2025 Reports 1 to 4 of the Auditor General of Canada—First Nations people applying for status waited too long for Indigenous Services Canada to make decisions

2025 Reports 1 to 4 of the Auditor General of Canada to the Parliament of CanadaFirst Nations people applying for status waited too long for Indigenous Services Canada to make decisions

Ottawa, 10 June 2025—A report from Auditor General Karen Hogan tabled today in the House of Commons concludes that Indigenous Services Canada and Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada poorly managed the First Nations registration process, slowing First Nations peoples’ access to important services such as on‑reserve housing, financial assistance for post-secondary education, and health benefits not covered by other programs or plans.

The audit found that Indigenous Services Canada’s average time to make a decision on complex registration applications was almost 16 months, exceeding the department’s 6‑month service standard. Even when applicants were prioritized for reasons such as medical emergencies, the department took about 10 months on average to make a decision.

The audit also found that Indigenous Services Canada did not have evidence to show that most officials making final decisions on applications had the required training and certification at the time they made those decisions.

Indigenous Services Canada has the mandate to gradually transfer registration responsibilities to First Nations communities. Partnering with community-based registration administrators and trusted source organizations to help deliver the registration program to First Nations people is consistent with the department’s mandate. However, the audit found that funding for trusted sources was unpredictable and unstable, while the funding formula for community-based registration administrators had remained unchanged since 1994.

“Registration under the Indian Act plays a central role in the recognition of First Nations people under Canadian law,” Ms. Hogan said. “It gives access to important services and benefits, but people are waiting far too long for decisions.”

- 30 -

The 2025 Report of the Auditor General of Canada, Registration Under the Indian Act, is available on the Office of the Auditor General of Canada website.

Please visit our Media Room for more information.