The Canadian government likely owes Indigenous people almost $76 billion for currently filed land claims and lawsuits, recent official reporting says — a sum that’s nearly seven times greater today than when Justin Trudeau became prime minister.
In 2015, Ottawa counted $11 billion in “contingent liabilities,” which are potential legal obligations recorded only in cases where the probability of future payment is considered “likely,” according to the 2023 public accounts of Canada.
This year’s fall economic statement showed the vast majority of these liabilities — 95 per cent — stem from Indigenous claims against the Crown.
It’s a spike the non-partisan parliamentary budget officer, who provides lawmakers with spending
