Question Period Note: Kashechewan First Nation – Critical Infrastructure Failure

N.A.

• On January 4, the community declared a state of emergency after sewage seeped into a raw water tank, closing the water plant. Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) has been in contact with Chief and has assured the community of her ongoing support.
• ISC is supporting urgent infrastructure repairs to stabilize essential systems.
• ISC approved nine liters of bottled water per person and deployed Northern Waterworks Inc.
• Partial evacuation occurred due to sewage odor; 5 nurses remain in community along with a physician from the Weeneebayko Area Health Authority.

Current Community Issues
Proposed Health Authority
• Kaschechewan is a signatory to the Weeneebayko Area Health Integration Framework Agreement (WAHIFA) and therefore a member community under the Weeneebayko Area Health Authority.
• Kashechewan First Nation is also a member of the Mushkegowuk Tribal Council. The Mushkegowuk Tribal Council is not a WAHIFA signatory and is working towards establishing its own health authority.
• Kashechewan has indicated interest in establishing its own health authority and is also collaborating with Nishnawbe Aski Nation.
Community Relocation Plans
• In March 2017 Kashechewan, Canada and Ontario signed “Together We Work for Hope - Framework Agreement” for the safety, health and ongoing sustainability of Kashechewan First Nation”.
o The Agreement committed Canada and Ontario to work together with Kashechewan to define an action plan to address the short-, medium- and long-term challenges of the community.
o The Terms of Reference assigned that responsibility to the Social, Health, Education and Employment Working Group consisting of:
 3 Representatives named by Kashechewan
 1 Representative of named by Mushkegowuk Council
 3 Representatives named by Canada (Indigenous Services Canada Ontario Region);
 1 Representative named by the Weeneebayko Area Health Authority
 2 Representatives named by Ontario (Ministry of Children and Youth Services and Northeast Local Health Integration Network)
• In March 2019, the First Nation, Canada and Ontario signed the “2019 Framework Agreement”, which updated the commitments of the Parties to engage in broad-based community planning and development, with the primary objective being the plan to relocate the community to higher ground. Canada’s initial commitment of $34.5M, supports the relocation planned and interim safety improvements for Kashechewan. Discussions are currently underway to regarding the planned move.
Provision of Health Services
• Kashechewan First Nation and Kashechewan Health Services Board are two different entities.
• ISC-funded primary and public health care services, including treatment and emergency services, are managed by the Kashechewan Health Services Board, although operations/maintenance and security of the nursing station are managed by Kashechewan First Nation. ISC also funds an environmental public health officer to deliver services to the community.
• The Kashechewan Health Services Board delivers the following health services in the community:
The Kashechewan Nursing Station team is comprised of ISC nurses, a nurse practitioner and Registered Practical Nurses, visiting physicians (from the Weeneebayko Area Health Authority) as well as community workers. Programs and services offered include:
• Emergency services (triage, Emergency Resuscitation and Stabilization with coordination for evacuation
• Emergency Ambulatory Care Services
• Preventative care and screening
• Annual physical health exams
• Diagnosis and treatment
• Prescribe medication and renewals
• Order laboratory and diagnostic tests
• Prenatal and well-baby care
• MTO physicals
• Referrals to allied health professionals
• Vaccinations
• Laboratory services for routine blood work
• Aboriginal Diabetes Initiative
• Aboriginal Healthy Babies Healthy Children
• Crisis Intervention
• Family Well Being Program
• Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Program
• Health Services
• Home and Community Care
• Medical Transportation Program
• Native Alcohol and Drug Abuse Program
Physician support is provided through the Weeneebayko Area Health Authority, and the physicians provide medical services on a rotating basis. Further support is available 24/7 by telephone from the ER Physician at WGH. The James Bay Ambulance Services provides pre-hospital care to the community, and the James Bay Mental Health Services has a full-time worker on site.
Jordan’s Principle:
The following are current Choose Life Group applications for Kashechewan First Nation:
- Mental Health: $2,848,912
- Staffing: $2,263,456
Financial Profile 2025-2026
Program ActivityBudgeted Allocations
Medical Transportation$170,320
B24 Nurse Safety $24,695
Mental Wellness $528,179
Healthy Living $245,497
Healthy Child Development $318,090
AHSOR-ABOR.Headstart.Res$336,566
Home & Community Care$566,769
Communicable Disease Control & Development$23,840
Jordan’s Principle $2,881,814
Health Facilities $572,457
Health Planning & Quality Management $190,974
C-IHEF-Distinctions $403,287
Total funding (As of Jan 7, 2026) $6,262,488

If pressed on Nursing Station
• The Nursing Station is temporarily closed due to a sewage backup in the basement.
• To maintain continuity of care, there are currently five nurses in the community. A Weeneebayko Area Health Authority physician is also present. A contractor has begun remediation and sanitization of the Nursing Station, including heating and ventilation systems.
• A temporary clinic is operating at the elementary school using five classrooms. Physicians are monitoring and testing for illnesses related to water and sewage issues. If pressed on the evacuation
• Charter services are being used to evacuate all members of the Kashechewan community, encompassing all ages and stages, to four designated sites in Timmins, Kapuskasing, Kingston, and Niagara Falls, with 567 people from the community having registered for evacuation. If pressed on E. COLI
• The Weeneebayko Area Health Authority and ISC are jointly preparing water-borne pathogen information sheets (symptoms and testing), to be shared with Chief for community distribution
• At this time no reportable disease-causing E. coli has been confirmed in patient testing samples; tests remain ongoing. Additionally, there has been no presence of E. coli in any samples from the water treatment plant.
• Individual health information cannot be shared by ISC due to privacy. Questions related to the health of the community are best directed to the First Nation. If pressed on Cryptosporidium
• Kashechewan First Nation is experiencing a gastrointestinal outbreak, affecting many individuals with stomach-related illness.
• At least 44 people have tested positive for cryptosporidium.
• Public health officials are responding urgently.
• Cryptosporidium is a reportable, transmissible disease. ISC, Ontario Public Health, and the Northeastern Public Health Unit are working with Kashechewan First Nation leadership.
• Investigation and water testing continue. If pressed on Water Treatment Plant
• Northern Water Works reported that the water treatment system is functioning properly, with backup equipment in place. The first reservoir has been cleaned and will be brought back online pending test results, and the second reservoir will also be cleaned.
• ISC maintains regular communication with the community through daily meetings and check-ins. Additionally, the department’s Health Emergency Management team has visited the community to provide support. If pressed on Mental Wellness
• Mental wellness supports are being coordinated by local partners at each of the host sites.
• The department’s Health Emergency Management and Mental Wellness Program teams are working with the co-funded Ontario Mental Wellness Teams, and with provincial partners, to provide surge supports to evacuees at host locations.
• Additional Mental Wellness supports are available to evacuees through the 24/7 NAN Hope for Wellness crisis support line.
If pressed on relocation
• Since the 2019 Framework Agreement, ISC has been working with Kashechewan First Nation on Comprehensive Community Planning, including a communitywide survey and housing inventory.
• ISC continues to work with the Chiefs and Councils of Kashechewan and Fort Albany to advance community priorities and relocation interests. In Fall 2025, the Steering Committee reconvened to review progress.
• In collaboration with the Province of Ontario, the department is supporting Kashechewan in identifying and transferring provincial lands to Canada to be set apart as reserve for future relocation.