Archived - First Nations Water and Wastewater Action Plan
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Name of lead department(s): Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC)
Lead department program: Infrastructure and Capacity
Start date of the Horizontal Initiative: April 1, 2008
End date of the Horizontal Initiative: March 31, 2014
Total federal funding allocation (start to end date): $2,395,734,434
In 2008, the federal government announced $735,639,806 in funding for the first two years of this initiative. Of this amount, $202,500,000 was funded from existing reference levels in each of the fiscal years 2008–2009 and 2009–2010. New funds were sourced from the Fiscal Framework, as confirmed in Budget 2008. This new funding totaled $165,318,143 in fiscal year 2008–2009 and $165,321,663 in 2009–2010 and included employee benefit plans and Public Works and Government Services Canada accommodation requirements.
The program was extended for an additional two years, with funding confirmed as part of Budget 2010. This provided an additional $845,547,800 in investments for water and wastewater infrastructure over the extended period of the program from 2010–2012.
Budget 2012 allotted the same investment amounts for the water and wastewater action plan for a further two-year period. The Government of Canada released $330.8 million over the two years, in addition to the existing funding of $209,373,064 for 2012–1013 and $209,293,764 for 2013–2014. The total planned investment in safe water and wastewater for First Nations over the fiscal periods of 2012–2013 and 2013–2014 is $749,446,828. The total federal funding allocation since 2008 has been $2,395,734,434.
Description of the Horizontal Initiative (including funding agreement):
The prime objective of the First Nations Water and Wastewater Action Plan (FNWWAP) is to help First Nation communities on reserves bring their drinking water and wastewater services to a level and quality of service comparable to those enjoyed by Canadians living in communities of similar size and location. There are five key activity areas in the FNWWAP: infrastructure investments, operations and maintenance, training, monitoring and awareness, and standards.
To meet the objectives of the FNWWAP, several program enhancements have been introduced, including the following:
- a national engineering assessment of existing water and wastewater facilities;
- consultations on a new federal legislative framework for safe drinking water;
- increased training through the Circuit Rider Training Program;
- modification of existing policies related to small water and septic systems and agreements for water and wastewater services;
- investment in a National Wastewater Program; and
- development of waterborne illness procedures.
The FNWWAP was implemented as part of government commitments in the 2007 Speech from the Throne, Budget 2008, Budget 2010 and Budget 2012 to support First Nation access to safe drinking water. It supports the continued commitment to promote access to clean water in Aboriginal communities announced in the 2011 Speech from the Throne.
The FNWWAP supports AANDC's strategic outcome, The Land and The Economy: Full participation of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis individuals and communities in the economy. The FNWWAP also supports the Health Canada (HC) strategic outcome of the department's First Nations and Inuit Health Programming and Services: Better health outcomes and reduction of health inequalities between First Nations and Inuit and other Canadians.
More information is available at these websites:
- Report on Plans and Priorities 2007-2008 Health Canada - Health Canada's Regional Operations - An Overview
- Budget 2010 - New Investments in Jobs and Economic Growth - Chapter 3.3 - Building on a Strong Economic Foundation
- Budget 2012 – Jobs, Growth and Long-Term Prosperity
- Water and Wastewater Infrastructure – Investment Report 2010-2012
Shared outcome(s):
The FNWWAP works toward the achievement of four outcomes:
- First Nation communities have an increased capacity to address potential water quality problems.
- Health risks associated with water quality and supply are reduced.
- All First Nation community water and wastewater facilities meet federal standards.
- First Nation communities have increased confidence in their drinking water.
Governance structure(s):
The FNWWAP is a successor to the joint First Nations Water Management Strategy (2003–2008) and the AANDC Plan of Action for Drinking Water (2006–2008). A memorandum of understanding has been in place between AANDC and HC since 2005 regarding data sharing related to drinking water. AANDC shares information about proposed water and wastewater infrastructure investments, the annual inspections of water and wastewater treatment plants, and action related to drinking water advisories. Similarly, HC shares information such as drinking water sample results that do not meet the Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality and reasons for recommending drinking water advisories. At the working level, the Strategic Water Management on Reserve Committee, which includes representatives from HC, AANDC, Environment Canada and the Assembly of First Nations, provides a forum to share information and coordinate joint action, although this is not a formal decision-making body. It also provides integrated and coordinated leadership and a vehicle to work toward safe drinking water for First Nation communities and implement the FNWWAP.
Directors general and assistant deputy ministers from HC and AANDC meet when needed to exchange and coordinate action on all relevant issues related to the FNWWAP.
Planning Highlights
Since 2011–2012, AANDC has responded strategically to the findings of the National Assessment of Water and Wastewater in First Nation communities. The Government of Canada is reducing water and wastewater system risk through three pillars of action:
1. Enhanced capacity building and operation training:
- Increase planned investments in operation and maintenance and training from $109.5 million to $162.5 million to reduce risk, prevent deterioration of water and wastewater systems, and protect future investments.
