Dear John,

Since 2015, the federal government has paid nearly $18 billion settling an increasing number of ‘specific claims’ by First Nations, including more than $7 billion last year alone.

A new study published by the Fraser Institute reveals details about “specific claims,” which began in 1974 and are filed by First Nations who claim that Canadian governments — past or present — violated the Indian Act or historic treaty agreements, such as when governments purchased reserve land for railway lines or hydro projects.

The number of specific claims and the value of the settlement paid out have increased dramatically since 2015: in 2015/16, 11 specific claims totaling $27 million (2024 dollars) were filed. By 2024/25, that rose to 69 claims worth $7.061 billion.

Ottawa should set a deadline for filing specific claims so that the government and First Nations leaders can focus instead on programs that would do more to improve the living standards and prosperity for both current and future Indigenous peoples.

Learn more here, and be sure to share this with your friends and neighbours!

Sincerely,

Niels Veldhuis
President
The Fraser Institute