Question Period Note: Fire Safety

• Our Government recognizes that First Nation communities are
disproportionately affected by fire incidents that can have
devastating impacts on families and communities.
• First Nations leadership is best placed to determine fire safety
prevention priorities for their communities. This may include
raising awareness of the importance of smoke alarms,
firefighting equipment and fire safety prevention and education
such as Amber’s Fire Safety Campaign initiatives in Ontario.
• Our government has invested an average of $48.3 million
annually to support the delivery of fire protection services onreserve.

On reserves, fire protection is managed by the First Nation band council. Indigenous Services
Canada provides funding for fire protection every year as part of the First Nation's core capital
funding.
The level of funding each First Nation receives for fire protection is determined through a
regionally-based formula. It looks at several factors, including the number of buildings on the
reserve, population, local environment and how close the reserve is to other communities.
First Nation band councils can use these funds to run their own fire departments or to contract
fire protection services from nearby communities. If a First Nation decides to contract with a
nearby community, it is the responsibility of the First Nation to manage that agreement. First
Nations that contract with local municipalities may also have access to 9-1-1 services. First
Nations may choose to use certain fire protection funding on other priorities.
In addition to Band Support Funding, from 2016-2017 to 2022-2023, ISC provided an average of
$48.3 million annually for fire protection, including annual averages of:
• $11.9 million for capital investments (fire trucks, fire halls, etc.),
• $15.4 million for operations and maintenance of assets,
• $4.9 million for firefighter training, and
• $16.1 million in targeted funding from Budgets 2013, 2016, 2017, 2022 and the Canada
Community-Building Fund
ISC First Nation and Inuit Health Branch funds Mental Health Therapist services and crisis
response teams for community members dealing with the devastating loss following a fire. ISC
First Nation and Inuit Health Branch also ensures that resources are available to debrief first
responders.
Investing to support the creation of an Indigenous Fire Marshal Office
On August 16, 2019 the Minister of Indigenous Services announced Budget 2019 funding of
$9.97 million over three years, starting in 2019–2020, to support the creation of an Indigenous
Fire Marshal Office. The funding was to support Indigenous partners in establishing a new
Indigenous Fire Marshal Office, including the structure, governance and mandate of the office.
The idea was for an Indigenous Fire Marshal Office to promote fire safety and prevention,
undertake public education, and support the use of fire safety, building codes and regular
building inspections in Indigenous communities.
In May 2020 the Aboriginal Fire Fighters Association of Canada renamed the Indigenous Fire
Marshal Office Project the National Indigenous Fire Safety Council. The Aboriginal Firefighters
Association of Canada is no longer pursing a compliance and enforcement type of organization
as originally envisioned, and the National Indigenous Fire Safety Council will focus on
empowering First Nation communities in the prevention of fires, and building capacities in
regional partners to cover fire protection needs on the ground. This will be underpinned by
championing collaboration and enabling regulatory frameworks for fire protection.

If Pressed on First Nations fire suppression needs
• Our government has invested an average of $48.3 million
annually to support the delivery of fire protection services onreserve
including $15.4 million for operations and maintenance
of fire assets.
• In 2023-24, an additional $10 million is being provided to support
the objectives of the Fire Protection Strategy, including:
o National, regional or community education and prevention
initiatives;
o Smoke / CO2 alarms and extinguisher installations;
o Additional building Inspections;
o Firefighter training; and
o Upgrading telecommunications equipment, or supporting
911 service.

If pressed about the First Nations Fire Protection Strategy 2023-
2028
• Indigenous Services Canada partnered with the Assembly of
First Nations to co-develop the First Nations Fire Protection
Strategy 2023-2028.
• The Strategy was developed with input from First Nations
technical organizations, Tribal Councils, First Nations leadership
and other fire service professionals.
• The strategy will better inform program policy and guide federal
investments to promote fire protection on reserve, and to reduce
the risk of fire-related deaths, injuries and infrastructure losses.

If pressed about the Level of Service Standard
• Indigenous Services Canada’s Level of Service Standard for Fire
Protection is the policy that informs departmental support for
fire protection for on-reserve communities.
• The level of service standard is currently being reviewed with
the support of First Nation fire practitioners and other experts to
modernize it and ensure alignment with the co-developed Fire
Protection Strategy.

If Pressed on building and fire codes
• Indigenous Services Canada requires infrastructure built with
departmental funding to comply with all relevant codes and
standards, including fire and building codes.
• The Government of Canada acknowledges that there is no
comprehensive fire safety act for Canada and recognizes the
ability of First Nations, as the authority having jurisdiction, to
develop bylaws creating enforceable codes and standards.
• Indigenous Services Canada continues to work with First Nation
partners on the purchase and installation of smoke alarms and
relevant training for homes on reserve.

If Pressed on legislation
• In discussions with the Government of Canada, First Nations
have stressed the importance and impact of fire prevention
programming, which is critical to saving lives.
• Indigenous Services Canada officials will continue to work
closely with First Nations leadership on mechanisms to advance
fire prevention and protection.

If Pressed on Budget 2022 / If pressed on wildfire supports
• Our government will continue to support First Nations in
acquiring fire protection services training and essential
equipment.
• Budget 2022 provided $39.2 million over five years, starting in
2022-23, to support the purchase of wildland-urban interface
firefighting equipment and training by First Nations
communities.
• This funding is being prioritized for communities at highest risk
of experiencing a wildfire event and is in addition to funding for
wildfire prevention and mitigation activities, such as Firesmart,
under the emergency management assistance program.

If pressed on Fire Protection funding
• Since 2016 and as of June 30, 2023, ISC has invested $113
million (excluding operating expenses) in targeted funding to
support 298 fire protection projects, of which 185 have been
completed.
• ISC supported the First Nation Emergency Services Society to
deliver a National Winter Home Fire Safety Campaign which
included distribution of physical posters and information sheets
to First Nations.

If pressed on the creation of an Indigenous Fire Marshal’s
Office or the National Indigenous Fire Safety Council (NIFSC)
• Budget 2019 committed $9.97 million over three years to support
the creation of an Indigenous Fire Marshal Office to:
o promote fire safety and prevention;
o undertake public education;
o enforce local fire safety and building codes; and
o conduct regular building inspections in First Nation
communities.
• Through this funding and in response to feedback from
engagement activities, the Aboriginal Firefighters Association of
Canada created the National Indigenous Fire Safety Council,
which will empower First Nation communities in the prevention
of fires, and build regional capacity to cover fire protection
needs on the ground.