Investing in Indigenous community infrastructure

Indigenous Services Canada works in partnership with Indigenous communities to support projects through targeted infrastructure investments.

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Background

There is a significant infrastructure gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities in Canada. Infrastructure investments are a key element of the government's commitment to foster the growth of safe, healthy, and prosperous Indigenous communities and support Indigenous economic participation.

Since April 2016 and as of June 30, 2024, $14.02 billion of targeted funds has been invested toward 11,136 projects that will benefit Indigenous communities.

Water and wastewater

Working in partnership with First Nations communities to improve on-reserve water and wastewater infrastructure and expand access to clean drinking water is a priority for Indigenous Services Canada (ISC).

To learn more about the progress made on the Government of Canada's commitment to end long-term drinking water advisories on public systems on reserves, visit Ending long-term drinking water advisories in First Nations communities.

Progress to date

As of June 30, 2024:

  • 1,358 water and wastewater-related infrastructure projects:
    • 637 projects completed
    • 721 projects ongoing
  • 591 First Nations communities benefitting
  • $4.35 billion of targeted funds has been invested to support ongoing and completed infrastructure projects related to water and wastewater, including:
    • 134 new water and wastewater treatment plants or lagoons
    • 933 renovations and upgrades to existing water and wastewater systems
    • 159 feasibility study and design projects
    • 132 supporting projects and initiatives, including training and capacity building

Housing

To address on-reserve housing needs, ISC works in partnership with the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation to support housing projects in First Nations communities including new builds, retrofits and renovations.

Progress to date

As of June 30, 2024:

  • 5,300 housing-related infrastructure projects:
    • 2,746 projects completed
    • 2,554 projects ongoing
  • 611 First Nations communities benefitting
  • $2.43 billion of targeted funds invested to support ongoing and completed housing-related infrastructure projects, including:
    • 1,958 capacity development and innovation projects
    • 1,370 new unit construction projects resulting in 6,192 homes
    • 1,532 unit renovation and upgrade projects improving 13,454 homes
    • 411 lot servicing and lot acquisition projects resulting in 3,624 lots
    • 29 projects towards subdivisions and subdivision extensions

School facilities

Investments in school facilities in First Nations communities create quality, safe and healthy learning environments that provide positive educational outcomes for students living on reserves.

Progress to date

As of June 30, 2024:

  • 320 school facility projects:
    • 182 projects completed
    • 138 projects ongoing
  • 319 First Nations communities benefitting
  • $2.18 billion of targeted funds invested to support ongoing and completed school facility projects, including:
    • 87 projects resulting in the construction of 74 new schools
    • 190 projects resulting in renovations or upgrades to 158 existing schools
    • 11 supporting projects and initiatives toward capacity building
    • 32 feasibility study and design projects

Health

Safe health facilities are essential to providing effective, sustainable and culturally appropriate health programs and services.

Progress to date

As of June 30, 2024:

  • 650 health-related infrastructure projects:
    • 249 projects completed
    • 401 projects ongoing
  • 361 First Nations communities benefitting
  • $920.6 million of targeted funds invested to support ongoing and completed health-related infrastructure projects, including:
    • 99 health facility projects
    • 38 addiction treatment centre projects
    • 493 Aboriginal Head Start On Reserve program projects
    • 20 other health infrastructure projects

Energy systems

ISC is working in partnership with First Nations to transition communities from fossil fuel to clean, reliable and affordable energy systems. Investments include alternative energy projects such as solar, hydroelectric, and wind.

The department also supports communities to improve and optimize existing energy systems through upgrades and energy efficiency projects.

Progress to date

As of June 30, 2024:

  • 209 energy projects:
    • 143 projects completed
    • 66 projects ongoing
  • 185 First Nations communities benefitting
  • $1.86 billion of targeted funds invested to support energy-related infrastructure projects, including:
    • 195 energy infrastructure projects
    • 14 feasibility study and design projects

Connectivity

The Government of Canada is committed to helping First Nations communities bridge the digital divide by working with partners to provide access to high-speed internet that meets or exceeds the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC)'s universal service objective.

Progress to date

As of June 30, 2024:

  • 52 connectivity projects:
    • 33 projects completed
    • 19 projects ongoing
  • 291 First Nations communities benefitting
  • $97.3 million of targeted funds invested to support connectivity-related infrastructure projects, including:
    • 49 connectivity infrastructure projects
    • 3 feasibility study and design projects

Fire protection

Fire protection is an essential service that can mean the difference between life and death. The Government of Canada is committed to working with First Nations and provincial, territorial and municipal partners to address fire protection on reserves.

Progress to date

As of June 30, 2024:

  • 348 fire protection projects:
    • 232 projects completed
    • 116 projects ongoing
  • 453 First Nations communities benefitting
  • $137.9 million of targeted funds invested to support infrastructure projects related to fire protection, including:
    • 340 fire protection infrastructure projects
    • 8 feasibility study and design projects

Roads and bridges

ISC is collaborating with First Nations and other stakeholders to build, repair, upgrade and maintain roads and bridges. These projects create lasting and positive outcomes that reach beyond the roads and allow communities to benefit from further infrastructure projects.

