Page - 57 - in VULNERABLE - The Law, Policy and Ethics of COVID-19

57COVID-19 and First Nations’ Responses and Métis ($30 million) is based on population (2016 census), remote- ness, and community well-being. For a breakdown by province/ter- ritory, see Figure A2.2 at the end of the chapter.22 According to the Minister, “these new funds will provide Indigenous leadership with the flexibility needed to design and implement community-based solutions to prepare for and react to the spread of COVID-19 within their communities.”23 Indigenous organizations providing services to Indigenous people in urban centres/off reserve received $15 mil- lion. The adequacy of the funding provided is contested: the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples filed an application in Federal Court claiming inadequate and discriminatory funding for off-reserve and urban Indigenous people.24 Following this application, on May 21, 2020, the federal government announced an additional $75 million in COVID- 19 funding for Indigenous individuals living off-reserve.25 Other pock- ets of funds have been allocated by ISC to Indigenous communities for: a) public health short-term needs (implement pandemic plans, and for public health and primary care related to a COVID outbreak) ($100 million); b) short-term, interest-free loans and non-repayable contributions for businesses (up to $306.8 million); c) increased subsi- dies for the Nutrition North program ($25 million); d) “distinctions- based” support for post-secondary students ($75.2 million); and e) funds to support families in the Northwest Territories to move onto the land as a physical distancing measure ($2.6 million).26 22. Ibid. 23. Ibid. 24. Kristy Kirkup, “Congress of Aboriginal Peoples File Court Application Over Federal Funding Levels During COVID-19”, The  Globe  and  Mail  (May 14 2020), online: <https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-congress-of-aborig- inal-peoples-file-court-application-over-federal/?utm_source=First+Peoples+La w+Blog&utm_campaign=3c0cf73dd4-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2019_07_10_09_19_ COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_84105b31a3-3c0cf73dd4- 196448785>. 25. Rachel Aiello, “PM Offering $75 Million More in COVID-19 Aid to Indigenous People Living Off-Reserve”, CTV News (21 May 2020), online: <https://www. ctvnews.ca/canada/pm-offering-75-million-more-in-covid-19-aid-to-indige- nous-people-living-off-reserve-1.4947961>. 26. Supra note 22; Indigenous Services Canada, COVID-19  Specific  Funding  Announced  by  Government  of  Canada  to  Support  First  Nations  Public  Health  Response (Ottawa: Indigenous Services Canada, 2020), online: Indigenous  Services Canada <https://www.sac-isc.gc.ca/eng/1584819394157/15848194185 53#b>; Indigenous Services Canada, News Release, “Indigenous, Territorial and Federal Leaders Mobilize Funding to Support Unique Northern Physical Distancing Initiative” (30 March 2020), online: Indigenous  Services  Canada  <https://www.canada.ca/en/indigenous-services-canada/news/2020/03/