Ottawa Spent Nearly $18 Billion on ‘Specific Claims’ Settlements by First Nations Since 2015: Study

Ottawa Spent Nearly $18 Billion on ‘Specific Claims’ Settlements by First Nations Since 2015: Study
Construction workers build scaffolding on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on March 20, 2025. The Canadian Press/Sean Kilpatrick
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Canada’s federal government has spent nearly $18 billion to settle ‘specific claims’ by First Nations since 2015, including more than $7 billion in the 2024-2025 fiscal year, a new study indicates.

Specific claims are filed by First Nations and are based on the government’s alleged violation of the Indian Act, relating to the administration of land or other assets, or the fulfilment of a treaty. These claims have been accepted by the federal government since 1974.