Canada’s colonial genocide of Indigenous peoples and ongoing systemic neglect has contributed to mental health challenges for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples, which, in turn, have led to harm in Indigenous communities. The loss of their culture, identity, and self-determination has had profound and lasting impacts on their mental well-being, with Indigenous peoples being more than twice as likely to seek mental health support as non-Indigenous Canadians. Yet they continue to face systemic barriers to accessing care.
In 2015, CCCs were delisted as eligible providers under the Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) in unregulated provinces. In 2025, Jordan’s Principle adopted a similar policy resulting in significant service gaps.
These exclusions are not grounded in evidence or cost-benefit analysis. CCCs remain eligible under other federally funded programs such as the Public Service Health Care Plan, Veterans Affairs Canada, and the First Nations Health Authority in BC. Maintaining inconsistent standards across programs undermines service delivery efficiency and equitable access to care.
Moreover, current policies limit the participation of Indigenous CCCs, preventing them from providing services in their home communities and reducing access to culturally grounded care. This not only weakens health outcomes but contradicts the government’s commitment to Indigenous self-determination and reconciliation.
The Assembly of First Nations–FNIHB Joint Review Committee recommended reinstatement in 2015. The House of Commons Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs reaffirmed this in 2022 in Report Six, Recommendation 17. Despite consensus among stakeholders, no corrective action has been taken.
Reinstating CCCs in these programs is a fiscally responsible measure that delivers high return on investment. With over 2,600 CCCs already certified and working in underserved areas, this policy change would immediately expand capacity without new infrastructure or lengthy onboarding processes.
As the federal government faces a projected $5 billion decline in core Indigenous program funding by 2027 and has initiated a 15% internal budget reduction at Indigenous Services Canada, it is imperative to adopt high-impact, cost-effective strategies. Reinstating CCCs is a low-barrier, scalable solution that strengthens mental health access without expanding overhead.
At the same time, these programs must be reformed through an Indigenous governance lens. NIHB and Jordan’s Principle continue to be shaped by top-down, colonial frameworks that exclude Indigenous voices from critical decisions about eligibility, access, and care. A reformed approach must prioritize Indigenous leadership, accountability, and cultural knowledges—ensuring that mental health supports are not only available, but grounded in the rights, experiences, and self-determined priorities of First Nations and Inuit peoples.
We urge the federal government to reinstate CCCs as eligible providers in these programs in the unregulated provinces of NL, MB, SK, and AB as a fiscally sound step toward fulfilling national reconciliation obligations, improving health equity, and delivering tangible results within existing budget constraints.