Inflation fund coming to end
For the final month of the existence of the Inflation Fund Benefit, the Kahnawà:ke Social Assistance Program (KSAP) of the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake (MCK) has announced that instead of the Household Essentials Hamper program, which would have given specific household products to families and individuals in need, $200 will be provided.
“We had requested that it be changed from an actual physical basket that we would deliver or provide to clients to a benefit that they could use to best determine what suits their household,” said Alexis Shackleton, director of Client Based Services for the MCK.
After the hamper plan had originally been developed in January 2025, it soon became clear that it would be more complicated than initially thought to develop a hamper that would be suitable for everyone.
“There was difficulty in identifying what products worked well across the board. Some people really only use fragrance-free or scent-free products. It also depends on the household allergies, or different preferences for household essentials in the home,” said Shackleton.
As such, the council table was approached in early March to substitute the basket with the cash benefit, which was accepted and will be distributed through KSAP.
“We think that the clients themselves know what would work best in their household, and they know where to best prioritize the benefit that’s being provided to them,” Shackleton said.
The monetary benefit is the last portion of Indigenous Services Canada (ISC)’s Inflation Benefit Program, which will end on March 31.
“We did advise that it would be coming to an end for quite some time, and because we weren’t sure if it was going to be something that would be continuing each time we received additional funding from ISC, we kept advising our clients to be aware that it could end at any time,” said Shackleton.
“The concern that we have is the change and the end of the program for our community, and what sorts of impacts it would make on individuals who had really come to rely on it.”
To help prepare for the end of that program, Shackleton said that they are advising and helping to match KSAP clients who are able to work with organizations, not-for-profits, and some businesses, personal, and professional development workshops, and the Youth and Adult Employment Strategy program, which aims to train those in the program to develop professional skills like communication, numeracy, customer service, teamwork, and problem-solving.
Shackleton said that KSAP cannot just provide the same kind of funds to them in replacement of ISC, as money from an ISC program does not count towards social assistance funding eligibility, while money given by KSAP, MCK, or another organization would count and reduce what they could receive from governmental social assistance.
She said that ISC has not given KSAP any indication of a forthcoming additional fund that would replace or continue the Inflation Benefit Program.
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“The Income Assistance program will continue to monitor the cost of living on reserve to determine if cost of living supplements could be provided in the future,” said ISC spokesperson Ryan Tyndall.
“Budget 2024 announced $927.3 million in investments for the program over five years starting in 2024-25, and $169 million ongoing. This will address the urgent and essential needs of Income Assistance clients struggling to make ends meet, continue case management and pre-employment supports, and provide additional funding to recipients with disabilities. As part of that investment, Budget 2024 provided for the first time new funding to income assistance recipients with disabilities on reserve.”
Note: This article has been updated to reflect the ISC commenting after publishing deadline.
