Question Period Note: Kashechewan First Nation, Ontario

The threat of flooding every spring is a difficult and ongoing reality for Kashechewan.
The community needs to be relocated, and we remain unwavering in our commitment to this.
We are working closely with the community on vital aspects of relocation, including:
•the transfer of provincial lands to Canada to be designated as
reserve lands,
•working on an access road to the site,
•and planning and design of the new community.
We will continue working closely with the leadership and partners to advance these steps.

Kashechewan First Nation has for many years advocated for relocation of the community to a site upstream on the Albany River to mitigate the threat of annual flooding during spring breakup. A consultant’s report completed in November 2018 confirmed that the community’s preferred site (known as Site 5) would support the development of a new community. An initial estimate of the cost of relocation is over $800 million. On May 9, 2019, former Minister of Indigenous Services, Seamus O’Regan, Kashechewan First Nation’s former Chief Leo Friday and Ontario’s Minister of Indigenous Affairs Greg Rickford signed the 2019 Framework Agreement which affirmed the parties’ shared priority to move forward with the long-term objective of relocating Kashechewan First Nation to higher ground.
A project manager is overseeing planning for development of a road to Site 5. Planning and design of the new community site will be overseen by a project manager to be selected in fall 2019. Discussions are moving forward on an Addition to Reserve for lands at Site 5. Planning studies are expected to determine the estimated total cost of relocation by December 2020, following which funding approval can be sought.
On August 31, 2018, the First Nation declared a state of emergency concerning health and safety issues in the portables that housed the St Andrews Elementary School. The Department approved funding of up to $14,894,938 in December 2018, for construction of the new modular school. The new Kashechewan Elementary Modular School is under construction. The North Wing (16 classrooms) was completed in October 2019, and the South wing (8 classrooms) is scheduled for completion in December 2019. The North wing (16 classrooms) will be utilized to fully accommodate all the elementary students until such time as the south wing is completed.
Since 2016, Kashechewan leadership has raised concerns about environmental factors, including mould and unsanitary water, as the cause of skin rashes of children. ISC continues to work with the community to promote good skin care practices.

If pressed on the timeframe for relocation

On May 9th this year, Chief Friday, the previous Minister of Indigenous Services, and Ontario’s Minister of Indigenous Affairs signed the 2019 Framework Agreement, confirming the relocation of Kashechewan First Nation to higher ground.
Since then, we have been working with the community to understand who will be moving to the new community, and what infrastructure this will require, among other steps.
We have also funded a project manager to oversee the building of an access road to the new site.
We will continue working in partnership towards our shared goal of the relocation of Kashechewan.

If pressed on technical elements for relocation

A key step is the transfer of provincial lands to Canada to be designated as reserve lands.
Federal officials are working together with the First Nation and provincial officials as a priority to advance the Addition to Reserve.
A project manager has been engaged to plan the development of an access road to Site 5.
Work is also underway by Kashechewan First Nation on a Comprehensive Community Plan, which will involve planning and design of the new community and detailed costing to support the approval process for funding.

Water

All Canadians should have access to safe, clean, and reliable drinking water.
The Water Treatment Plant Upgrade project was completed in November 2019.
The project provides fire protection in the community and improved water safety.
We are working closely with the community to continue bringing clean and safe water to their homes.

Housing

Between 2015 and 2017, Kashechewan First Nation received more than $49 million for 52 duplexes (104 housing units) to replace flood-damaged homes and reduce overcrowding in the community.
These homes were built on raised pilings to be more flood-resilient, and to facilitate moving them to the new site when the community relocates.
In addition, in collaboration with the Kashechewan First Nation leadership, we undertook a mold remediation project for 13 homes last February (2019).
We will continue to work closely with the community to support their needs.

Health

The health of children living in Kashechewan First Nation is of utmost importance to our Government.
Indigenous Services Canada provides direct primary care and public health nursing services to the Kashechewan First Nation through a nine nurse nursing station, as well as environmental health services.
We are committed to working in partnership to address the health issues facing the residents of the community.

Mental Health

We are deeply concerned about the mental health issues facing youth in Kashechewan First Nation.
We are providing over $3 million annually for community-based programming to support the mental wellness needs of the community.
The Choose Life initiative is providing services to more than 800 children and youth in the community.
We will continue to work with First Nations partners in collaboration with the provinces/territories, to advance Indigenous led approaches to mental wellness.