Question Period Note: Kashechewan

• In 2019, Chief Leo Friday, Ontario’s Minister of Indigenous Affairs and the previous Minister of Indigenous Services signed the 2019 Kashechewan Framework Agreement, confirming plans to relocate Kashechewan First Nation to higher ground.
• A key step is the transfer of provincial lands to Canada to be designated as reserve lands.

• Officials continue to work with the First Nation and provincial officials to advance the Addition to Reserve.

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 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 and a Road Design Consultant was engaged in January 2020. ISC is also working with Kashechewan First Nation to engage an overall project manager to plan the development of the new community. 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, following which funding approval can be sought.

Total funding of $3.7 million is currently available in Kashechewan First Nation to address its housing priorities.

Kashechewan First Nation opened a new, 24- classroom school in 2019. The Department provided funding approval in December 2018, in the amount of $14,894,938, in response to the community’s August 2018 declaration of a state of emergency over health and safety concerns in the portable school buildings. The school is built on pilings to facilitate future relocation to Site 5.

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.
There has not been a major flood in Kashechewan for 5 years and ISC Ontario Region is working with the Provincial Emergency Operations Centre and with the provincial ministries to monitor the situation.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry upgraded the flood assessment from a flood watch to a flood warning in April. Ice breakup was anticipated in the Albany River, which could have directly affected Kashechewan First Nation with risk of overland flooding as a result of ice jams. In April, the First Nation had requested a precautionary evacuation of stage 1 vulnerable, of approximately 88 people. Flights were put on hold, then cancelled several times.
Assistance had been requested from the Rangers, despite the flight cancellations to ensure the safety of children playing near pooling water which could have increased with the possibility of flooding. Duties of Rangers were under discussion before a decision was taken.

Kashechewan First Nation confirmed that all dike flood gates were successfully closed the morning of April 13, 2021, and that the protection system in the community was secure.
The First Nation advised that flights could not proceed on April 14, 2021, and that they would continue flights for remaining members scheduled to go to camps.
A full report of the on the land initiative is under development.

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If pressed on COVID-19 support for the outbreak in Kashechewan

• Since March 2020, ISC has provided over $7.6M to Kashechewan First Nation to support its COVID-19 response efforts.

• On June 8, 2021, ISC approved an additional $970K through the Indigenous Community Support Fund and the Public Health Measures Fund to address Kashechewan’s immediate needs, bringing the total COVID-19 response funding to more than $8.0M. This additional funding will support food supplies and transport, personal protective equipment, a pandemic response coordinator, quarantine officers, COVID-19 screeners and testing personnel, security, and communications.

• Canada funded 200 temporary shelters for on the land precautionary flood evacuation use in 2021.

If pressed on work done to advance the relocation

• Since the signing the 2019 Framework Agreement, we have been working with the community to undertake a Comprehensive Community Planning process, including a survey of all community residents.

• A Project Manager and Road Design Consultant have been engaged to plan the development of an access road to the new community site.

• Work is also underway to engage a Project Manager to lead the planning studies for the development of the new community and detailed cost estimates to support the approval process for funding.

If pressed on Water

• All Canadians should have access to safe, clean, and reliable drinking water.

• The Water Treatment Plant Upgrade project was completed in November 2019.

• This has improved the safety of drinking water and the operation of fire hydrants throughout the community.

• We are working closely with the community to continue bringing clean and safe water to their homes.

If pressed on 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.

• Kashechewan First Nation has more than $3.7 million available to address their priority housing needs.

• We continue to work with the community to support a 5-year Housing Plan to address priorities while planning for relocation of the community.

Possible Evacuation and On The Land Initiative

• The First Nation has begun the second year of an ISC-supported on-the-land project, whereby families move to their traditional hunting camps on higher ground to avoid possible flooding. The precautionary evacuation of Kashechewan First Nation is managed by Mushkegowuk Council Emergency Management.

• This situation continues to evolve quickly. Indigenous Services Canada continues to work very closely with the First Nation, the Mushkegowuk Tribal Council, the Province of Ontario and other partners to ensure the health and safety of all community members.