As a result of their deliberations committees may make recommendations which they include in their reports for the consideration of the House of Commons or the Government. Recommendations related to this study are listed below.

Recommendation 1

That the Government of Canada, recognizing that Canada’s National Housing Strategy identified Indigenous and northern housing as priority areas for action, take immediate measures to accelerate the release of distinctions-based funding to support First Nations, Inuit and Métis housing, as announced in Budget 2017, Budget 2018 and Budget 2019; and that the government ensure that funding mechanisms are stable, flexible, predictable and based on actual needs, and that funding levels be consistent with those needs.

Recommendation 2

That the Government of Canada establish minimum housing standards for Indigenous and northern communities, and work to rapidly implement a national Indigenous Housing strategy.

Recommendation 3

That the Government of Canada, in collaboration with Indigenous partners, undertake within six months a review of existing federal programs aimed at preventing and reducing homelessness to identify ways to address Indigenous homelessness in urban centres as well as in remote and isolated Indigenous communities; and that the government assess how homelessness may contribute to the spread of COVID-19 among Indigenous populations.

Recommendation 4

That the Government of Canada, recognizing that the current housing crisis in Indigenous and northern communities places Indigenous Peoples and Northerners at significant risk during the COVID-19 pandemic, ensure that immediate funding and technical support be made available to all Indigenous and northern communities wishing to repurpose community spaces or deploy temporary mobile structures to allow for screening, triaging and isolating individuals.

Recommendation 5

That the Government of Canada, capitalizing on existing programs and initiatives (such as the Universal Broadband Fund, Connect to Innovate, the Investing in Canada Plan and the First Nations Infrastructure Fund) take immediate action to accelerate the deployment of broadband infrastructure in all Indigenous and northern communities to ensure their access to affordable and stable high-speed Internet (at least 50 Megabits per second download and 10 Megabits per second upload speeds); and that the government provide clear timelines and targets for how it plans to achieve universal access to broadband in Indigenous and northern communities.

Recommendation 6

That the Government of Canada share publicly its plan with clear timelines, targets and funding in order to work with Indigenous community leadership to improve water infrastructure and maintenance in First Nations communities.

Recommendation 7

That the Government of Canada accelerate the construction of certain publicly funded health infrastructure projects during the COVID-19 pandemic, including by providing rapid funding for health care and long-term care facilities and seniors’ homes in Indigenous and northern communities.

Recommendation 8

That the Government of Canada, in collaboration with First Nations communities, ensure that these communities have access to the quantities and types of personal protective equipment they urgently need; and that the government ensure the process for accessing the stockpile is clear and does not create an administrative burden for First Nations communities.

Recommendation 9

That the Government of Canada engage with isolated and remote communities to assess the need for rapid testing and point-of-care testing technologies; that the government increase access to such technologies wherever a need is identified; and that it make these technologies available in regional hubs to be identified in continued collaboration with Indigenous and northern partners, should their deployment to some remote and isolated communities be exceptionally challenging due to technical and/or logistical constraints.

Recommendation 10

That the Government of Canada continue to engage with Indigenous, provincial and territorial partners to track timely, accurate and complete data about the spread of COVID-19 and its outcomes among Indigenous populations; and that the government ensure that First Nations, Inuit and Métis retain control and ownership over any data pertaining to Indigenous Peoples.

Recommendation 11

That the Government of Canada continue to engage with First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities to identify local need for surge capacity; that the government deploy additional supports – in person or virtually – in communities where an immediate need for health human resources (e.g., nurses, paramedics and physicians) is identified; and that the government work with communities to develop contingency plans to prepare for the deployment of surge capacity personnel in future emergency situations.

Recommendation 12

That the Government of Canada continue engaging with First Nations communities and organizations to evaluate and fund permanent emergency management coordinator positions at the community level; that the government identify gaps in the current model through which such positions are funded; and that it consider the accessibility of that funding.

Recommendation 13

That the Government of Canada acknowledge the root causes of Indigenous Peoples’ vaccine hesitancy and mistrust of the government; and that it engage with Indigenous, provincial and territorial partners and community leaders to find ways to address these issues during the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines.

