Question Period Note: Fire Safety

N.A.

• Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) is working with First Nations, tribal councils, and Indigenous fire expert organizations to support fire protection on reserves.
• The Assembly of First Nations and ISC have co-developed a renewed First Nations Fire Protection Strategy for 2023 to 2028, which works to improve program policy, guide investments, and promote fire protection on reserve.
• ISC will continue to work with First Nations' leadership to support their priorities for their communities. This may include firefighting equipment, fire safety prevention and education.

On reserves, fire protection is managed by First Nations’ band councils. Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) provides funding for fire protection every year as part of a 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.

The main areas for which funding contributions are available are:
• Fire prevention education: Informs individuals on how to protect themselves and property from fire risks, which can reduce the number of injuries, deaths and infrastructure damage.
• Fire prevention: Includes smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, and other fire prevention measures.
• Fire preparedness: A fire safety plan prepares a community to cover all aspects of fire safety for community buildings and property as part of emergency planning.
• Various assessments: Fire department assessments, community risk assessments, or community fire safety assessments and community risk reduction plans.
• Training: Basic firefighter training courses to meet provincial training standards, develop firefighter training standards, and support capacity plans for recruitment and retention.
• Fire Protection Assets: Capital and Operations and Management funding for training and equipment. This includes funding for Wildland-Urban Interface equipment to combat wildland fires that threaten infrastructure in First Nations communities.
ISC also funds Mental Health Therapist services and crisis response teams for community members dealing with the devastating loss following a fire. ISC also ensures that resources are available to debrief first responders.

Between 2016 and 2024, ISC provided an average of $50.2 million annually for fire protection, through both core and targeted funding streams, including annual averages of:
• $15.4 million for capital investments (fire trucks, fire halls, etc.),
• $15.6 million for operations and maintenance of assets,
• $5.0 million for firefighter training, and
• $14.2 million in targeted funding from Budgets 2013, 2016, 2017, 2022 and the Canada Community-Building Fund

If pressed on the greater incidence of fire-related deaths on reserve
• Fire-related mortalities are over ten times higher for First Nations people on reserve than for non-Indigenous people.

• A report of the National Indigenous Fire Safety Council identified factors that may contribute to this higher rate, including lack of smoke detectors; inadequate fire services in Indigenous communities; and overcrowded living conditions.

• The Government of Canada is confident that, by working together, long-term strategies can be developed that will result in significant changes for First Nations communities across Canada. If pressed on Fire Protection investments
• ISC provides funding to First Nations for fire protection services, such as the construction of new fire halls, purchase of fire trucks, firefighting tools and equipment, and training and educating firefighters and community members.
• Through Budget 2024, the Government of Canada announced $20.9 million over 3 years, beginning in 2024-25, to support the First Nations Fire Protection Strategy.
• This funding will support the delivery of fire prevention and education programs in First Nations communities facing the greatest risk of experiencing a structural fire. If pressed on Oneida Nation of the Thames and Sandy Lake First Nation Fire Protection litigation
• The Government recognizes that First Nation communities are disproportionately affected by fire incidents that can have devastating impacts on families and communities.
• Canada respects the choices of First Nations, including Oneida Nation of the Thames and Sandy Lake First Nation, to seek the Court’s assistance on the important issue of fire protection.
• ISC continues to work with all First Nations to advance fire prevention infrastructure, support fire safety awareness and education, and maintain partnerships that promote fire prevention and protection on reserve.