Progress to date

As of June 30, 2024:

  • 346 roads and bridges projects:
    • 214 projects completed
    • 132 projects ongoing
  • 226 First Nations communities benefitting
  • $629.1 million of targeted funds invested to support infrastructure projects related to roads and bridges, including:
    • 305 roads and bridges infrastructure projects
    • 41 feasibility study and design projects

Structural mitigation

ISC is working with First Nations to increase the resilience of communities at high risk of impacts associated with climate-related hazards.

Structural mitigation projects include:

Progress to date

As of June 30, 2024:

  • 140 structural mitigation projects:
    • 75 projects completed
    • 65 projects ongoing
  • 273 First Nations communities benefitting
  • $177.1 million of targeted funds invested to support structural mitigation-related infrastructure projects, including:
    • 109 structural mitigation infrastructure projects
    • 31 feasibility study and design projects

Culture and recreation

In First Nations communities, culture and recreation infrastructure can provide an important focal point for community activities.

Cultural and recreational facilities include:

Progress to date

As of June 30, 2024:

  • 283 culture and recreation-related infrastructure projects:
    • 253 projects completed
    • 30 projects ongoing
  • 219 First Nations communities benefitting
  • $129.7 million of targeted funds invested to support infrastructure projects related to culture and recreation, including:
    • 259 culture and recreation infrastructure projects
    • 16 feasibility study and design projects
    • 8 supporting projects and initiatives

Band administrative buildings

Band administrative buildings are often flagship infrastructure where governance, administration and service delivery activities are conducted. ISC is supporting First Nations in addressing long-standing needs related to band administrative buildings on reserves, including band offices, band council and administrative buildings.

The band administrative buildings category was added in late 2021 to record projects under this heading going forward. These projects were historically recorded under other infrastructure categories.

Progress to date

As of June 30, 2024:

  • 14 band administrative building projects:
    • 2 projects completed
    • 12 projects ongoing
  • 14 First Nation communities benefitting
  • $34.4 million of targeted funds invested to support infrastructure projects related to band administrative buildings, including:
    • 12 band administrative building infrastructure projects
    • 2 feasibility study and design projects

Other community initiatives

ISC is investing in First Nations community initiatives to support community development and growth. This support includes investments in comprehensive community planning and skills development projects that will enable long-term, sustainable First Nations community development.

Other community initiatives include projects such as:

Progress to date

As of June 30, 2024:

  • 444 projects:
    • 156 projects completed
    • 288 projects ongoing
  • 503 First Nations communities benefitting
  • $82.8 million of targeted funds invested to support infrastructure projects related to other community initiatives, including:
    • 441 other community initiatives infrastructure projects
    • 3 feasibility study and design projects

Solid waste management

Infrastructure to manage solid waste is critical to protecting the environment and human health, while also enhancing economic opportunities available to communities.

ISC is working to support First Nations with investments in solid waste management including:

Progress to date

As of June 30, 2024:

  • 1,257 solid waste management-related infrastructure projects:
    • 955 solid waste management projects completed
    • 302 projects ongoing
  • 610 First Nations communities benefitting
  • $629.7 million of targeted funds invested to support solid waste management projects, including:
    • 508 waste management infrastructure projects
    • 160 feasibility study and design projects
    • 589 supporting projects and initiatives

Transfer of service delivery

The transfer of service delivery supports Indigenous communities and organizations in independently delivering services by building capacity and readiness, thereby promoting self-determination.

Progress to date

As of June 30, 2024:

  • 246 infrastructure projects related to the transfer of service delivery
    • 120 projects completed
    • 126 projects ongoing
  • 582 communities benefitting
  • $163.3 million of targeted funds invested to support transfer of service delivery projects and initiatives, including:
    • 201 Asset Management Planning Initiative projects
    • 17 housing and infrastructure service transfer initiatives
    • 27 Indigenous Homes Innovation Initiative projects
    • 1 project supporting the National Indigenous Fire Safety Council

Urban infrastructure

ISC investments in urban Indigenous infrastructure are allocated to and managed by urban and rural Indigenous service delivery organizations. Funding is used to support First Nations, Inuit and Métis living in or transitioning to urban centres by helping to ensure safe and accessible facilities.

The following organizations manage urban infrastructure projects supported by ISC investments:

Investments in urban infrastructure aim to ensure safe and accessible spaces for program and service delivery by supporting capital projects that focus on essential health and safety, accessibility and energy efficiency.

Progress to date

As of June 30, 2024:

  • 169 infrastructure projects related to urban infrastructure:
    • 109 projects completed
    • 60 projects ongoing
  • $201.2 million of targeted funds invested to support urban Indigenous infrastructure projects, including:
    • 55 major projects (projects with a cost greater than $1 million)
      • includes building purchases, new constructions, renovations, upgrades and expansions
    • 114 minor projects (projects with a cost up to $1 million)
      • includes energy efficiency projects, retrofits, repairs, plumbing and electrical, interior renovations, etc.

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