National Council for Reconciliation
Learn how the Government of Canada is responding to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action 53 to 56.
Based on data provided March 2025.
53. We call upon the Parliament of Canada, in consultation and collaboration with Aboriginal Peoples, to enact legislation to establish a National Council for Reconciliation.
What's happening?
Background
In December 2017, the Prime Minister announced the creation of an independent, Indigenous-led Interim Board of Directors to advise on the creation of the National Council for Reconciliation. The Interim Board provided recommendations in June 2018, which informed the development of a draft legislative framework for the National Council for Reconciliation. The Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations established a Transitional Committee in December 2021 to continue the Interim Board's work. In March 2022, the Transitional Committee made recommendations on the core elements of legislation to provide for the establishment of the National Council for Reconciliation. Both the Interim Board and the Transitional Committee built on and respected the work conducted by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, including its extensive engagement activities.
Bill C-29, an Act to provide for the establishment of a national council for reconciliation, developed based on the recommendations of the Interim Board and the Transitional Committee, was tabled in Parliament in June 2022. The House and Senate heard from witnesses, including National Indigenous Organizations, other Indigenous organizations and experts, whose testimony strengthened the Bill, which received Royal Assent on April 30, 2024.
Current Status
The National Council for Reconciliation Act came into force on July 2, 2024, and the National Council for Reconciliation was incorporated under the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act on March 3, 2025, fulfilling Call to Action 53. The Council will be a independent, Indigenous-led, non-political organization whose purpose is to advance reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Canada. It will monitor progress towards reconciliation in all sectors of Canadian society, including the progress made towards the implementation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action.
Recent budget investments
Budget 2019 announced a total of $126.5 million to support the establishment of the National Council for Reconciliation, which includes a $125 million endowment and $1.5 million to support the first year of operations.
Recent progress
The Transitional Committee and the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs jointly selected the Council's first board of directors as stipulated in the National Council for Reconciliation Act. The Transitional Committee incorporated the Council under the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act, establishing it as an independent, Indigenous-led, non-political organization working to advance reconciliation.
Next steps
Although Call to Action 53 is complete, work is ongoing on related Calls to Action 54 to 56.
54. We call upon the Government of Canada to provide multi-year funding for the National Council for Reconciliation to ensure that it has the financial, human, and technical resources required to conduct its work, including the endowment of a National Reconciliation Trust to advance the cause of reconciliation.
What's happening?
The Government of Canada announced $126.5 million in Budget 2019 to support the establishment and operation of the National Council for Reconciliation. This includes $125 million for an endowment and $1.5 million to support the first year of the Council's operations.
Recent Progress
The National Council for Reconciliation Act came into force on July 2, 2024, and the National Council for Reconciliation was incorporated under the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act on March 3, 2025.
Next steps
This National Council for Reconciliation, now an independent not-for-profit organization, is taking the necessary steps to become operational and receive the funds allocated in Budget 2019.
55. We call upon all levels of government to provide annual reports or any current data requested by the National Council for Reconciliation so that it can report on the progress towards reconciliation. The reports or data would include, but not be limited to:
- The number of Aboriginal children—including Métis and Inuit children—in care, compared with non-Aboriginal children, the reasons for apprehension, and the total spending on preventive and care services by child-welfare agencies.
- Comparative funding for the education of First Nations children on and off reserves.
- The educational and income attainments of Aboriginal peoples in Canada compared with non-Aboriginal people.
- Progress on closing the gaps between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities in a number of health indicators such as: infant mortality, maternal health, suicide, mental health, addictions, life expectancy, birth rates, infant and child health issues, chronic diseases, illness and injury incidence, and the availability of appropriate health services.
- Progress on eliminating the overrepresentation of Aboriginal children in youth custody over the next decade.
- Progress on reducing the rate of criminal victimization of Aboriginal people, including data related to homicide and family violence victimization and other crimes.
- Progress on reducing the overrepresentation of Aboriginal people in the justice and correctional systems.
What's happening?
One of the functions of the National Council for Reconciliation is to monitor and report on progress towards reconciliation, including progress on the implementation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action.
The National Council for Reconciliation Act specifies that the federal government will provide the Council with an annual status report on the indicators identified in Call to Action 55 within 6 months after the end of each financial year. These indicators relate to issues such as:
- children in care
- funding for education
- educational and income attainments
- health
- youth in custody
- criminal victimization
- justice and correctional systems
Work to fulfil this obligation in the Act and to address Call to Action 55 is led by Crown Indigenous-Relations and Northern Affairs Canada.
Recent Budget Investments
The Government of Canada announced in Budget 2019 that $126.5 million was allocated to support the establishment of the National Council for Reconciliation. This includes a $125 million endowment and $1.5 million to support the first year of the Council's initial operations.
Recent Progress
The Transitional Committee for the National Council for Reconciliation and the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs jointly selected the Council's first board of directors as stipulated in the National Council for Reconciliation Act. On March 3, 2025, the Transitional Committee incorporated the Council under the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act, establishing it as an independent, Indigenous-led, non-political organization, working to advance reconciliation.
Next steps
The federal government will prepare to provide the National Council, once incorporated, with an annual report providing information regarding the indicators identified in the Act. Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada will work intra- and inter-departmentally to meet this obligation.
56. We call upon the Prime Minister of Canada to formally respond to the report of the National Council for Reconciliation by issuing an annual "State of Aboriginal Peoples" report, which would outline the government's plans for advancing the cause of reconciliation.
What's happening?
As per the National Council for Reconciliation Act, the Council is an independent, Indigenous-led, not-for-profit organization whose purpose is to advance reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Canada. One of its functions will be to monitor and report on progress towards reconciliation, including the implementation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action.
The Act requires the Council to submit to the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations an annual report on the Government of Canada's progress towards reconciliation and the progress toward reconciliation across all levels of government and sectors of Canadian society. The report is to include the Council's recommendations regarding measures to promote, prioritize and coordinate reconciliation in all sectors of Canadian society and by all governments of Canada.
The Act specifies that the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations must cause a copy of the Council's annual report to be laid before each House of Parliament. The Prime Minister, on behalf of the Government of Canada, must respond to matters addressed by the Council's report that are under the jurisdiction of Parliament by publishing a report on the state of Indigenous Peoples that outlines the Government of Canada's plans for advancing reconciliation.
Recent Budget Investments
The Government of Canada announced in Budget 2019 that $126.5 million was allocated to support the establishment of the National Council for Reconciliation. This includes a $125 million endowment and $1.5 million to support the first year of the Council's initial operations.
Recent progress
The National Council for Reconciliation was incorporated on March 3, 2025.
Next steps
The Prime Minister of Canada will respond to the Council's annual report by publishing an annual report on the state of Indigenous Peoples.