The Office of the Federal Interlocutor

2.5 Strategic Outcome: The Office of the Federal Interlocutor

Strengthened relationships with Métis, Non-Status Indians and urban Aboriginal Canadians to raise awareness of their needs, improve access to federal services and improve horizontal linkages among federal organizations and other partners.

Financial Resources ($ millions)	Planned Spending	Total Authorities	Actual Spending
The Office of the Federal Interlocutor	44.8	37.9	37.0

Human Resources (Full-time Equivalents)	Planned	Actual	Difference
The Office of the Federal Interlocutor	38	42.6	4.6

Note: As per Treasury Board Guidelines, the full-time equivalents shown here represent an estimate of resources devoted wholly to this Strategic Outcome plus a pro-rata share of Departmental Management and Administration (dollars and full-time equivalents) based on the department's actual spending. In some cases, this number may appear high due to the very nature of the department's business, that is, managing financial relationships with service delivery largely devolved to our partners.

2.5.1 Program Activity – Office of the Federal Interlocutor

Description

Provides capacity support to Métis, Non-Status Indians and urban Aboriginal Canadians at the national, provincial, regional and urban level to help develop organizational capacity and accountability to their memberships, as well as to build the capacity to form effective partnerships with federal and provincial governments and the private sector, in order to participate effectively in Federal Interlocutor-led interdepartmental and intergovernmental initiatives.

Deliverables and Time Lines – Expected Results and Outputs

Priority:

Building capacity to strengthen and build relationships with Métis and Non-Status Indian groups and organizations; shaping and promoting the Urban Aboriginal Strategy; and building and maintaining horizontal linkages within government.

Métis and Non-Status Indians (MNSI)

Expected Result 1: Improved ability of Métis and Non-Status Indian groups to represent and advocate on behalf of members.

Indicators	Targets/Timing	Actual Results
Level of self-assessed capability (knowledge, ability, skills and aspirations) of MNSI groups.	Maintain 2004 levels.	Tripartite Negotiation Process: The Métis National Council and the Congress of Aboriginal People and their provincial affiliate organizations, as well as, other prominent Aboriginal organizations continue to demonstrate their enhanced governance capabilities through their involvement in the (11) Tripartite processes across the county. This is exemplified in the measures and results attained through these agreements in the area of; housing, health, education, employment, business development and social justice issues. Bilateral Agreements: The drafting of the Accords signed by the Métis National Council and the Congress of Aboriginal People with the government of Canada speaks to the ability of both organizations as they represent their affiliate organizations and constituents. This complex process has resulted in a new style of partnership with the Federal government. It is focused on identifying options to resolve long outstanding issues, as well as the implementation of various initiatives that help to improve the quality of life of Métis people within Canada. Additionally, representatives of the Métis National Council and the Congress of Aboriginal People have worked extremely hard with senior government officials from both the provincial and federal during the FMM numerous sessions over the course of 2005. It was through their capable negotiation and representation that they were able to develop a collaborative position accepted by all parties to address the socio economic priorities of Aboriginal people. Finally, OFI has developed an Interdepartmental coordination committee that is focused on helping key departmental officials to better direct government of Canada energies and resources onto the immediate priorities of MNSI people. Powley: Two national and eight regional groups were funded, which has Improved the membership systems; Enhanced accountability through electoral and constitutional reform; and Supported extensive community consultations.

Output: Contribution agreements.

Indicators	Targets/Timing	Actual Results
Number of successful/ completed contribution agreements per year.	Ongoing, on annual basis.	OFI has entered into 44 contribution agreements to further results in relation to organizational capacity development. Further, during 2005–06, the requirements of each contribution agreement were achieved. As a result, immediate results that were identified and funded were actually attained. Subsequently, these Aboriginal organizations have been able to better plan and coordinate resources to achieve measurable results that address community needs and socio-economic priorities.

Expected Result 2: Increased quantity and quality of working relationships between federal government and MNSI groups and organizations.

Indicators	Targets/Timing	Actual Results
Indications of shared agendas, frameworks, determination of priorities.	Maintain 2004 levels.	Powley: Multilateral forums were established to discuss Métis harvesting and Aboriginal rights. Federal departments and agencies were engaged in developing a common policy approach. Métis organizations were directly engaged on issues of Métis identification and Aboriginal harvesting. Key Métis groups and federal government departments were brought together to discuss accommodation of Métis harvesting.

Output: Partnerships established and/or maintained.

Indicators	Targets/Timing	Actual Results
Number of partnerships established/maintained.	Ongoing, on annual basis.	Tripartite Negotiation Process: There are 11 Tripartite agreements across the country involving a provincial government, federal government and MNSI organizations. Métis Nation – BC Tripartite Self-Government Council – BC Métis Settlements General Council - AB Métis Nation of Alberta Métis Nation of Saskatchewan (MNS) - SK Manitoba Métis Federation - MB Aboriginal Council of Winnipeg - MB Ontario Métis Aboriginal Organization - ONT Métis Nation of Ontario - ONT Native Council of Nova Scotia Native Council of PEI Bilateral Agreements: There are two bilateral agreements between the Canadian government and the Métis National Council and the Congress of Aboriginal People.