- Support the creation of regional hubs to monitor, and even operate, systems remotely.
- Increase accountability by instituting tighter controls and better oversight (based on risk) on operations and maintenance funding.
- Increase the focus on maintenance management planning.
- Roll out new Circuit Rider Trainer Program guidelines; the standardized program will support operators to improve operation and maintenance of the systems and respond to input from technical working groups.
- Support First Nations/First Nation organizations to develop regional hubs or centres of expertise that will enable back-up operator capacity in communities.
2. Enforceable Water and Wastewater Standards:
- Bill S-8, the Safe Drinking Water for First Nations Act, received Royal Assent on June 19, 2013. AANDC will now begin formal discussions on regulatory development with First Nation organizations.
- The Environment Canada Wastewater Systems Effluent Regulations went into effect on June 29, 2012.
3. Capital Investments in 2013–2014:
- AANDC prioritizes capital investments to target high- and medium-risk systems. AANDC's risk assessments take into account an extensive set of factors that could lead to problems with water/wastewater systems. Work is currently underway to build and upgrade numerous water and wastewater systems on First Nation reserves across Canada.
- Economic Action Plan 2012 included $330.8 million over two years to help continue building and renovating water infrastructure on reserve and to support the development of a long-term strategy to improve water quality in First Nation communities. Thirty major capital projects are due for completion by March 2014. These are part of 286 infrastructure projects with a planned investment in 2013–2014 of $159.5 million. The projects range from feasibility studies to minor repairs to construction of new systems and include projects that will take several years to complete.
| Federal Partner Program |
Names of programs funded under the horizontal initiative |
$ | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Allocation (from Start to End Date) |
Planned Spending for 2014–2014 |
||
| Infrastructure and Capacity | FNWWAP funding | TBC | TBC |
| Infrastructure and Capacity | A-base funding | TBC | TBC |
| Total | TBC | TBC | |
Expected results by program:
Since 2011–2012, AANDC has been responding strategically to the findings of the National Assessment in order to improve results for water and wastewater in First Nation communities. Over the next two years, the Government of Canada has committed nearly $750 million (AANDC $684.3 million, Health Canada $65.2 million) in water and wastewater investments. AANDC will continue to support the enhancement of First Nation capacity to maintain their water and wastewater infrastructure by building and maintaining strong relationships and working closely with partners and key stakeholders.
By working to increase the percentage of First Nations with low-risk water and wastewater systems, the Government of Canada is helping First Nations meet health and safety standards and provide their residents with similar levels of service to those in off-reserve communities. This effort supports the FNWWAP shared outcomes and the FSDS goal of protecting and enhancing water so that it is clean, safe and secure for all Canadians and supports healthy ecosystems.
AANDC
- Increase in percent of First Nation drinking water systems with low-risk ratings.
TARGET: 50% low risk by 2015 - Increase in percent of First Nation wastewater systems with low-risk ratings.
TARGET: 70% low risk by 2015
| Federal Partner Program |
Names of programs funded under the horizontal initiative |
$ | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Allocation (from Start to End Date) |
Planned Spending for 2013–2014 |
||
| First Nations and Inuit Health | Drinking Water Safety Program – FNNWAP funding | TBC | TBC |
| Drinking Water Safety Program – A based funding | TBC | TBC | |
| Total | TBC | TBC | |
Expected results by program:
Since 2011–2012, AANDC has been responding strategically to the findings of the National Assessment in order to improve results for water and wastewater in First Nation communities. Over the next two years, the Government of Canada has committed nearly $750 million (AANDC $684.3 million, Health Canada $65.2 million) in water and wastewater investments. AANDC will continue to support the enhancement of First Nation capacity to maintain their water and wastewater infrastructure by building and maintaining strong relationships and working closely with partners and key stakeholders.
By working to increase the percentage of First Nations with low-risk water and wastewater systems, the Government of Canada is helping First Nations meet health and safety standards and provide their residents with similar levels of service to those in off-reserve communities. This effort supports the FNWWAP shared outcomes and the FSDS goal of protecting and enhancing water so that it is clean, safe and secure for all Canadians and supports healthy ecosystems.
Health Canada
- Increase in the number of First Nations communities south of 60° with the capacity to monitor their drinking water quality per Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality and reduce health risks associated with drinking water quality and supply.
| Total Allocation For All Federal Partners (from Start to End Date) |
Total Planned Spending for All Federal Partners for 2014–2015 |
|---|---|
| TBC | TBC |
Results to be achieved by non-federal partners (if applicable):
N/A
Contact Information
Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada
David Smith
Director
Program Design and Regional Partnerships Directorate, Community Infrastructure Branch
Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada
Telephone: 819-953-6043
david.smith@aadnc-aandc.gc.ca
Health Canada
Ivy Chan
Director
Health Canada
Interprofessional Advisory and Program Support, Environmental Public Health Division
First Nations and Inuit Health Branch
Telephone: 613-948-7773
ivy.chan@hc-sc.gc.ca