Recommendation 14

That the Government of Canada take immediate actions to expand access to culturally appropriate health and social services for First Nations, Inuit and Métis during the COVID-19 pandemic; and that government work with Indigenous, provincial and territorial partners to identify ways to ensure that all Indigenous Peoples have access to safe and equitable health and social services, without discrimination.

Recommendation 15

That the Government of Canada provide immediate relief funding to First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities to ensure the continuity of mental health supports for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic; that the government, in collaboration with Indigenous partners, evaluate ways to adapt existing mental health supports and programs to meet the needs of Indigenous Peoples during the COVID-19 pandemic; and that it ensure that sufficient funding is available to communities for social interventions aimed at limiting the damages directly and indirectly caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Recommendation 16

That the Government of Canada review, in collaboration with Indigenous partners, its funding mechanisms for community-based mental health supports to ensure that the funding provided to Indigenous communities is equitable, needs-based, flexible, stable and predictable. This review should take place before the end of 2021.

Recommendation 17

That the Government of Canada establish an emergency program to provide funding to community-based mental health supports for First Nations, Inuit and Métis youth specifically to address pandemic-related needs; that the program’s resources reflect the actual mental health needs of First Nations, Inuit and Métis youth; and that the program be designed with the possibility of being extended and/or expanded beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.

Recommendation 18

That the Government of Canada, in collaboration with Indigenous partners, establish a permanent program to provide stable, flexible and predictable funding for land-based mental health, wellness and addictions programs.

Recommendation 19

That the Government of Canada work with Indigenous Peoples to identify the gaps in enforcement of First Nations bylaws; and that it implement a plan to address those gaps.

Recommendation 20

That the Government of Canada engage with Indigenous, provincial and territorial partners to establish a permanent, national strategic unit to allow representatives from Indigenous, provincial, territorial and federal governments to meet regularly during public health emergencies of national concern in order to facilitate complementary and coherent action by all partners.

Recommendation 21

That the Government of Canada take immediate action to ensure food security and support access to traditional food by First Nations, Inuit and Métis; that, for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic, the government expand access to the new Harvesters Support Grant program to Indigenous and northern communities otherwise not eligible for the Nutrition North Canada program; and that Nutrition North Canada food subsidies be increased in communities where food prices are not within a reasonable parity with provincial or territorial averages.

Recommendation 22

That the Government of Canada engage with Indigenous community leaders and experts to ensure that Indigenous students are provided with the resources needed to continue their education during the COVID-19 pandemic; and that the government have a strategy with timelines for reliable access to the internet.

Recommendation 23

That the Government of Canada, in collaboration with the Indigenous Business COVID-19 Response Taskforce, establish and maintain a list of Indigenous businesses able to meet federal procurement needs related to the pandemic; and that the list be shared with federal departments and agencies involved in the pandemic response to encourage them to consider Indigenous businesses in the procurement of personal protective equipment and other essential goods.

Recommendation 24

That the Government of Canada continue to work with Indigenous partners on a strategic plan with clear timelines and concrete measures to ensure that five per cent of federal contracts are awarded to businesses managed and led by Indigenous Peoples; that this strategic plan identify barriers to Indigenous businesses securing public contracts and solutions to overcome these barriers; and that the strategic plan be developed within six months.

Recommendation 25

That the Government of Canada, in collaboration with the First Nations Finance Authority, immediately establish an emergency fund to provide ongoing liquidity to First Nations to ensure that they can meet their fiscal obligations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Recommendation 26

That the Government of Canada, in collaboration with the First Nations Tax Commission, continue to evaluate the establishment of a First Nations tax deferral loan program, to assist communities in making debenture payments for the fiscal year 2020-2021.

Recommendation 27

That the Government of Canada, in collaboration with the First Nations Finance Authority, establish a commercial paper program through the Authority; and that the government and First Nations Finance Authority establish an alternative financing program to leverage dollars over the long-term to accelerate the construction of infrastructure and support economic development and post-pandemic recovery in First Nations communities.

