Indigenous Services Canada: Reducing Red Tape

In July 2025, the President of the Treasury Board launched a government-wide review of red tape in regulations, calling on departments to report on progress made towards reducing regulatory burdens and to further develop plans to eliminate outdated or unnecessary rules, reduce duplication or overlap with provincial rules and streamline the administration of rules and the delivery of regulatory decisions.

Many of the regulations under the responsibility of the Minister of Indigenous Services are pursuant to the Indian Act. These regulations cover areas of governance on reserve, for example, elements of financial management, elections, land and environmental management. Other regulations are aimed at enabling large economic development projects, safety in relation to family violence and alternate methods for holding elections.

ISC is undertaking a review of regulations, with the goal of eliminating barriers to economic development for Indigenous communities. Any review of regulations will be done in partnership and consultation with Indigenous communities.

As part of the review, ISC is committed to conducting a forward-looking consultation process with Indigenous communities to improve regulatory efficiency and transparency, ensuring that reforms respect Indigenous rights, align with self-government aspirations, and are consistent with obligations under the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). These efforts aim to modernize the regulatory framework in ways that support economic development, community decision-making, and long-term Indigenous-led governance.

There is much work to do to create the conditions for sustained economic opportunity. This includes supporting and increasing predictable own-source revenues for Indigenous governments and communities, completing reforms to land and permitting processes so projects can move forward more quickly and with greater certainty, and expanding frameworks that reduce reliance on the Indian Act.

Building on the progress already made through Indigenous loan guarantees, procurement initiatives, and institutions such as the First Nations Tax Commission, First Nations Major Projects Coalition and First Nations Financial Management Board, ISC is committed to working in partnership with Indigenous-led institutions to expand fiscal tools, strengthen revenue generation, and support long-term economic development and independence. These efforts will help remove barriers, provide stability for Indigenous governments, and create opportunities that contribute to growth and prosperity.