As a result of their deliberations, committees may make recommendations which they include in their reports for the consideration of the House of Commons or the Government. Recommendations related to this study are listed below.

Recommendation 1

That the Government of Canada continue to support and consider increasing funding to the Aboriginal Head Start in Urban and Northern Communities program.

Recommendation 2

That Correctional Service Canada increase the number of agreements with Indigenous communities under section 81 of the Corrections and Conditional Release Act.

Recommendation 3

That the Government of Canada increase funding to Indigenous communities for agreements under section 81 of the Corrections and Conditional Release Act in order to address the funding gap between healing lodges operated by Indigenous communities and those operated by the Correctional Service Canada.

Recommendation 4

That Correctional Service Canada make greater use of agreements concluded with Indigenous communities under section 84 of the Corrections and Conditional Release Act, and establish the required capacity.

Recommendation 5

That Correctional Service Canada make increased use of elder assisted parole hearings.

Recommendation 6

That the Corrections and Conditional Release Act be amended to require a parliamentary review by a joint committee of the House of Commons and the Senate, every five years, of the provisions of the Corrections and Conditional Release Act concerning Indigenous peoples, specifically sections 81 and 84.

Recommendation 7

That Correctional Service Canada develop risk assessment tools that are more sensitive to Indigenous reality and review its security classification assessment process.

Recommendation 8

That Correctional Service Canada, in its security classification and risk assessment, consider the need to provide Indigenous offenders with appropriate treatment and rehabilitation, and work to increase the number of Indigenous inmates eligible to serve their sentence in healing lodges or have access to culturally appropriate programming.

Recommendation 9

That Correctional Service Canada review its diagnoses and treatment of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder upon admission to corrections.

Recommendation 10

That Correctional Service of Canada liaise with Indigenous Services Canada in delivering a continuum of care that is consistent for Indigenous inmates and that the Correctional Service of Canada, upon release, advise Indigenous inmates of available health services at the point of release.

Recommendation 11

That a deputy commissioner for Indigenous affairs be immediately appointed within federal corrections.

Recommendation 12

That Correctional Service Canada provide professional, community-based training to parole officers, simplify the hiring process for officers, and raise community awareness to increase the number of Indigenous staff.

Recommendation 13

That the Government of Canada consider grants for potential Indigenous correctional employees to cover the costs of their training.

Recommendation 14

That Correctional Service Canada whenever possible call upon elders who are recognized as such by Indigenous communities.

Recommendation 15

That Correctional Service Canada implement correctional programs designed specifically to meet the needs of Indigenous young adults in the correctional system.

Recommendation 16

That Correctional Service Canada adopt a trauma-informed therapeutic approach by implementing correctional programs that are adapted to the specific needs of Indigenous women.

Recommendation 17

That Correctional Service Canada adjust its work programs to reflect the current labour market in ways that do not reinforce gender stereotype jobs with a goal of supporting the successful rehabilitation and reintegration of Indigenous offenders.

Recommendation 18

That Correctional Service Canada provide employment programs to more Indigenous offenders by establishing employment centres in all healing lodges and correctional facilities, and using, as required, community organizations that provide employment services to Indigenous offenders.

Recommendation 19

That Correctional Service Canada review and revise its policy and internal release process to make sure that Indigenous offenders can obtain ID that is recognized in the labour market, prior to release.