Question Period Note: Emergency Mangement on Reserve

The safety and security of all Canadians is our Government’s top priority.
We are supporting First Nations in building community resilience, capacity and self-determination.
Budget 2019 announced $211 million over five years of new spending for Emergency Management on-reserve to ultimately enhance community resiliency.
We will continue to stay in close communication with communities to ensure the safety of First Nations impacted by any natural emergencies.

Emergency events are increasing in frequency and intensity due to a number of factors including climate change.
The Department supports First Nation-led efforts in emergency preparedness and mitigation through projects that reflect the strengths of First Nations, their Indigenous knowledge and capabilities within the communities. These projects are coordinated by First Nation recipient communities that receive departmental funding.
There are various funding arrangements or agreements between the Department, the provinces, territories and third party organizations for the delivery of emergency management services for on-reserve communities. These agreements provide First Nation communities’ access to emergency assistance services. They also provide an assurance to the provinces and territories that the Department will provide funding to cover costs related to emergency assistance in First Nations so that responses can be implemented rapidly and without unnecessary delay.
The Emergency Management Assistance Program has an annual budget of $64.9M :
• $19.1M: preparedness and non-structural mitigation projects and service agreements
• $16.5M: wildfire management services agreements with provinces
• $29.3M: response and recovery activities
Response and recovery costs have consistently exceeded existing funding of $29.3M requiring the Program to return to Treasury Board for additional funding (by an average of $96M annually).
Budget 2019 announced $211M over five years of new spending for Emergency Management on-reserve; this will focus on:
• Enhancing EMAP’s existing First Nation-led emergency preparedness and non-structural mitigation;
• First Nation-led engagement on emergency management service agreements; and,
• First Nation emergency management capacity building.

Operation Return Home

The following investments totaling nearly $200 million have been made to ensure a safe return to the First Nation:
• The new community has been built on new reserve land above the record flood levels experienced in 2011.
• 2 subdivisions have been built, which include road, water, sewage and utilities.
• We have invested in the construction of additional housing units for the community, which previously had approximately 183 dwellings, all damaged by the 2011 flood. By the end of this project, the community will have a total of 350 dwellings, 240 of which are completed.
• Water treatment and sewage treatment facilities including a new lagoon are complete.
• A permanent K-Grade 12 school was completed on September 12, 2018. The school is able to accommodate up to 324 students and features a library, Indigenous language classroom, special education resource room, industrial arts and home economics classrooms, science laboratory, cafeteria, gymnasium and administrative spaces. Outdoor features include a track and field area, soccer pitch, baseball diamond, two play structures and an outdoor hockey rink.
• A new public works garage and a fire hall have been built.

Manitoba Storm

A significant, unseasonal snow storm hit Manitoba on October 12, 2019, causing widespread power outages around the province, with significant damage to Manitoba Hydro infrastructure. In addition to cities and towns throughout the province, as of October 15, 2019, more than 28,000 people in 20 First Nations were affected. Manitoba Hydro is repairing infrastructure and as of October 25, 2019, had restored power to all communities. All evacuees have returned to their homes, and ISC Manitoba is presently working with affected First Nations to inspect and evaluate damages.
Manitoba is one of the few Regions where the provincial government is not directly engaged with First Nations to support on-reserve Emergency Management. ISC has a service agreement with the Canadian Red Cross (CRC) to provide Emergency Management support to Manitoba First Nations.
During the recent storm event, CRC carried out evacuations of First Nations as soon as it was safe to do so, with the safety of band members the highest consideration. The Interlake Reserves Tribal Council (IRTC) has been critical of the Canadian Red Cross (CRC) response to the recent storm event, and sent out a news release expressing strong dissatisfaction with ISC and CRC response, specifically that ISC regional officials are uncommunicative and were deliberately misleading about eligible emergency management expenses. IRTC has previously, and continues to, seek funding support from ISC to assume the functions currently being performed by CRC.

Climate Change – Disaster Mitigation Efforts

We know that many Indigenous communities are becoming increasingly vulnerable to climate change related risks because of a variety of factors, which can include: remoteness, community size, socio-economic conditions or limited access to emergency management resources.
This is why, through the Emergency Management Assistance Program, we are working with our partners to ensure the health and safety of First Nation residents from natural or accidental emergency events.
Further, we continue to work towards formalizing emergency management agreements with First Nations as full and equal partners.

If pressed on the Emergency Management Assistance Program Enhancements

We are focused on supporting First Nation efforts to enhance their community’s capacity and preparedness activities for emergency events.
Further, we are ensuring that we have culturally competent responses during evacuations and we are placing an emphasis on improved community planning during the recovery phase.
This approach has resulted in communities that are more resilient to emergency events, evacuees returning home faster and the reduction of livelihood disruption.

If pressed on the Bearskin Lake evacuation

In partnership with Bearskin Lake First Nation, provincial and federal governments and emergency services partners, I am pleased to say that all evacuees have safely returned home since the evacuation due to flooding last month.
My officials are in discussions with community leadership on their priorities, and my team is meeting with them tomorrow.
I look forward to getting an update from these conversations and working with community leadership on these priorities.

If pressed on Operation Return Home

We are working closely with Lake St. Martin First Nation and the Province of Manitoba to continue to rebuild the community in the wake of 2011’s devastating flood.
To support the remaining evacuees in their transition, we will work with the First Nation leadership and any evacuees to ensure their needs are addressed.

If pressed on Manitoba Storm Recovery

The storm event in October 2019 was challenging for nearly everyone in southern Manitoba.
We continue to work with all the communities impacted by the storm to assess and restore damaged homes and facilities in the First Nations communities.
Every emergency response provides an important opportunity to reflect on how we can improve the next emergency.
I hope all partners will engage in the after-action review of this recent emergency, and share constructive ideas that will continue to improve coordination among the many partners involved.