Archived - Horizontal Initiatives: First Nations Water and Wastewater Action Plan (FNWWAP)

Name of Lead Department(s):

Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC)

Lead Department Program:

Community Infrastructure

Start date of the Horizontal Initiative:

April 1, 2008

End date of the Horizontal Initiative:

March 31, 2016

Total federal funding allocation (start to end date):

$3,096,486,118

In Budget 2008, the Government of Canada provided $330,639,806 over two years to support on-reserve water/wastewater infrastructure and complementary activities through the First Nations Water and Wastewater Action Plan (FNWWAP). Budgets 2010, 2012 and 2014 each extended the program for an additional two years, with total new funding of $985,015,644 over the six years. Canada's Economic Action Plan – Budget 2009 announced another $165 million over two years for the completion of drinking water and wastewater infrastructure projects. Existing departmental reference levels of funding allocated for First Nations water and wastewater activities from Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada and Health Canada provide another $1,615,830,668.

Description of the Horizontal Initiative (including funding agreement)

The prime objective of the FNWWAP is to support First Nation communities on reserves in bringing 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 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 Nations' 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 Economy: Full participation of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis individuals and communities in the economy. The FNWWAP also supports the 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; and
• 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 on the proposed water and wastewater infrastructure investments; the annual inspections of water and wastewater treatment plants; and action related to drinking water advisories. Conversely, 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 for discussion to share information and co-ordinate joint action, although this is not a formal decision making body. It also provides integrated and co-ordinated leadership to ensure safe drinking water for First Nation communities and to 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.

Performance Highlights

The Government of Canada and First Nations strongly believe that First Nation communities should have access to the same quality of safe, clean and reliable drinking water as Canadians outside of First Nations lands. Between 2006 and 2014, the Government of Canada will have invested approximately $3 billion to support First Nation communities in managing their water and wastewater infrastructure and in related public-health activities.

Under FNWWAP, efforts to support First Nations improve water and wastewater services in their communities are based on a long-term plan founded on four pillars:

• enhanced capacity building and operation training;
• enforceable standards and protocols;
• infrastructure investments; and,
• protection of public health.

Capital investments have been prioritized for the highest risk systems and to address factors that are the greatest contributors to risk such as capacity, training, operations and maintenance.

Under the long-term strategy, positive results continue to emerge as measured in the Annual Performance Inspections conducted by the Departmental regional offices:

• Low risk ratings increased from 38% to 44% for water systems; and from 43% to 52% for wastewater systems between 2012–2013 and 2013–2014.
• The percentage of First Nation systems that had operators certified to the level of the drinking water systems has increased from 61% in 2012–2013 to 68% in 2013–2014, while those certified to the level of the wastewater systems decreased from 61% to 58%.
• Forty one percent of public water systems met the recommended sampling frequency for bacteriological parameters in the Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality (GCDWQ) in 2013–2014. However, it is important to note that on average public water systems were sampled at 78% of the recommended frequency in the GCDWQ. Due to the recent implementation of revised data procedures, the comparison of compliance or average sampling rate with those of previous years is not feasible.
• The Safe Water for First Nations Act came into force in November 2013, and planning for region by region regulation development is underway.

The Government of Canada is committed to working with First Nations region by region on the development of regulations which will be phased-in over time. This phased approach will help to ensure that First Nations and system operators are prepared to meet the regulatory requirements.

Comments on Variances:

Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada

The Department's planned 2013–2014 spending for sub-program – Water and Wastewater was $136,607,380 from Budget 2012 and $191,978,652 from A-base, for a total of $328,586,032 (excludes internal services and accommodation costs). Actual spending for water and wastewater initiatives was $295,097,655 in 2013–2014. The $33,488,377 difference between planned spending and actual spending primarily reflects reallocations of A-base to address pressures in other programs, notably Social Development and Federal Administration of Reserve Land.

Health Canada

The government's continued investment commitment for the First Nations Water and Wastewater Action Plan and the prioritized investments have resulted in the continuation of improved water and wastewater system risk levels. Variance between the planned and actual spending is explained as follows: The surplus is mainly due to funding that was reallocated to environmental public health urgent priorities and public health related emergencies and responses such as H1N1 and spring flooding in Alberta. There was also realignment of resources associated with the implementation of the BC Tripartite initiative.

Results Achieved by Non-Federal Partners (if applicable):

Not Applicable

Contact Information:

Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada

Daniel Leclair
Director General
Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada
Community Infrastructure Branch
Telephone: 819-953-4636
Daniel.Leclair@aandc-aadnc.gc.ca

Health Canada

Ivy Chan
Director
Health Canada
Interprofessional Advisory and Program Support Directorate,
Environmental Public Health Division
Telephone: 613-948-7773
ivy.chan@hc-sc.gc.ca