Recommendation 28

That the Government of Canada acknowledge that the two decades of reduced funding for Aboriginal Financial Institutions must be reversed in order to attain economic justice for Indigenous businesses; and that the government establish stable long term funding for Aboriginal Financial Institutions in order to bolster capital funds for loans.

Recommendation 29

That the Government of Canada engage with Indigenous and northern partners, as well as with the provinces and territories, to identify concrete measures to ensure the long-term viability and stability of northern air travel routes.

Recommendation 30

That the Government of Canada ensure that any new safety rules and regulations are implemented in consultation with air carriers operating in the territories and northern regions of the provinces; and that the government work with them to address any barriers to services that may result.

Recommendation 31

That the Government of Canada, recognizing that some communities south of the 60^th parallel have been included in programs such as Nutrition North Canada, provide a clear definition of “northern” and “northern air carriers” that includes remote and isolated communities; that these definitions be developed in consultation with Arctic and Northern Policy Framework partners and communities south of 60 which are considered northern by other programming; and that these definitions be immediately applied to any programs, measures, rules and regulations implemented as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Recommendation 32

That the Government of Canada, recognizing that the Metis Settlements General Council (MSGC) is in a precarious financial situation as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, provide immediate bridge funding to the MSGC in order to ensure the settlements’ financial sustainability.

Recommendation 33

That the Government of Canada, in collaboration with urban Indigenous organizations, immediately establish a mechanism to formally engage the National Association of Friendship Centres and other organizations serving Indigenous Peoples living off-reserve and in urban centres on matters related to the federal pandemic response; and that the government evaluate ways to make such a mechanism permanent once the COVID-19 pandemic is over in order to ensure that urban Indigenous Peoples are proactively involved in the development and delivery of federal programming going forward.

Recommendation 34

That the Government of Canada take immediate measures to respond to the calls for justice of the final report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, which notably called on the government to ensure that the rights to health and wellness of Indigenous Peoples, and specifically Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA people, are recognized and protected; and that the government release a national action plan on missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls before the end of the year.

Recommendation 35

That the Government of Canada, in consultation with organizations such as the Native Women’s Association of Canada and Pauktuutit, assess the needs for childcare services in Indigenous communities and among Indigenous Peoples living off-reserve and in urban centres; and that the government implement measures to address these needs before the end of 2021.

Recommendation 36

That the Government of Canada, recognizing the need for COVID-19 programs to be flexible to meet the needs of each community, refrain from applying a one-size-fits-all approach to its emergency supports; and that the government ensure that the terms and conditions of emergency funding programs remain flexible for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Recommendation 37

That the Government of Canada utilize an Indigenous lens for all programming or policy initiatives in order to ensure that the needs of First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities are considered.

Recommendation 38

That the Government of Canada develop materials to help Indigenous businesses navigate the various federal programs related to COVID-19; that these materials clearly explain the eligibility criteria for each of the programs; and that the government ensure that the information is made available in an alternate format for business owners who lack connectivity to the Internet.

Recommendation 39

That the Government of Canada temporarily appoint a Funding Liaison Officer who would support Indigenous businesses in navigating the application processes in order to release and make funding available to those businesses in a timely fashion.

Recommendation 40

That the Government of Canada, in collaboration with First Nations, Inuit and Métis partners, accelerate essential infrastructure projects in Indigenous communities during the post-pandemic recovery period.

Recommendation 41

That the Government of Canada, in collaboration with First Nations partners, establish an opt-in First Nations Infrastructure Institute to support communities in the design, development, financing and maintenance of infrastructure, and to advance and establish further opportunities for care and control transfer of infrastructure management and operations.

Recommendation 42

That the Government of Canada, in collaboration with First Nations, Inuit and Métis partners, establish an Indigenous Infrastructure Fund with a federal backstop to reduce the cost of capital and make it easier for Indigenous communities to raise capital to invest in infrastructure projects.