Chapter 4 · 4.3 Advancing reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples
Supporting student success in First Nations communities
$4.8B net impact on the budgetary balance over five years, 2026-27 to 2030-31.
The cost line
| Line | 2026-27 | 2027-28 | 2028-29 | 2029-30 | 2030-31 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Supporting student success in First Nations communities | … | 1,077 | 1,196 | 1,318 | 1,365 | 4,956 |
| Less: Funds sourced from existing departmental resources | — | −40 | −40 | −40 | −40 | −160 |
| Net fiscal impact | — | 1,037 | 1,156 | 1,278 | 1,325 | 4,796 |
… no change to existing funding or no fiscal implication · – a further extension will be considered later · 0* less than $0.5 million. Positive numbers cost the budget (spending or forgone revenue); negative numbers improve it.
What the budget says
“Building on this progress and sustaining positive outcomes requires stable, predictable funding for First Nations on-reserve education to give communities the certainty they need to plan ahead, strengthen supports for students, and continue improving outcomes: To support high-quality, culturally relevant education and improve long-term outcomes for First Nations students, Budget 2026 proposes to provide $5.8 …”
Budget 2026, p. 241 (PDF p. 257)
“To maintain access to post-secondary education and support the next generation of First Nations leaders, professionals, and skilled workers, Budget 2026 proposes to provide $437.9 million over five years, starting in 2027-28, through the Post-Secondary Student Support Program.”
Budget 2026, p. 241 (PDF p. 257)
Amounts named in the text
Stated amounts can cover different periods, cash or accrual bases, previously announced money and loans. They are not additive with the cost line above.
- $5.8 billion over five years, starting in 2027-28
- $437.9 million over five years, starting in 2027-28
Also in this section
- Investing in housing and infrastructure in First Nations communities - Investments in First Nations clean water infrastructure and legislation$4.61BProgram spendingHousingTradesIndigenous communitiesInfrastructure & transport
- Investing in housing and infrastructure First Nations communities - Investments to stabilise, accelerate construction, and transform financing$7.91BProgram spendingHousingTradesIndigenous communitiesInfrastructure & transport
- Supporting Indigenous children and families$5.25BProgram spendingIndigenous communities
- Strengthening health and safety in Indigenous communities$4BProgram spendingIndigenous communitiesHealth
- Strengthening the fiscal and institutional capacity of Indigenous governments$79MTax measureIndigenous communities
- Supporting reconciliation through partnership and ownershipno cost lineNo cost lineLoans, equity or financingInvestmentIndigenous communities