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“There is no Canada Strong without strong First Nations,” said National Chief Woodhouse Nepinak. “The 2025 federal budget is a missed opportunity for First Nations and Canada. Our people and governments are key to Canada moving forward on its ambitious economic agenda, but this budget lacks a strategic vision to build our economies. We’ll continue to push the government to work with us a on a plan to uphold First Nations rights, honour the Prime Minister’s commitments to First Nations, and support long-term prosperity for all.” The 2025 federal budget includes some announcements related to First Nations and Indigenous people but lacks clear commitments to First Nations in key areas such as closing the infrastructure gap, which alone would contribute more than $635 billion to the Canadian economy and create 330,000 jobs. And in a budget that the Finance Minister characterized as “a generational investment in our future”, there were few new or direct investments in First Nations youth through education, child welfare, languages, health and other critical areas. The National Chief noted that any proposed cuts of 2% to Indigenous Services Canada and Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs must not come at the expense of programs and services for First Nations. “The AFN and First Nations have a comprehensive plan for progress and prosperity and we’ll continue to push the government to work with us,” said National Chief Woodhouse Nepinak. “We are calling for a First Ministers Meeting to engage directly with all governments. We will not take Budget 2025 as the final word for First Nations, and neither should Canada.” The AFN presented a Pre-Budget Submission (PBS) detailing strategic, cost-effective commitments for the federal government. The AFN’s PBS covered critical investments in key areas like Building the Future through Capital Investments, Uplifting Communities through Essential Services, and Growing Self-Determination through Governance.
