Ottawa too slow to process First Nations status applications, Auditor-General says

Canada’s Auditor-General says Indigenous Services Canada has failed to process applications for registration under the Indian Act within the required six-month timeline – leaving many First Nations people unable to access on-reserve housing, financial aid for post-secondary education and health benefits.In an audit released Tuesday, Karen Hogan found that more than eight in 10 applications processed by the department exceeded the six-month service standard. Some of those were priority applications for older people or those with health issues.