally in supporting the province’s response to declared states of emergencies in First Nation communities. Beyond this, a majority of the ministry’s annual allocation for Indigenous Affairs is devoted to its funding programs. This includes:

• The New Relationship Fund (NRF): The NRF provides support to eligible Indigenous communities to meaningfully participate in engagements with governments and the private sector, while also increasing skills training opportunities and enabling long-term land and resources management.
• The Participation Fund (PF): Through the PF, the ministry builds collaborative relationships through the Leadership and Relationship Tables with Indigenous organizations in Ontario to support organizational capacity and to address priority issues for the member communities.
• The Indigenous Economic Development Fund (IEDF): The IEDF provides targeted economic development funding to assist with: the success and competitiveness of Indigenous-owned businesses through improved access to financing; the diversification of Indigenous economies through supporting the development and implementation of long-term economic plans; and the participation and adaptability of Indigenous people in the labour market by improving access to training and employment opportunities.
• Support for Community Negotiations Fund (SCNF): This fund provides financial support for eligible costs by Indigenous communities that are engaged in negotiations with Ontario regarding land and land-related claims.
• Policy Development Engagement Fund (PDEF): The PDEF supports Indigenous communities and organizations in relation to the development of Ontario policy initiatives that impact Indigenous people. Eligible recipients are identified by the ministry as requiring financial support to participate in policy initiatives under development by the province.
• Support for Indian Residential School Burial Sites: This funding provides financial support for work related to the identification, investigation, protection, and commemoration of burials at the sites of former Indian Residential Schools in the province. It also includes financial aid for mental health and wellness supports for those involved in investigations as well as Survivors, communities, and families.
• Capacity and Growth Fund (CGF): This funding supports a range of Indigenous-led economic development and food security initiatives. Projects funded help to support: increased economic activity for Indigenous communities; increased knowledge and skills for Indigenous people to participate in the labour market; greater investments in agriculture and other broader priorities; and growth of regional Indigenous economic development opportunities.

This program supports the following ministry key performance indicators:

1. Creating Jobs in Ontario;
2. Increasing Economic Opportunities for Indigenous People in Ontario;
3. Ontario is Resolving Outstanding Land Claims and Land Related Issues with Indigenous People;
4. Policies and Programs Across Government Reviewed by IAO;

Land claims and other self-government initiatives

This program supports the settlement of land and land-related claims brought against the province and negotiated by the ministry. There is no allocation for these funding lines as payments are only made once a settlement agreement has been reached and approved by the necessary parties. This program is funded through the Treasury Board/Management Board of Cabinet (TB/MBC) Contingency Fund; however, it is disbursed through the ministry’s transfer payment funding lines.

Indigenous affairs capital program

The ministry’s capital program supports projects related to building or maintaining Indigenous community infrastructure both on and off-reserve. Delivered through the Indigenous Community Capital Grants Program (ICCGP), funding supports costs related to construction, renovation, or retrofitting costs, which helps support economic development, job creation, and social benefits for the recipient communities.

2024-25 strategic plan

IAO's strategic plan demonstrates a commitment to effectively use public funds, providing greater value for money, and supporting government policies, while supporting Indigenous peoples and communities.

In 2024-25, IAO will be:

