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4w ago

Audit Exposes 12,000-Application Backlog and Lengthy Waits for First Nations Status

The report highlights that decades-long funding shortfalls have hampered status determinations due to insufficient staff certification.

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The report on registration under the Indian Act is one of four released Tuesday from Auditor General Karen Hogan in Ottawa.

Overview

  • More than 80% of applications processed by Indigenous Services Canada exceeded the six-month service standard, with decisions taking nearly 16 months on average.
  • A backlog of nearly 12,000 status applications remains, including about 1,500 cases unresolved for over two years.
  • Appeals for registration decisions face wait times of almost three years, and there is no formal service standard for appeal reviews.
  • Community-based processing centres have operated under a funding formula unchanged since 1994, equating to support for an administrator just one day per week at minimum-wage rates.
  • Indigenous Services Canada has agreed to Auditor General Karen Hogan’s recommendations and is working to improve processes and training before transferring registration responsibilities to First Nations communities.