Budget 2022 delivers important investments for Métis Nation of Ontario
Ottawa (April 21, 2022) — The 2022 Federal Budget, tabled in the House of Commons on April 7, 2022, will deliver close to $11 billion in investments to Indigenous Peoples and communities. The Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO) is pleased to see investments in Mental Wellness, Early Childhood Education and Child Care, Housing and further relief related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
“These investments represent an ongoing commitment by Canada to support the socioeconomic development and self-determination goals of the MNO and offer additional support to MNO citizens who continue to navigate the pandemic and its impact,” said MNO President Margaret Froh.
Budget 2022 will provide $227.6 million over two years, beginning in 2022-23, to maintain trauma-informed, Indigenous-led, culturally-appropriate services to improve mental wellness, and to support efforts initiated in Budget 2021 to co-develop distinctions-based mental health and wellness strategies.
“The MNO is pleased that work is underway with Indigenous partners and the provinces and territories to co-develop distinctions-based health legislation and ensure health services are responsive to the distinct needs of Métis people,” said President Froh.
An additional $190.5 million investment in the Indigenous Community Support Fund to help Indigenous communities and organizations mitigate the ongoing impacts of COVID-19 is welcome as Métis citizens continue to suffer disproportionately from the effects of the pandemic.
The MNO is pleased to see that Budget 2022 plans to provide a further $4 billion over seven years to accelerate work in closing Indigenous housing gaps. This includes $190 million over seven years for housing in Métis communities.
The MNO also applauds the $30 billion pledges over five years to build a Canada-wide early learning and child care system plus $9.2 billion ongoing invested Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care, starting in 2025-26. This is an invaluable commitment to improving the quality of life of Métis children and families in Ontario.
While the budget commits $408.3 million to promote official languages, it does not appear to have any significant funding commitments to support Indigenous language reclamation and revitalization. The MNO feels this was an unfortunate oversight as 2022 marks the first year of the International Decade of Indigenous Languages.
Other notable investments include:
- Budget 2022 is investing to ensure the full implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act
- $6 billion over five years to support community infrastructure projects in Indigenous communities, including the launch of the $4.3 billion Indigenous Community Infrastructure Fund
- $2.2 billion over five years to respond to the tragedy of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls
Additional information on the 2022 Federal Budget can be found online here.