• Delivering the final year of the province’s 2022 Budget commitment to provide $25 million over three years to support Indigenous economic recovery and development funding. Funding activities have included:
  • partnering with Indigenous Financial Institutes (IFIs) to deliver low-interest loans and grants to Indigenous businesses and entrepreneurs as well as to deliver an e-commerce grant program;
  • increasing training opportunities and capacity supports for First Nations communities;
  • supporting Chiefs of Ontario (COO) to better understand the First Nations’ supply chains and procurement opportunities;
  • working with the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (MLITSD) and other partners to support Indigenous apprentices and skills trades.
• Working in partnership with Indigenous communities and organizations to deliver $17.1 million in operational funding for the identification, investigation, protection, and commemoration of burial sites at former Indian Residential Schools (IRS) schools across the province, while also delivering the $15 million in IRS-related mental health and trauma support to Indigenous communities, Regional Indigenous Organizations (RIOs), families and communities.
• Building upon the Regional Social Emergency Manager Program to continue to support the expansion of the RSEM program to central and southern Ontario communities in 2024-25. The investment will fund 11 SEMs positions in central and southern communities. Indigenous partners consistently request multi-year, sustainable funding to address ongoing staff retention, expertise and availability, enable long-term planning of activities, and increase the likelihood in achieving positive outcomes.
• Continuing the delivery of the Capacity and Growth Fund, a $3 million fund to address unmet economic development needs identified by Indigenous communities across the Province. Projects funded support: increased economic activity for Indigenous communities; increased knowledge and skills for Indigenous people to participate in the labour market; greater investments in agriculture and other broader priorities; and growth of regional Indigenous economic development opportunities.
• Continuing to mitigate legal risks related to land and treaty claims and historical grievances on behalf of Ontario through delivery of Ontario’s Land Claim Negotiation Process as set out publicly on Ontario.ca, by:
  • researching and Assessing 10 Land Claim Assertions;
  • progressing on the current 48 claims accepted for negotiation, as well as any new claims that may be accepted;
  • supporting the 21 other land-related matters including litigation claims and non-claim related land transfers; and
  • carrying-out Ontario’s commitments in implementing 25 claim settlements that have been successfully negotiated.

Ministry 2024-25 Allocation by Standard Account

Table 2: Combined operating and capital summary by vote

Note: Estimates, Interim Actuals and Actuals for prior fiscal years are re-stated to reflect any changes in ministry organization and/or program structure. Interim actuals reflect the numbers presented in the 2024 Ontario Budget.

Estimates and Actuals for prior fiscal years are re-stated to reflect any changes in ministry organization and/or program structure.

For additional financial information, see:

Expenditure Estimates  
Public Accounts  
2024 Budget

Agencies, boards and commissions

Grassy Narrows and Islington Bands Mercury Disability Board: The Grassy Narrows and Islington Bands Mercury Disability Board (MDB) was established under the terms of the English and Wabigoon River Systems Mercury Contamination Settlement Agreement Act, 1986. The MDB administers the Grassy Narrows and Islington Bands Mercury Disability Fund (MDF). It reviews applications from those members of the Grassy Narrows and Islington First Nations claiming to suffer the effects of mercury poisoning from pollution of the English and Wabigoon River system and recommends disbursements from the Fund to compensate approved applicants. The ministry provides an annual contribution to the operating expenditures of the Board, matched by the federal government. The ministry is also responsible for monitoring and maintaining the Fund on an annual basis, and for providing sufficient funding to meet the forecast disbursement demand on the Fund as determined by the Fund Administrator.

Ministry organization chart

Effective February 2024

• Minister of Indigenous Affairs
  • Deputy Minister
    • Legal Services Branch
    • LRC IT Services
    • Communications Services Branch
    • Corporate Management Division ^{footnote 3[3]} 
      • Corporate Management Branch
      • Human Resources Business Branch ^{footnote 3[3]} 
    • Indigenous Relations and Programs Division
      • Programs and Services Branch
      • Indigenous Relations and Ministry Partnerships Branch
    • Negotiations and Reconciliation Division
      • Divisional Services Unit
      • Negotiations Branch — Northeast and South
      • Negotiations Branch — Northwest
    • Strategic Policy and Planning Division
      • Business Intelligence and Data Analytics Unit
      • Residential Schools Unit
      • Strategic Planning and Economic Policy Branch
      • Strategic Initiatives Social Policy Branch

2023-24 Annual report

In 2023-24, the Ministry of Indigenous Affairs played a leading role in strategic Indigenous policy for Ontario while working to deliver on its vision to create lasting wellness and prosperity with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities across Ontario.

