Question Period Note: Fire Safety

• Our Government recognizes that Indigenous communities are disproportionately affected by fire incidents that can have devastating impacts on families and communities.
• Fire prevention and protection is key to keeping people and communities safe. That is why our government has invested an average of $37.3 million annually to support the delivery of fire protection services on-reserve.
• To guide our approach, we have partnered with the Assembly of First Nations and other Indigenous partners and fire expert organizations, to develop a renewed fire protection strategy.

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 2020-2021, ISC provided an average of $37.3 million annually in funding for fire protection, including annual averages of:
• $7.1 million for capital investments (fire trucks, fire halls, etc.),
• $13.9 million for operations and maintenance of assets,
• $5.2 million for firefighter training, and
• $11.1 million in additional targeted and statutory funding
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.

• Federal health regulatory standards that address anti-racism, cultural humility and trauma informed practices; and,
• Direct support by national health organizations to identify measures and tools to address antiracism, encourage cultural humility, and promote trauma-informed practices throughout all spheres of authority and work.

In follow up to the recent urgent meeting held in October to address racism experienced by Indigenous Peoples in Canada’s Health Care system, a second gathering has been scheduled for January 2021. This meeting will provide an opportunity for meeting participants (including the Government of Canada, Indigenous leaders and organizations, and provincial and territorial governments) to identify short term, concrete actions that can be taken to address this systemic issue. Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond’s report will be a valuable guide and resource for identifying concrete next steps and actions to be taken by all levels of government.

Indigenous Services Canada is committed to equitable and culturally-safe, community-led, community-driven and distinctions-based approaches to health care. BC’s First Nations Health Authority is the first province-wide health authority of its kind in Canada. In 2013, the First Nations Health Authority assumed the programs, services, and responsibilities formerly handled by the Government of Canada’s First Nations and Inuit Health Branch. Indigenous Services Canada is in regular contact with the First Nations Health Authority, which is the lead on health protection measures and health preparedness measures for First Nations communities in BC.

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.
• Should legislation be identified as a priority by First Nations leadership, the Government of Canada will work collaboratively with First Nations and First Nations organizations to advance this priority.
If Pressed on Budget 2022
• Our government will continue to support First Nations in acquiring fire protection services training and essential equipment.
• Budget 2022 provides $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.

If pressed on Fire Protection funding
• Between 2016-17 and 2020-21, an annual average of $37.3 million was provided for fire protection services on-reserve – in addition to band support funding. This includes $5.2 million for fire protection services training and $13.9 million for operations and maintenance annually.
• From 2016 to June 2022, $77.1 million of targeted funding has supported 219 fire protection projects, 155 have been completed. This includes supporting the construction of new fire halls, purchasing of fire trucks and equipment, and training and educating firefighters and community members.
If Pressed on recent fires
• The Government of Canada acknowledges that fire prevention is key to keeping people and communities safe. This includes raising awareness of the importance of smoke alarms, firefighting equipment and fire safety prevention and education.
• The Government recognizes that more needs to be done to protect First Nations on reserves. To this end, we have partnered with the Assembly of First Nations and other Indigenous partners and fire expert organizations to develop a renewed fire protection strategy.
If pressed on the creation of an Indigenous First Marshal’s Office or the National Indigenous Fire Safety Council (NIFSC)
• Budget 2019 committed $9.97 million to support the creation of an Indigenous Fire Marshal Office to promote fire safety and prevention; undertake public education; enforce local fire safety and building codes; and conduct regular building inspections in First Nation communities.

• This funding supported the Aboriginal Firefighters Association of Canada, who established a National Indigenous Fire Safety Council.

• , The National Indigenous Fire Safety Council will focus on empowering First Nation communities in building capacities in regional partners to cover fire protection needs on the ground.