Federal Transfers to B.C. First Nations Totalled $27.2B Over 23 Years

A Canadian flag hangs over the ceremonial entrance at the legislature as people walk about in Victoria, B.C., on March 7, 2025. The Canadian Press/Chad Hipolito

First Nations in British Columbia received more than $27 billion from the federal government over a 23-year period, a new report finds.

The report from the Aristotle Foundation published on June 16 highlights the scale of government financial transfers to indigenous communities in B.C. between fiscal years 2001-2002 and 2024-2025. It determined that, after adjusting for inflation, the average annual amount equalled $1.2 billion annually for a total of $27.2 billion.