Output: Contribution agreements.

Indicators	Targets/Timing	Actual Results
Number of successful/ completed contribution agreements per year.	Ongoing, on annual basis	Same as above.

Expected Result 3: Improved working relationships between federal and provincial governments on MNSI issues.

Indicators	Targets/Timing	Actual Results
Number of partnerships, degree of participation in working groups and/or committees.	Maintain 2004 levels.	Powley: Leadership on Métis harvesting was established through: A Western federal-provincial senior officials working group; Direct engagement of senior Eastern provincial officials; and Engagement of on-the-ground provincial enforcement officials on federal Métis harvesting policy. In May of 2005, the Federal government entered into accords with the Métis National Council and the Congress of Aboriginal People. These bilateral agreements will act as a guide for the renewed relationship between the parties as they work towards resolving socio-economic issues, thus closing the gap in the quality of life between Aboriginal people and other Canadians.

Output: Partnerships established and/or maintained.

Indicators	Targets/Timing	Actual Results
Number of partnerships established and/or maintained.	Ongoing, on annual basis.	Tripartite Negotiation Process: There are 11 Tripartite agreements across the country involving a provincial government, federal government and MNSI organizations. Métis Nation – BC Tripartite Self-Government Council – BC Métis Settlements General Council - AB Métis Nation of Alberta Métis Nation of Saskatchewan (MNS) - SK Manitoba Métis Federation - MB Aboriginal Council of Winnipeg - MB Ontario Métis Aboriginal Organization - ONT Métis Nation of Ontario - ONT Native Council of Nova Scotia Native Council of PEI Bilateral Agreements: There are two bilateral agreements between the Canadian government and the Métis National Council and the Congress of Aboriginal People.

Urban Aboriginal Strategy

Expected Result 4: Integrated and effective delivery of initiative.

Indicators	Targets/Timing	Actual Results
Level of information-sharing and collaboration. Self-assessed perceptions of partners.	Maintain 2004 levels.	OFI coordinated the second annual Urban Aboriginal Community Conference in February 2006. The conference was attended by 280 UAS community representatives from Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal organizations, as well as, the three level of governments. The goal of the conference was to discuss progress and identify ideas on the possible future direction for the Urban Aboriginal Strategy.

Output: Partnerships/working relationships with committees in all pilot project cities.

Indicators	Targets/Timing	Actual Results
Number of partnerships established/maintained.	Annual basis.	Working partnerships exist in each of the twelve (12) pilot project communities. These partnerships represent federal, provincial and municipal governments, as well as, Aboriginal and non Aboriginal organizations. These partnerships have leveraged $23.7 million in additional funding for use in the twelve communities in achieving their socio-economic goals.

Output: Interdepartmental Letters of Agreement (ILA).

Indicators	Targets/Timing	Actual Results
Number of ILAs renewed or established.	Increase from 2004 levels.	OFI has signed 5 Interdepartmental letters of agreement with Western Diversification (WD) (for British Columbia and Alberta) and Service Canada (for Saskatchewan and Ontario).

Expected Result 5: Establishment of steering committees in four new pilot project cities.

Indicators	Targets/Timing	Actual Results
Number of steering committees.	Increase over 2004 levels.	All 12 pilot project cities have established community based steering committees that are responsible for the development and implementation of community plans to address local community priorities and needs.

Output: Meetings with local federal, provincial and municipal officials, as well as local urban Aboriginal groups.

Indicators	Targets/Timing	Actual Results
Number of meetings.	Ongoing, on annual basis.	OFI has completed approximately sixty meetings involving federal, provincial, municipal officials and local urban Aboriginal groups. These meeting have helped strengthen existing steering committees in the original eight project cities. Greater strength has been demonstrated through the level of involvement and trust by all stakeholders. The four new communities have developed steering committees and new relationships between all levels of government and urban Aboriginal organizations.

Output: Reports, work plans issued by steering committees.

Indicators	Targets/Timing	Actual Results
Number of reports, plans written.	Increase over 2004 levels.	Regionally – 10 semi-annual reports are provided to OFI. These reports outline how funding was expended in each of the regions and indicate progress in each of the UAS designated sites. A National UAS Community Conference Report was written in follow-up to February's Conference. Several communities also submitted public reports on their activities and achievements.

Output: Pilot projects launched in new cities.

Indicators	Targets/Timing	Actual Results
Number of pilot projects launched.	Increase over 2004 levels.	38 pilot projects were funded in 4 new cities (Prince George, Lethbridge, Prince Albert and Thompson). The pilot projects related to the following community priorities: Learning/literacy and education; Employment and business development; Communications and connections; Health and healing; Life skills and social housing; Improved quality of life; Recreation; Crime prevention/Safety; Transition programs for Aboriginal people new to urban life; and Childcare to urban life and Childcare.

Expected Result 6: Enhanced knowledge and understanding of the UAS.

