Budget 2024 Makes Strong Investments to Support Friendship Centres
April 16 2024 - 8:06PM
The National Association of Friendship Centres (NAFC) is pleased
with the 2024-2025 federal budget and the Government of Canada’s
support and recognition of the important work of Friendship
Centres.
Friendship Centres support over half of the
Indigenous population in Canada and contribute to the health and
safety of the communities that they serve through culturally
relevant health, cultural, economic, legal, and social services.
These investments recognize Friendship Centres' essential role and
necessity in serving urban Indigenous people.
We are still concerned and will continue to
advocate to ensure that all Indigenous people have access to
Indigenous specific funding, regardless of residency. For example,
the Best Start for Indigenous Children has no urban specific
mechanism, and the investments will not reach more than half of the
Indigenous child population.
“While we were hoping to see more urban
Indigenous considerations and for a longer-term commitment to the
essential work of Friendship Centres, this initial top up for 2
years will assist our members to deliver the lifesaving services
that urban Indigenous communities have come to rely upon,” said
Jocelyn Formsma, NAFC CEO. “We appreciate the recognition of our
role and impact in over 100 communities for the over 1 million
people Friendship Centres serve every year.”
In addition to the top up commitment for
Friendship Centres, there are some additional national programs
that Friendship Centres have been operating in mental health,
health navigation, Indigenous languages, infrastructure, and
student support learning program. NAFC is pleased to see these
programs continue and look forward to speaking with government
funding partners to discuss further renewal and enhancements to the
programs that Friendship Centres have been offering.
The NAFC also recognizes that we have a strong
role to play in implementing the Red Dress Alert, emergency
management and response, Indigenous Justice Strategy,
federal/provincial child care agreements, and improving Indigenous
health outcomes.
The NAFC looks forward to building on its
existing relationship with the Government of Canada and is excited
about the growth and development that this budget will bring to the
Friendship Centre Movement.
FOR MEDIA INQUIRIES:
John Paillé Senior Communications
Coordinatorjpaille@nafc.ca
The National Association of Friendship Centres
is a network of over 100 Friendship Centres and
Provincial/Territorial Associations, which make up part of the
Friendship Centre Movement–Canada's most significant national
network of self-determined Indigenous owned and operated civil
society community hubs offering programs, services and supports to
urban Indigenous people.