Question Period Note: Fire Safety

Our Government recognizes that First Nation communities are
disproportionately affected by fire incidents that can have
devastating impacts on families and communities.
• First Nations leadership is best placed to determine fire safety
prevention priorities for their communities. This may include
raising awareness of the importance of smoke alarms,
firefighting equipment and fire safety prevention and education.
• Our government has invested an average of $44 million annually
to support the delivery of fire protection services on-reserve.

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 2021-2022, ISC provided an average of
$43.8 million annually in funding for fire protection, including annual averages of:
• $11.0 million for capital investments (fire trucks, fire halls, etc.),
• $15.0 million for operations and maintenance of assets,
• $5.0 million for firefighter training, and
• $12.9 million in additional targeted funding and the Canada Community Building Fund
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.
Recent fires have included:
- Mississauga First Nation (Ontario)
o One person was injured following an April 5, 2023 house fire
- Webequie First Nation (Ontario)
o A family was treated for smoke inhalation following an April 7, 2023 house fire
o The house was a total loss
o The community does not have any ISC funded fire assets
- Bloodvein First Nation (Manitoba)
o A 49 year-old man was found dead following an April 5, 2023 house fire.
o Community members and RCMP officers worked to put out the fire
o ISC provides approximately $27,000 to Bloodvein First Nation for fire protection and
other services. Additionally, ISC provided $10,463 in 2022-2023 for community fire
hydrant repairs. According to information provided by the First Nation, Bloodvein has
a fire truck, community garage space for the truck, and a volunteer fire department.
- Tataskweyak First Nation (Manitoba)
o An April 2, 2023 house fire claimed the life of a 25 year old female
o This followed a February 2023 fire where a 17-year-old girl and a 2-year-old boy,
were airlifted to Winnipeg after they were injured in an apartment fire.
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o At the time of the February fire, the communities fire truck was not operational due to
mechanical issues. They have since purchased a used fire truck using own-source
revenue, but at the time of the April fire, the local firefighters had not received
training on operating it.
- Pikangikum First Nation (Ontario)
o A structural fire affected one house in Pikangikum on April 2, 2023.
o A March 5, 2023 house fire resulted in total structural loss of the building. There
were no fatalities or injuries resulting from the fire.
o A February 2023 fire claimed three lives. Extreme cold debilitated the communities
fire trucks which were stored in a garage, not a fire hall.
o A 2016 fire in Pikangikum claimed nine people including an infant.
o On February 28, 2023, ISC approved the design phase of the Pikangikum Fire Hall
project. The design phase approval is $333,637, with a total estimated cost of
$3,637,807. The First Nation will aim to complete the detailed design in the next
year, with mobilization taking place on the 2024 winter road season and an
estimated project completion date of early 2025.
- Sioux Valley Dakota First Nation (Manitoba)
o An 11-year-old boy was injured in a house fire on March 25, 2023, and was
transported to the hospital where he died from his injuries. A 65 year old woman
sustained injuries.
o The Sioux Valley Fire Department, First Nation safety officers and community
members worked to extinguish the fire and find the child.
o The cause of the fire is under investigation. The Office of the Fire Commissioner is
helping with the investigation.
o The Sioux Valley Dakata First Nation has a self-governance agreement.
- Skwah First Nation (BC)
o Two individuals died in a structure fire on March 25, 2023.
o The Chilliwack Fire Department responded and extinguished the building which
suffered damage to the roof and upper floor. Chilliwack Fire Department is working
with RCMP regarding a fire investigation.
- Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation (Ontario)
o A young child died in a camping trailer fire on March 13, 2023. Two adults and four
children escaped with minor injuries.
o Neighboring communities, including Six Nations, fire departments responded to the
fire.
- Shamattawa First Nation (Manitoba)
o No serious injuries were reported in a March 2023 fire at an Elders complex.
o The communities fire truck is reported as non-operational and was out of the
community for repair.
o ISC is supporting the community with $150,000 to support the purchase of a new fire
truck and provides approximately $70,000 annually to support the operation and
maintenance of their fire assets.
- Weenusk / Peawanuck First Nation (Ontario)
o A 10-year-old girl died in a January 2023 house fire; the community did not have any
operational firefighting equipment.
o Weenusk First Nation led the procurement of a replacement fire truck, with support
from ISC. The Department approved funding for this project in January 2022 and the
truck was delivered to the community via winter road in March 2023.
- Shoal lake 40 First Nation (Ontario)
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o No deaths occurred in a February 2023 fire that destroyed a six unit apartment
complex.
- Elsipogtog First Nation (New Brunswick)
o A two-story apartment complex caught fire, Fire response was rapid and the fire was
contained. Overall 13 units were impacted and 41 people were displaced. There
were no deaths.
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.

If Pressed on First Nations not having enough support for fire
suppression
• Recognizing that education and prevention is key to reducing
fire injuries and deaths, our government supported a winter Fire
Safety Campaign, which included distribution fire safety
materials to First Nations.
• Our government has invested an average of $44 million annually
to support the delivery of fire protection services on-reserve
including $15 million for operations and maintenance of fire
assets.
• ISC also supports the National Indigenous Fire Safety Council,
which focuses on empowering First Nation communities in the
prevention of fires, and building fire protection capacity.

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.
• Indigenous Services Canada officials will continue to work
closely with First Nations leadership on mechanisms to advance
fire prevention and protection.

If pressed on Budget 2022
• Our government will continue to support First Nations in
acquiring fire protection services training and essential
equipment.
• Budget 2022 provided $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 2021-22, an annual average of $44 million
was provided for fire protection services on-reserve – in addition
to Band Support Funding. This includes $5 million for fire
protection services training and $15 million for operations and
maintenance annually.
• Since 2016 and as of December 31, 2022, ISC has invested $82.8
million (excluding operating expenses) in targeted funding to
support 224 fire protection projects of which 165 have been
completed. These projects will benefit 258 communities serving
approximately 271,000 people. 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
• Every loss of life due to fire incidents, such as those in
Bloodvein, Tataskweyak, Sioux Valley Dakota, Skwah First
Nation communities, is one too many.
• All fires, such as those in Webequie, Mississauga, Pikangikum,
Shamattawa First Nations can have significant emotional
impacts on communities and often result in infrastructure
losses.
• The Government of Canada acknowledges that fire prevention is
key to keeping people and communities safe. This includes
raising awareness on the importance of smoke alarms,
firefighting equipment and fire safety prevention.
• ISC has 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 Fire 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.
• In response to feedback from engagement activities, 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.

If pressed on the First Nations Fire Protection Strategy
• The First Nations Fire Protection Strategy for 2022-2027 is the
first to be co-developed by Indigenous Services Canada and the
Assembly of First Nations.
• The Strategy was developed with input from First Nations
technical organizations, Tribal Councils, First Nations
leadership, the National Indigenous Fire Safety Council (NIFSC),
and other fire service professionals.
• The strategy aims to reduce fire-related deaths and injuries and
promote and inform fire and life safety initiatives.
• ISC and the AFN are working together to finalize the Strategy
and determine next steps for its release to the public.