Under the Accountability Microscope: Canadian Indigenous Accountability Policies, 2006-2016

Abstract

Political commentary, including discussion of Indigenous accountability, regarding nation to nation relationship building with Canada’s Indigenous nations has increased significantly since the federal election in October 2015. However, little academic research exists that assesses how prepared Canada’s public administrators are to implement such a vision. This thesis seeks to address this gap by exploring the role of accountability in the government’s relationship with First Nation communities. In particular, it investigates how the Conservative Government’s Indigenous accountability policies changed during their tenure from 2006-2016 and how these changes affected the Crown’s relationship with First Nation communities. The evidence collected through this project supports the argument that New Public Management, Canada’s current model of Public Administration, is fundamentally incapable of fostering an authentic nation to nation relationship as envisioned by many First Nation communities and Indigenous organizations. Communities remain subservient to the Crown through top-down Ministerial accountability, which remains firmly in place ten years later. Moreover, attempts to reduce program reporting requirements on First Nation communities has not resulted in any significant reduction in their reporting burden. This thesis argues that meaningful engagement with First Nation communities is a crucial interim step toward a new administrative framework that enables greater Indigenous self-determination.