Question Period Note: Kashechewan

• Canada values the relationship with Kashechewan First Nation. In 2019, the Ministers of Indigenous Services Canada, Ontario Indigenous Affairs, and the First Nation, signed the Kashechewan Framework Agreement confirming plans to relocate the community to higher ground.

• In the interim, Canada continues to meet Kashechewan Chief Wesley on immediate concerns, which include health and safety priorities for the community.

• Discussions with Kashechewan First Nation and Ontario are also underway, to plan for mitigation strategies ahead of the 2022 flood season.

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If pressed on COVID-19 support for the outbreak in Kashechewan
• Since March 2020, ISC has provided over $12.7M to Kashechewan First Nation and its Health Services Board to support its COVID-19 response efforts, including more than $1.9M since June 2021 through the Indigenous Community Support Fund and the Public Health Measures Fund to address Kashechewan’s immediate needs.
• This additional funding has enabled Kashechewan First Nation to design and implement community-based solutions to prevent, prepare and respond to the spread of COVID-19 within their community and provides targeted support for food supplies, transport, personal protective equipment, a pandemic response coordinator, quarantine officers, COVID-19 screeners, testing personnel, security, and communications.

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 and an inventory of homes.
• 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.
• Officials are working with Chief Wesley of Kashechewan, and Chief Nakogee of Fort Albany First Nation and Ontario to identify and transfer provincial lands to be designated as reserve lands. Fort Albany has been funded to support the process.

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.
• ISC has made more than $4.6M in funding available to Kashechewan First Nation over 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 to use towards addressing the community’s housing needs at their discretion. This includes funding for their new 20-unit housing project.
• ISC continues to work with Kashechewan First Nation to support a 5-year Housing Plan to address their immediate housing priorities in the community.

On The Land Initiative and precautionary evacuation
• In spring 2020, 2021 and 2022, ISC provided support to the Kashechewan First Nation for their On the Land Initiative led by Mushkegowuk Council Emergency Management.
• At the request of the Kashechewan First Nation, approximately 1000 community members have registered to participate in the On the Land Initiative, an additional 300-400 vulnerable community members are being evacuated starting April 25, 2022, to Kapuskasing as a precaution.
• Indigenous Services Canada is working with Kashechewan First Nation, Mushkegowuk Tribal Council, the Province of Ontario and other partners on implementing the Joint Command approach to safeguard all community members as the 2022 spring flood begins.