AFN presses Ottawa for funded plan to close $376B infrastructure gap in upcoming federal budget

The Assembly of First Nations is calling on the federal government to use Thursday’s budget to set out a fully funded plan, developed with First Nations, to close an infrastructure gap now estimated at more than $376 billion. National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak said at a news conference Tuesday that the scale of the infrastructure gap shortfall demands immediate and sustained attention. “The AFN estimates put the First Nations infrastructure gap at over $376 billion over the next ten years. Canada committed to closing this gap by 2030. The budget must set out a funded plan with First Nations to deliver on that commitment,” she said. Woodhouse Nepinak pointed to joint research with the Conference Board of Canada showing the economic payoff of those investments. “Through our research with the Conference Board of Canada, the Assembly of First Nations describes how these generational investments will create hundreds of thousands of jobs and return $1.82 for every one dollar invested in closing the gap,” she said. She warned that continued underfunding is driving costs higher. “Federal investment has not kept pace with First Nations infrastructure needs, and delays are making the gap more costly to close.” The national chief noted that Prime Minister Mark Carney has already acknowledged more is required. “The prime minister acknowledged more was needed to close these gaps. So we will watch Thursday’s budget very closely.” Why the gap matters The infrastructure shortfall covers housing, water and wastewater systems, schools, roads, health facilities and community buildings on reserve.  According to AFN’s Closing the Infrastructure Gap (CTIG) reports, the gap means overcrowded and mould-damaged homes, long-term drinking-water advisories, schools that fail basic space and safety standards and limited ability to support economic development or climate adaptation.  ITK asking for Inuit identity card  The Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK) is calling for a standalone “Inuit-specific section consistent with the Inuit Nunangat Policy.”  The ITK represents approximately 70,000 Inuit in Inuit Nunangat across the North.  President Natan Obed is also calling for an “income-tested $7,500 refundable tax credit for low-income individual residents of Inuit Nunangat to address extreme cost-of-living pressures” and permanent funding of “$120 million annually for a long-term replacement of the Inuit Child First Initiative”  ITK, according to its 2026 pre-budget submission, calls for the government to introduce “legislation as part of the Budget Implementation Act to establish the Inuit Nunangat University,” coupled with $10 million over three years to develop and distribute a “National Inuit Identity Card” and a new “Build Inuit Nunangat Fund of $1 billion over five years”.  APTN News reached out to the ITK for an interview but did not hear back.  Métis National Council asking for $2B for health  The Métis National Council’s 2026 pre-budget submission seeks “distinctions-based investments” that strengthen Métis governments, and calls for “$5.2 million over five years to renew the Canada-Métis Nation Housing agreement, $3.8 million over three years to enable Métis economic participation in nation-building projects; $15 million over five years to renew Métis-led urban and youth programming; $181 million over five years to expand the Métis Nation Post-Secondary Education Strategy; $4.5 million over three years for Métis participation in elementary and secondary education systems and $2.14 billion over five years for Métis health infrastructure and extended health benefits.” Keelan JacobsOnline Journalist | OttawaKeelan is Anishinaabe from Walpole Island First Nation (Bkejwanong Territory). He graduated with an Honours B.A. In Political Science from the University of Toronto and follows the stories where power, money and public policy meet. Keelan has a strong interest in economics and finance, and is a lifelong hockey and sports fan. Continue Reading