Indicators	Targets/Timing	Actual Results
Level of overall recognition both regionally (in pilot project cities) and nationally. Number of requests for information.	Increase over 2004 levels.	This past year has established a notable increase over the previous year in relation to the number of public and private organizations seeking for information on UAS pilot projects. In addition, OFI finalized a communications plan that will help guide the communications activities of the Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians, as well as other Federal Ministers whose departments are involved in the UAS. This plan will assist them as they deliver or contribute to the Urban Aboriginal Strategy pilot projects.

Output: Publications, news releases and briefings.

Indicators	Targets/Timing	Actual Results
Number of publications, news releases and briefings.	Annual basis.	Our combined efforts in relation to the provision of information through our publications and briefings have indicated a marked improvement in interest from public and private sources over the previous year.

Output: Requests for information and speaking engagements.

Indicators	Targets/Timing	Actual Results
Number of requests for information and speaking engagements.	Increase from 2004 levels.	We have had a noted increase for information and speaking engagements from Federal departments and agencies, and Aboriginal stakeholders over the previous year.

Horizontal Linkages

Expected Result 7:Quality and quantity of horizontal linkages will improve.

Indicators	Targets/Timing	Actual Results
Number of partners providing information and/or support. Level of information-sharing and collaboration, citations, references. Self-assessed perceptions of partners.	Maintain 2004 levels.	The UAS's contribution to pilot projects was $13, 417,000 an amount which leveraged an additional $23.7 million. Most Aboriginal UAS committee members believe that working with federal government officials in the course of moving the UAS forward has established productive and collegial working relationships. There is a very high degree of trust with the UAS coordinators and staff (either WD or Service Canada officials), both to collaborate in the best interests of the Aboriginal community and to operate in an open and honest manner. In seven of the 12 communities, including three of the four new communities, there are provincial and municipal government representatives on the UAS steering committee as full voting members. In communities where these officials were interviewed, about half of them strongly support the UAS and actively work in their own capacities as government officials to foster better coordination. Academia is showing a strong and continued interest in the UAS.

Output: Partnerships/working relationships within federal government.

Indicators	Targets/Timing	Actual Results
Number of relationships established/maintained.	Annual basis. Maintain 2004 levels.	A draft national MOU with PSEPC – NCPC was developed to help facilitate partnerships at the Regional level and allow for easier transfer of funds to WD and Service Canada for individual pilot projects. Value of federal funding leveraged was $1.93 million.

Expected Result 8: Attention brought to bear on MNSI and urban Aboriginal issues and priorities by other government departments.

Indicators	Targets/Timing	Actual Results
Demonstrated awareness of MNSI and/or urban Aboriginal issues.	Improvement over 2004 levels.	The Prime Minister led the process that involved the majority of Cabinet Ministers as member of the Aboriginal Affairs committee and their participation in the FMM process. These ministers and their senior government officials were engaged over the course of the year in discussions with representatives from MNSI organizations on issues and means to improve the quality of life of Aboriginal people. This intense initiative resulted in the all parties agreeing upon taking immediate action to improve the quality of life of Aboriginal people in the areas of health, education, housing, and economic opportunities. They established specific goals and performance measures to ensure progress.
Level of specific use of information generated by Office of Federal Interlocutor.	Maintain 2004 levels.	All resources were made available to assist those officials of the Office of the Federal Interlocutor in the FMM and Accord processes. Their depth of knowledge on issues and working relationship with MNSI organizations greatly assisted in expediting the formation of positions on issues that were accepted by all parties.

Output: Meetings with federal Cabinet members, senior officials.

Indicators	Targets/Timing	Actual Results
Number of meetings and/or presentations.	Ongoing, on annual basis. Maintain 2004 levels.	A series of meetings was held throughout the year with senior government officials. These meetings were led by a steering committee comprised of representatives from the Federal and Provincial governments and the five national Aboriginal organizations including the Métis National Council and Congress of Aboriginal People. The focus was on establishing how improvements in the quality of life for Aboriginal people could be realized through initiatives in the area of housing, health, education, economic opportunities and relationship building.

How did these accomplishments support the priority?

In the past, it was evident that profound differences existed between Métis, Non-Status Indians and urban Aboriginal people and the federal government on interpretation of issues and resolution mechanisms. Many Aboriginal Canadians continues to live in poverty and lacked the tools required to build a better future for themselves that is comparable to other Canadians. The continued work by the Office of the Federal Interlocutor through their bilateral and tripartite processes and our response to the Supreme Court decision on Powley has help set the foundation for the gains achieved through the First Minister's meeting (FMM) and the Accords. One of our primary goals has been in building capacity within MNSI organizations so that they can better represent and serve their people. The gains that have been made in this area are evident through the final products produced in the Accord agreements and the action plans and goals agreed to in the FMM process with the Federal and Provincial governments.

Also, in 2004–05, the Office of the Federal Interlocutor conducted an evaluation of activities to date under the Urban Aboriginal strategy. This evaluation concluded that the Government of Canada's approach appears to be a promising model for addressing the needs of urban Aboriginal people by involving provinces, municipalities, the private sector and local Aboriginal organizations.