Support for consultation

This component is designed to help nations and communities that plan to take part in the consultation and cooperation processes initiated by the Government of Québec. Its objectives are:

• to make it easier for the Government of Québec to fulfill its constitutional obligation to consult Indigenous communities, and
• to develop and maintain a harmonious relationship with Indigenous people in Québec.

To best meet the needs of Indigenous nations and communities, this component has been divided into two categories:

• Funding for consultations – Category I
• Funding for specific projects – Category II

To deal with the broad range of topics and many consultations initiated by the Government of Québec, the first category provides funding to help communities respond to requests for consultation by creating consultation offices. The objective of such offices is to give communities specific for taking part in consultations initiated by the Government of Québec. The amount of the funding is determined by the SAA in cooperation with the relevant government departments, taking into account the amount of work expected for a given period. In this way, communities will have enough funds to acquire the resources they need to do the expected work.

The second category provides funding for specific structuring projects to make it easier for communities to take part in consultations launched by the Government of Québec. It also provides funding for projects that offer solutions to various issues and problems identified jointly by an Indigenous nation or community and the Government of Québec. When the need for such a project arises, extra funding is made available to communities to allow them to acquire the additional resources needed to take part in cooperation and discussion activities. The funding also allows Indigenous communities to benefit from expert advice when specific needs arise.

Category I – consultation

To be eligible for this component, a nation or community must have been asked by a government department or body or a state-owned corporation to take part in a consultation process within the meaning of the Interim Guide for Consulting the Aboriginal Communities .

Category II – specific projects

To be eligible for this component, a nation or community must demonstrate that a specific structuring project will provide a clear benefit by making it easier for it to take part in consultations initiated by the Government of Québec.

For specific projects whose objective is to propose solutions to various issues and problems identified jointly with the Government of Québec, the community or nation must have been asked to participate by the government.

• Indigenous communities and nations recognized by the National Assembly of Québec
• Organizations holding a mandate from one or more Indigenous nations or communities to act on their behalf during consultations and specific projects

To be eligible, projects must meet the objectives of this component, be submitted to the SAA no later than December 31, 2026 and be completed no later than March 31, 2027.

Category I – consultation

• The creation and operation of a consultation office allowing a nation or community to participate in all consultation processes initiated by the Government of Québec
• Other activities carried out by a nation or community to help achieve the objectives of the consultation processes initiated by the Government of Québec

Category II – specific projects

• Structural projects to make it easier for nations and communities to take part in consultation processes initiated by the Government of Québec
• Activities to help a nation or community plan for and participate in a discussion process as part of a specific project to offer solutions to various issues or problems, including the hiring of a liaison officer, with the goal of establishing a positive relationship between Indigenous people, the Government of Québec, and local partners

Eligible costs include:

• the operating costs of a consultation office, and
• the cost of producing, preparing, drafting and translating documents.

Eligible costs also include, up to the current regulatory rates set by the Government of Québec:

• specialists’ fees,
• travel costs,
• costs incurred for meetings and assemblies, and
• costs incurred for participating in round tables with various partners.

Expenditures to erase an accumulated deficit or purchase and renovate buildings and spaces are not eligible. Purchases of land, equipment, and motorized vehicles are not eligible. Compensation for permanent employees who manage or take part in a project when these employees already receive compensation (wages, fees, daily allowances) for the same period is not eligible.

Expenditures incurred to participate in consultations initiated by third parties or incurred in negotiating or implementing partnership agreements with businesses is not eligible.

The amount of financial assistance granted will be determined based on the financial resources available to the SAA and on sectoral advice from the government departments involved in the consultations and the expected amount of work.

Financial assistance will be in the form of a non-repayable contribution. The combined total of financial assistance received from all levels of government cannot exceed the total of eligible costs.

All confirmed and expected sources of funding must be declared in the application for funding. The SAA will verify that no other sources are paying for the same costs.

Funding of $25,000 or less may be formalized in an acceptance letter setting out the reasons for the grant and the applicant’s obligations.

Funding of more than $25,000 will be formalized in a funding agreement that will not exceed five government fiscal years, and must include:

• the obligations of each signatory,
• a detailed description of the project, and
• indicators for management purposes and the production of reports.

Each applicant receiving a grant of more than $25,000 must, as a minimum, provide an annual report in compliance with the provisions of the financial agreement. The report must include a full report on the activities completed.

The report must be accompanied by financial statements and relevant supporting documents that detail how the funding is used. The applicant must, at all times, keep separate accounts for expenditure attributable to the project, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

Funding of $25,000 or less may be paid in full once the acceptance letter has been sent.

Funding of more than $25,000 will be paid in a minimum of two annual instalments, the first of which may not exceed 80% of the annual funding granted. In all cases, the last instalment provided for in a financial agreement will only be paid once all reports have been filed with the SAA.