Spring Economic Update 2026

Press Release

Apr 30, 2026

On April 28, 2026, Minister of Finance and National Revenue François-Philippe Champagne delivered the Spring Economic Update, titled Canada Strong for All.

The Spring Economic Update was positioned by the federal government as providing a path to Canada Strong for All—with new investments of more than $37 billion across the $25 billion Canada Strong sovereign wealth fund, mobilizing the workforce through Team Canada Strong investments, and $7 billion to address affordable housing. None of these investments includes any specific allocations to First Nations, creating the impression that Canada’s path to “building strong” does not include First Nations. The Spring Economic Update also lacked distinctions-based funding for First Nations infrastructure, housing and clean water—despite the government’s commitment to close the infrastructure gap by 2030.

The Spring Economic Update makes some commitments to First Nations, particularly around health and education:

• $794 million in 2026-27 to support the Non-Insured Health Benefits Program.
• $630 million over two years, starting in 2026-27, to maintain trauma-informed and culturally appropriate mental wellness services for Indigenous people, including continued support for crisis lines and Indigenous-led mental wellness programming that supports community-based services grounded in culture and ceremony.
• $400 million over five years, starting in 2026-27, to maintain access to high-quality primary care services, including nurses, nurse practitioners, and paramedics for First Nations in rural and remote on-reserve communities.
• $601 million in 2026-27 to support high-quality, culturally relevant elementary and secondary education on reserve that meets the needs of students so that First Nations youth can participate fully in Canada’s skilled workforce
• $700 million over six years, starting in 2025-26, to continue to support Indigenous communities to implement their own solutions to protect children and families by exercising their jurisdiction under An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families.

The Spring Economic Update falls short in meeting the urgent and long-term needs identified by First Nations. It does provide continued support for Jordan’s Principle and the First Nations Child and Family Services Program, but this reflects previously announced and ongoing funding, not new investments. It also lacks new investments in critical areas such as implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, policing, or First Nations procurement.

The AFN will continue to advocate for consistent and sustained investments to close the First Nations infrastructure gap, identify and press for investments in First Nations priorities in advance of Budget 2026, and conduct further research and analysis to develop supporting rationale for funding requirements.

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