Funding Tool
Hundreds of millions of federal dollars are earmarked each year for Indigenous individuals, communities, governments and organizations. However, navigating how to apply to access this funding, or even understanding what funding is available and for which types of projects or issues can be difficult for many.
That is why we developed this funding tool that will enable you to easily search for available funds offered by or in partnership with the Government of Canada by typing in any subject such as “Arts and Culture”, “Language Protection”, “Climate Change Adaptation”, “Connectivity” and so forth. If you already know the name of the fund and want to learn more about it such as eligibility requirements, how to apply, closing date and more, you can also enter the fund name into the search bar.
Please note, we will be updating this tool regularly.
Demystifying Parliament
Parliament is made up of two houses: the House of Commons and the Senate. As such, Parliament is a democratic institution that should be easily accessible and understood by all Canadians. Sometimes, though, that’s not the case; I’ve met many who have a limited understanding of how Parliament and, particularly, the Senate work. This is why we’ve created a series of reference guides aimed at demystifying Parliament in an easy-to-read and accessible way.
You can also visit the House of Commons and Senate webpages for more information.
The Cabinet Process: From Idea to Legislation
Have you ever wondered how something goes from an idea to becoming law? Here’s a glimpse into the Cabinet process that all government legislation goes through before it is introduced.
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Charting the Passage of Legislation
What happens after the Cabinet process and the Government decides to go forward with legislation? A proposed law is called a “bill” and it needs to make a journey through both the House of Commons and the Senate of Canada. After that, the Governor General or their designate signs the bill, which officially passes it into law. This will help you learn more about the process from start to finish.
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What can my Senator do for me?
It’s not uncommon for people to ask, What exactly does a Senator do? This piece hopefully shines a light on what we do and what we can do for you. I am here to advocate, address and resolve issues, and speak up for under-represented voices in my region and throughout Canada.
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The Power of Senate Committees
Since I started at the Senate, I have heard many say that our best work is done in Committees. Senate Committees have shone a light on many issues important to Indigenous Peoples and all Canadians. Some noteworthy reports include the famous Kirby report, a committee report led by Sen. Michael Kirby, that changed the way we approach mental health in Canada; the Senate Aboriginal People’s Committee’s report on on-reserve housing; the Special Committee on the Arctic’s report, “Northern Lights: A Wake-up Call For the Future of Canada” that seeks to address the long-standing “neglect” of Canada’s Arctic, and the Senate Fisheries and Oceans report, pushed by Mi’kmaq Senators Brian Francis (PEI) and Dan Christmas (NS) during the height of renewed tensions between Indigenous and non-Indigenous fishermen, entitled, “Peace on the Water: Advancing the Full Implementation of Mi’kmaq, Wolastoqiyik and Peskotomuhkati Rights-based Fisheries.”
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5 Key Points to Successfully engage with Parliamentarians
Do you have an important issue that you want your representatives in Ottawa to help you with? It could be legislation, funding, advocacy, policy change, or so on, but it can be daunting trying to figure out how to approach Parliamentarians and their staff in a way that gets them engaged and wanting to help. Whether you’re an organization looking at developing a Government Relations strategy, or an individual with a passion, these 5 tips help get you started in the right direction.
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Legislative Alerts
It is well-established that Indigenous communities and organizations often suffer from capacity limitations. It can be difficult to keep up with all the legislative, policy and regulatory changes that are brought forward by Parliament. My office will pull together a list of major legislation currently before Parliament; upcoming consultation and engagement sessions open to public participation and/or specifically targeted at Indigenous peoples; and links to Gazette 1 and 2 notices of interest on a quarterly basis.