Question Period Note: Closing the Infrastructure Gap

• Our Government has committed to closing the
infrastructure gaps in First Nations, Inuit and Métis
communities by 2030 and, since 2016, has committed
more than $25 billion to support these efforts.
• We know there is more to do and we continue to work in
partnership with Indigenous leadership and
communities to implement community-led solutions,
including the co-development of distinctions-based
infrastructure plans.

In 2019, the Government of Canada made a commitment to work with First Nations, Inuit, and
Métis partners to close infrastructure gaps by 2030. Infrastructure service delivery for First
Nations on-reserve needs major transformation and investment to achieve the Government of
Canada’s mandate to close the infrastructure gap by 2030.
In 2022, on-reserve First Nations communities were asked to identify and prioritize their housing
and infrastructure needs in comprehensive fashion though a community infrastructure needs
engagement. In British Columbia, the First Nations Health Authority was engaged on healthrelated
infrastructure assets. A total of 405 communities, representing 72% of on-reserve First
Nations communities across Canada, provided these surveys to ISC, as of April 24, 2023. ISC
has committed to provide additional capacity support in 2023 to the Chiefs of Ontario, to work
directly with Ontario First Nations that have not yet provided input to this survey. As such, ISC
cannot yet provide a final report on this exercise; however, it expects that a comprehensive
estimate of First Nations infrastructure needs should be available in fall of 2023.
The Assembly of First Nations was also engaged and co-developed, with Indigenous Services
Canada, a comprehensive cost report to close the First Nations infrastructure gap by 2030. In
the report, the Assembly of First Nations estimated the cost to close the First Nations
infrastructure gap would be $349.2 billion. As part of this report, the Assembly of First Nations
also called for moving away from project-based investment approaches, guaranteeing reliable
funding, and co-developing a self-governed First Nations Infrastructure Bank, amongst other
measures.
As part of this exercise, Indigenous Services Canada engaged with Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami who
engaged the four Inuit regional Land Claims Organizations and submitted a report outlining
priority infrastructure projects in Inuit Nunangat. Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami estimated that $55.3
billion over 10 years and $793.7 million annually would be required to support priority projects to
narrow the infrastructure gap in Inuit Nunangat.
Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada conducted engagement with the
Métis National Council and Manitoba Métis Federation, who identified infrastructure needs in
their pre-Budget submissions. The Métis National Council identified immediate infrastructure
investment needs of $2.41 billion over 6 years, redacted information

If pressed on the co-development of infrastructure plans
• In 2022-23, ISC and Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern
Affairs Canada worked with First Nations, Inuit and Métis
partners on the co-development of long-term infrastructure
plans.
• Collectively, Indigenous partners identified an estimated $400
billion in infrastructure needs.
• The Government of Canada will continue to work directly with
Indigenous partners and other federal organizations to identify
what further measures and investments may be required to
close the infrastructure gap by 2030.

If pressed on First Nations infrastructure gaps
• As part of the co-development exercise, Indigenous Services
Canada engaged with individual First Nations to identify their
infrastructure needs. First Nations identified infrastructure
projects with an estimated cost of $120 billion.
• The Assembly of First Nations was also engaged as part of this
exercise and co-developed, with Indigenous Services Canada, a
comprehensive cost report to close the First Nations
infrastructure gap by 2030.
• In the report, the Assembly of First Nations estimated the cost to
close the First Nations infrastructure gap would be $349.2
billion.

If pressed on Inuit and Métis infrastructure gaps
• As part of the co-development exercise, ISC engaged Inuit
Tapiriit Kanatami, which estimated that $55.3 billion over 10
years and $793.7 million annually would be required to support
infrastructure projects in Inuit Nunangat.
• Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada
conducted engagement with the Métis National Council and
Manitoba Métis Federation. The Métis National Council identified
immediate infrastructure investment needs of $2.41 billion over
6 years, redacted information
If pressed on infrastructure program modernization
• Indigenous Services Canada continues to work with First
Nations on ways to improve infrastructure service delivery as
part of Canada’s commitment to closing the infrastructure gap in
Indigenous communities by 2030.
• Starting in spring 2023, Indigenous Services Canada began
engaging with First Nations on ways to improve how
infrastructure programs are delivered on-reserve.
• Indigenous Services Canada will continue to work with partners
to define a bold, new approach to how the Department funds on reserve infrastructure.