Statement from the Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres (OFIFC) on Trusted Source Program Funding

April 9, 2025

Toronto, ON — The Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres (OFIFC) is disappointed by the recent decision from Indigenous Services Canada to discontinue funding for our Trusted Source partnership in fiscal year 2025–2026.

Over the past year, the OFIFC and several member Friendship Centres across Ontario have proudly participated in this pilot initiative. Through our involvement, we have helped hundreds of individuals reclaim their identity through registration under the Indian Act and by accessing Secure Certificates of Indian Status (SCIS). For many, this process is deeply personal and often emotional — far more than a simple 20-minute application.

Friendship Centres have long supported First Nations people navigating the registration process, often without dedicated funding. The Trusted Source pilot marked the first time that meaningful financial support was offered for this important work. While the partnership was framed as a collaborative effort, we were surprised by the abrupt withdrawal of funding, especially after ongoing conversations that led us to believe continued investment was forthcoming. Despite a shared commitment to improving access and outcomes, key expectations and benchmarks were never clearly communicated.

The shift in funding priorities now requires Friendship Centres to do more with less, creating instability not only in service delivery but in staffing and community trust. It is incredibly difficult to recruit and retain skilled staff for a one-year program with no funding certainty. Communities are left without consistent supports, and organizations are placed in the position of hiring only to later lay off staff, something that is not sustainable for community well-being.

Despite this setback, the OFIFC remains committed to supporting urban Indigenous peoples. We are encouraged that our designation as a Trusted Source remains intact and will continue to offer assistance wherever possible, albeit without the funding needed to do so at scale.

We remain hopeful that the federal government will take this opportunity to reconsider its approach—one that values not only efficiency, but the cultural safety, relationship-building, and holistic supports that Friendship Centres uniquely offer. Urban Indigenous communities deserve better than short-term, transactional approaches to deeply rooted needs.

For media inquiries

Please send your communication to media@ofifc.org

NT5