As part of these efforts, IAO made the following accomplishments: 

• Delivered the second year of funding for the ministry’s three-year $25 million in economic development and recovery commitment, as announced through the 2022 Budget, which includes:  
  • partnering with Indigenous Financial Institutes (IFIs) to increase access to low-interest loans for Indigenous businesses and entrepreneurs as well as to deliver an e-commerce grant program;
  • increasing training opportunities and capacity supports for First Nations communities;
  • supporting Chiefs of Ontario (COO) to better understand the First Nations’ supply chains and procurement opportunities;
  • working with the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (MLITSD) and other partners to support Indigenous apprentices and skills trades.
• Worked in partnership with over 80 Indigenous communities and organizations to deliver $17.3 million in operational funding for the identification, investigation, protection, and commemoration of burial sites at former Indian Residential Schools (IRS) schools across the province, while also delivering the $15 million in IRS-related mental health and trauma support to Indigenous communities, Regional Indigenous Organizations (RIOs), families and communities.
• Increased procurement opportunities with the provincial government for Indigenous businesses through the Indigenous Procurement Program. The Program has directly supported over 270 new procurements across 11 ministries valued at over $164 million for Indigenous businesses in Ontario since 2015.
• Worked across ministries and with First Nation partners to continue to address the recommendations of the Seven First Nations Youth Inquest and submitted Ontario’s seventh annual progress report to the Office of the Chief Coroner. To date, of the 61 recommendations directed to the province, Ontario has completed 55 recommendations, with 6 recommendations in progress.
• Established the Capacity and Growth Fund (CGF), a $3 million funding stream to address unmet economic development needs identified by Indigenous communities across the Province. The CGF supported a variety of initiatives with 12 Indigenous partners, including but not limited to: high priority operational funding for food security and training supports in aquaculture, traditional food production, data management, land sustainability, and eco-tourism projects.
• Worked to address legal obligations on Treaties, land claims and land related matters by: 
• Continuing to deliver Ontario’s Land Claim Negotiation Process as set out publicly on Ontario.ca, through the ongoing assessment, negotiation and implementation of land claims.
  • Delivering $12.5 million in funding through the Support for Community Negotiations Fund to support Indigenous communities’ meaningful participation in the negotiations process.
  • On behalf of the Province, signed Settlement Agreement for past treaty annuities compensation with 21 Robinson Huron Treaty First Nations.
  • On behalf of the Province, signed Flooding Claim Settlements with Naicatchewenin and Northwest Angle #33 First Nation communities.
  • On behalf of the Province, signed the Grand River Notification Agreement (GRNA), renewing the Agreement for another 5 years. 

2023–24 detailed financials

Ministry summary information

The Ministry of Indigenous Affairs' (IAO) mandate is to: lead strategic Indigenous policy for Ontario by coordinating cross-government initiatives that improve outcomes for Indigenous people; lead provincial negotiations of Indigenous land claims; and support economic and community development for Indigenous partners.

The Ministry of Indigenous Affairs is responsible for settling land and land-related claims brought against the province. As the ministry does not receive a budget allocation for this activity, there may be significant variances between the ministry’s estimated versus actual expenditures. This is due to the recognition of liabilities associated with these claims or settlement payments that occurred during the fiscal year. For this reason, Actuals 2021-22 and 2022-23 are significantly higher when compared to Estimates 2022-24 and 2024-25.

The ministry’s 2024-25 Estimates is 2.9% greater than the 2023-24 Estimates. This increase is largely driven by adjustments to labour compensation and a small increase in support for investigations of burial sites at former IRS sites across the province. 

Ministry 2024-25 Allocation by Standard Account

Vote summary information

Indigenous Affairs program — Vote 2001

The Ministry of Indigenous Affairs’ (IAO) mandate is to: lead strategic Indigenous policy for Ontario by coordinating cross-government initiatives that improve outcomes for Indigenous people; lead provincial negotiations of Indigenous land claims; and support economic and community development for Indigenous partners.

