(Toronto, Ont. – October 22, 2025) The Chiefs of Ontario are expressing deep concern following the Auditor General of Canada’s latest report, which exposes the federal government’s ongoing failure to meet even the most basic standards of service delivery for Nations across the country.

Despite nearly a decade of audits and billions of dollars in spending, the report found that Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) has made unsatisfactory progress on critical issues such as access to health care, clean drinking water, and emergency management. The Auditor General warns that without a fundamental shift in approach, Canada will continue to fall short in advancing reconciliation.

“First Nations do not need more reports confirming what we already know, we need real action and accountability” said Ontario Regional Chief Abram Benedict. “The federal government’s inability to implement its own recommendations shows that the system is broken.”

The Auditor General reviewed six past audits, dating back to 2015, covering access to health services, oral health programs, socio-economic gaps in education, safe drinking water, pandemic response, and emergency management. Despite repeated commitments from Ottawa, the report concludes that many of the same deficiencies persist, gaps even widening in some circumstances, leaving First Nations without equitable access to essential services and infrastructure.

“First Nations must define priorities, control funding, and deliver programs based on their own laws, values, and knowledge systems. Canada’s current service delivery model has failed to support this approach, and it’s time to move to a model by First Nations for First Nations.”

The Chiefs of Ontario will continue to review the Auditor General’s findings in detail and work with First Nations Leadership across the region to hold Canada accountable and advocate for better partnerships which fully recognize and uphold First Nations’ rights and governance.

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The Chiefs of Ontario supports all First Nations in Ontario as they assert their sovereignty, jurisdiction, and their chosen expression of nationhood. Follow Chiefs of Ontario on Facebook, X, Instagram, or LinkedIn @ChiefsOfOntario

Media Contact:

Isak Vaillancourt

Communications Manager

Chiefs of Ontario

Telephone: 416-819-8184

Email: isak.vaillancourt@coo.org