OTTAWA, ON, Nov. 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The National Association of Friendship Centers (NAFC) is deeply concerned about the release of the 2025 federal budget and the government's missed opportunity to address the realities of urban Indigenous peoples. Despite promises to protect essential programs that empower Canadians, the federal government has neglected to mention Friendship Centres, despite the clear need, the demonstrated success of Friendship Centres, past commitments and the growing urban Indigenous population.
NAFC has consistently advised the Government that the costs of inaction and lack of investment will outweigh the cost of initial and sustained investment in the country's largest Indigenous service delivery network. The support for the millions of people who rely on Friendship Centers and the good jobs provided by the Indigenous people who work at Friendship Centres, especially Indigenous women, is in dire danger of disappearing.
“Simply put, this budget does not meet our expectations,” said Jocelyn W. Forsma, NAFC CEO. “In terms of the ways in which we contribute to the development of this country, we believed that this government would increase support for Friendship Centers as promised in their Liberal Party platform – that is not in this budget. This government promised to invest in human capital empowerment – yet the largest provider of urban Indigenous capacity building and social services for Indigenous people remains sluggish. This government promised to continue the hard work of reconciliation – yet this budget leaves a lot of questions.”
Failure to invest in urban Indigenous communities is not just an oversight; it is a conscious and deliberate decision to ignore the needs of the vast majority of indigenous peoples. Friendship Centers provide safer communities through culturally relevant programs and services that reach and connect more than a million people annually. They provide essential capacity building in areas such as employment and training, housing, food security, child care, youth programs and mental health, resulting in safer communities and people better prepared to participate in the economy. Without targeted and sustainable funding, these critical services are at risk.
The Urban Indigenous Programs (UPIP), which provides core funding for the Friendship Centres, ends in 2026. The absence of any sign of long-term renewal in the 2025 budget puts the entire network of more than 100 friendship centers and provincial/territorial associations at risk. Many have reached capacity and are struggling to meet growing demand. Without long-term investment, government inaction could lead to program cuts, layoffs and, in some cases, permanent closure.
During every major emergency in this country, including COVID-19, extreme heat and cold, and wildfire response, Friendship Centers is committed to doing everything we can to keep our communities safe and supported. Friendship Centers constantly encourages giving, giving, giving, and we do this with great pride and excellence. However, when we demonstrate our need for capacity and investment, we are constantly left behind and behind.
“Urban Indigenous people have been left out of this budget and, we fear, left behind by this government,” said Pam Glaude-Derochers, NAFC board president. “With the city's Indigenous programs set to expire in 2026, the silence in this budget sends a devastating message that the survival of Friendship Centers and the well-being of the communities they serve are not priorities. When Friendship Centers are forced to scale back operations, urban Indigenous peoples lose their safety nets. Families lose access to food programs, youth lose mentors, people are at risk of accessing housing support, and communities lose hope. The social and economic costs of this loss will be far away. exceeds the investment required to maintain these services.”
NAFC calls on the federal government to immediately engage with the Friendship Center Movement and commit to long-term, sustainable funding for urban Indigenous programs before it is too late.
FOR MEDIA REQUESTS:
John Pale
Senior Public Relations Coordinator
[email protected]
The National Association of Friendship Centers is a network of over 100 Friendship Centers and provincial/territorial associations that form part of the Friendship Center Movement – Canada's most significant national network of self-determined Indigenous-owned and operated community civil society centers offering programs, services and support to urban Indigenous peoples.
