Question Period Note: Marten Falls First Nation funding commitment for water infrastructure repairs/replacement

• Indigenous Services Canada is in regular contact with Marten Falls First Nation leadership and provides support for the community to repair damage caused by ice-jams during spring flooding, to the community’s low-lift pumping station.

• Repairs are being implemented by the First Nation’s contractor to safeguard the infrastructure until the longer term solution is completed, scheduled for Summer 2023.

• Regional officials are working closely with the First Nation and the project team.

On May 09, 2022, ISC was notified that ice-jams had destroyed the community’s low lift station. The low lift station houses three pumps, controls, and heaters. Without this system, the First Nation is unable to pump water from the river to the plant for treatment. Chief Achneepineskum advised that the damage has resulted in the water plant being disabled. A temporary solution was put in place immediately to restore operation of the water plant. No evacuation was required.

The water plant reservoirs are almost full and a decision was made by Chief Achneepineskum to shut-off the water to the community to save it for fire protection.

ISC has been coordinating with the First Nation to restore water services. On May 10, 2022, Chief Achneepineskum and ISC came to the following decisions:

• ISC provided funding support to the community for the purchase and delivery of bottled water to the community. Marten Falls will make the necessary arrangements to purchase and ship bottled water to the community.

• Bottled water was provided for the period when no potable water was available. The interim solution to the lift station damage has been functioning well, monitored by the Matawa water and wastewater hub, providing adequate supply to the community.

• ISC provided funding support to Marten Falls to complete the necessary design and construction activities for a new permanent raw water low-lift pumping station. ISC supports Chief and Council as they examine options for long term solutions.

Water service was restored on May 12, 2022, through temporary measures. Continuous water testing indicates water is safe and the interim pumping solution to the water treatment plant is functioning well. The two additional low-lift pumps have been assessed and confirmed to be in working order should they need to be activated. With support from ISC, the First Nation hired a consultant to design a permanent solution. The consultant presented two options to the First Nation for consideration:

Option 1: Rebuild low-lift station at existing location at a higher elevation
o Would provide a permanent solution to protecting the low-lift station
o Can be constructed in 2022, thus, low-lift station would be protected from severe ice damage during 2022/2023 winter season and provide reliable raw water source to the WTP
o Total Estimated Cost of $830,700

Option 2: Build new low-lift station at a different location
o Would provide a permanent solution to protecting the low-lift station
o Cannot be constructed until 2023 as equipment and materials would need to be mobilized on the winter road.
o Total Estimated Cost of $2,939,000

In June 2022, Marten Falls dismissed option 2 referencing the lengthy timeline to complete. At a later meeting in August 2022, the First Nation indicated that they have reversed their decision and wish to pursue option 2. More robust temporary measures are required to protect the existing low-lift pumping station throughout the winter and spring flooding season. Indigenous Services Canada will fund this work, as the First Nation and the project team advance the necessary work.

If pressed on bottled water
• Indigenous Services Canada provided funding support to the community for the purchase and delivery of bottled water while water service was being restored.

• Marten Falls made the necessary arrangements to purchase and ship the bottled water to the community.

• The interim solution to the lift station damage has been functioning well, monitored by the Matawa water and wastewater hub, providing supply to the community.