Item/sub-item summary information

Vote/item: 2001-01                      
Vote: Indigenous Affairs program                      
Item: Indigenous Affairs                      
Type: Operating expense

Item/sub-item description: Indigenous Affairs

This program captures the breadth of work the ministry undertakes related to strategic policy and planning, Indigenous relationship management, delivery of funding programs, and addressing Ontario’s legal obligations on Indigenous related matters. Within each of these areas of work, IAO offers a range of services that are internal to government or external to relevant Indigenous partners. Internal to government services include operations such as: leading Ontario’s policy agenda on Indigenous priorities; directly supporting the Premier’s Office and other provincial ministers; developing tools/services to support cross-ministry collaboration on Indigenous files; assisting with the delivery of key government priorities; sharing best practices on developing and building relationships with Indigenous communities; providing feedback on Cabinet submissions; partnering and coordinating with the federal government where possible; working across government to seek negotiated solutions to Indigenous legal matters; among others.

The ministry does offer some external facing services such as providing assistance, while also advocating to improve, Indigenous people’s access to provincial government programs, services, and information. The ministry also plays a role both internally and externally in supporting the province’s response to declared states of emergencies in First Nation communities. Beyond this, a majority of the ministry’s annual allocation for Indigenous Affairs is devoted to its funding programs.

This program supports the following ministry key performance indicators:

1. Creating Jobs in Ontario;
2. Increasing Economic Opportunities for Indigenous People in Ontario;
3. Ontario is Resolving Outstanding Land Claims and Land Related Issues with Indigenous People;
4. Policies and Programs Across Government Reviewed by IAO; 

The increase in the ministry’s 2024-25 Estimates for vote-item 2001-1 is largely driven by adjustments to labour compensation and a small increase in support for investigations of burial sites at former IRS sites across the province. The line reductions are the result of an intra-ministry transfer to vote-item 2001-4 to manage fiscal pressures based on operational requirements and business needs.

Vote/item: 2001-04                  
Vote: Indigenous Affairs program                  
Item: Ministry administration                  
Type: Operating expense

Item/sub-item description: Ministry administration

The Ministry Administration program provides executive direction and strategic planning services, which are critical for ministry operations. The range of strategic services captured under this item include human resources planning and management; communications; fiscal controllership; strategic financial planning; audit coordination and response; and other matters of compliance. This item also provides support on the following items: procurement, transfer payment administration and management, records and information management, the administration of the Freedom of Information and Privacy Protection Act as well as fees related to the provision of legal services to the ministry.

This program supports the following ministry key performance indicators:

1. Increasing Administrative Efficiency;
2. Ensuring Government Capacity to Meet the Government’s Legal Obligation to Offer Services in French;
3. Ontario is Prepared for Emergencies and Natural Disasters. 

The increase in the ministry’s 2024-25 Estimates for vote-item 2001-4 is due to an intra-ministry transfer from vote-item 2001-01 to manage upcoming fiscal pressures related to operational requirements and business needs. 

Vote/item: 2001-02                
Vote: Indigenous Affairs program                
Item: Land claims and other self-government initiatives                
Type: Operating expense

Item/sub-item description: Land claims and other self-government initiatives

This program supports the settlement of land and land-related claims brought against the province and negotiated by the ministry. There is no allocation for these funding lines as payments are only made once a settlement agreement has been reached and approved by the necessary parties. This program is funded through the Treasury Board/Management Board of Cabinet (TB/MBC) Contingency Fund; however, it is disbursed through the ministry’s transfer payment funding lines. 

Vote/item: 2001-03             
Vote: Indigenous Affairs program             
Item: Indigenous Affairs capital program             
Type: Capital expense

Item/sub-item description: Indigenous Affairs capital program

The ministry’s capital program supports projects related to building or maintaining Indigenous community infrastructure both on and off-reserve. Delivered through the Indigenous Community Capital Grants Program (ICCGP), funding supports costs related to construction, renovation, or retrofitting costs, which helps support economic development, job creation, and social benefits for the recipient communities. 

Appendix: Time-limited and discretionary transfer payments