Background on the Promise

During his campaign for prime minister, Mark Carney pledged to protect K-12 education on-reserve, with the specific outcome of ensuring that more First Nations children can attend school surrounded by their language, culture, and communities. This promise aimed to address longstanding gaps in educational opportunities for Indigenous youth, building on previous commitments to transform First Nations education systems. The focus was on preserving and enhancing culturally relevant education to support better outcomes for students living on reserves.

Actions Taken by the Carney Government

Since taking office in late April 2025, Prime Minister Mark Carney's government has engaged in several meetings with First Nations leaders, primarily centered on economic development and major infrastructure projects. For instance, Carney met with the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak in March 2025 to discuss First Nations priorities, though this occurred shortly before the election. Post-election, a summit in July 2025 addressed concerns over the Building Canada Act (Bill C-5), which aims to fast-track nation-building projects in collaboration with Indigenous peoples. However, these discussions have not explicitly addressed K-12 education reforms or protections.

No specific initiatives, funding announcements, or policy changes directly related to on-reserve K-12 education have been reported under Carney's administration as of August 30, 2025. The government has emphasized broader Indigenous partnerships, such as through the new Major Projects Office launched in August 2025, but these efforts focus on economic prosperity rather than educational protections. Earlier commitments from 2019 under the previous government introduced a new funding and policy approach for First Nations K-12 education, but there has been no indication of building upon or protecting this framework under Carney.

Legislation Proposed or Passed

The Carney government has prioritized legislation like the Building Canada Act (Bill C-5), passed in June 2025, which seeks to streamline major projects while involving Indigenous partners. This act includes provisions for collaboration with First Nations, but it does not mention education or allocate resources for K-12 programs on reserves. No new bills specifically targeting on-reserve education have been proposed or passed. Consultations on Bill C-5 involved First Nations leaders, but feedback highlighted concerns over rushed processes and lack of genuine consultation, with no ties to educational protections.

Progress on Specific Outcomes

The promise's key outcome—to enable more First Nations kids to attend school immersed in their language, culture, and communities—has seen no reported advancements. There have been no announcements of increased funding for culturally integrated schools, language preservation programs, or community-based education initiatives. Calls from the AFN in January 2025 urged the government to honor existing K-12 transformation commitments, but these predate Carney's tenure as prime minister. Without targeted actions, the gap in providing culturally surrounded education persists, and no metrics on increased enrollment or program expansions have been shared.

Overall Status

This promise is not started.