Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Madam Chair and honourable members of the committee, for the invitation to discuss the status of infrastructure projects for indigenous communities, including projects financed through the Gas Tax Fund, and the one-time top up announced in budget 2019.
Before we begin, I'd like to acknowledge that we're meeting today on traditional Algonquin territory.
I'd like to take this opportunity to introduce my colleagues from Indigenous Services Canada. I'm joined by Nelson Barbosa, who's in charge of strategic health infrastructure, and Chad Westmacott, who's in charge of water and housing infrastructure.
Since 2014, the Government of Canada has committed to making unprecedented investments in support of indigenous community infrastructure. Approximately $8 billion in committed and proposed funding through Indigenous Services Canada will support indigenous community infrastructure until 2026-27.
Investing in infrastructure is about investing in people and communities. Infrastructure investments help ensure that people have quality housing, safe drinking water, better schools and health centres, as well as spaces and facilities that bring people together as a community.
Since 2016, approximately $3.43 billion has been invested by Indigenous Services Canada and Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada to support 3,979 infrastructure projects on reserves. A total of 2,425 infrastructure projects have been completed. These include 1,267 new homes built and another 2,720 homes renovated to help improve first nation access to safe and secure spaces to live. These constructions and renovations are in addition to the number of homes built and renovated through investments made by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.
Moreover, 15 new schools have been built and 33 existing schools have been renovated, providing children with better access to local education. Renovation or modernization work is also in progress at many schools.
Clean, safe water is now available in more communities. Between November 2015 and May 9, 2019, 85 long-term drinking water advisories were lifted. We're also on track to meet our commitment to lift all remaining long-term drinking water advisories on public systems on reserves by March 2021.
Of the 207 health-related infrastructure projects, 178 have been completed. These projects are essential to providing effective, sustainable and culturally appropriate health programs and services to first nations communities.
Of the 1,380 other essential infrastructure projects, 942 have been completed. These projects include cultural and recreational facilities on reserves; energy, sustainability and connectivity infrastructure; roads and bridges, structural mitigation measures to reduce the impact of natural disasters and improve fire protection; and solid waste management.
Almost all first nation communities across Canada have received targeted funds from lndigenous Services Canada or Crown-lndigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada for at least one infrastructure project since April 2016, including capacity development projects.
ln terms of the gas tax fund, since 2005 it has provided communities, including first nation communities across Canada, with a permanent, predictable and indexed source of long-term infrastructure funding. Under the gas tax fund, managed by Infrastructure Canada, over $2.2 billion is provided to provinces, territories and municipal associations, which flow this funding to municipalities to support local infrastructure priorities. Budget 2019 included a commitment from the Government of Canada for a one-time $2.2-billion top-up to the federal gas tax fund.
Since 2007, the first nation portion of the gas tax fund is managed by lndigenous Services Canada through the first nation infrastructure fund, which allows for one delivery mechanism and promotes greater financial impact to address first nation infrastructure needs. Providing lndigenous Services Canada with direct access to the gas tax funds under statutory authority was determined to be a simpler, more transparent and accountable way to flow and track the funds. The portion of the gas tax fund dedicated to first nation infrastructure is based on first nation on-reserve population data. The funding is allocated to first nation communities on reserve for priority infrastructure projects such as access to connectivity-related projects, roads and bridges, green energy and other essential infrastructure.
Projects are identified for potential funding using the first nations infrastructure investment plans, .which are submitted annually by first nations and are screened for eligibility and prioritized according to a national priority ranking framework.
Between fiscal years 2014-15 and 2018-19, Indigenous Services Canada allocated $138.8 million of the gas tax fund toward approximately 255 on-reserve infrastructure improvement projects in first nation communities.
In addition, through a one-time top-up from budget 2019, an additional $29.4 million in fiscal year 2018-19 was allocated by Indigenous Services Canada in support of seven infrastructure projects in British Columbia, Manitoba, Quebec and the Atlantic region. Through its agreement with provinces and territories, Infrastructure Canada also provides annual gas tax funding to other indigenous communities, such as those designated under the respective provincial and territorial agreements. These communities will also benefit from the top-up announced in 2019.
In terms of transparency and results, a robust reporting process has been implemented allowing both Indigenous Services Canada and Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada to provide regular updates on the overall portfolio of infrastructure projects in first nation communities. This includes an infrastructure investment interactive map, which has been available on the Indigenous Services Canada website since June 2018 and is updated quarterly.
It is also important to know that in recognition of the nation-to-nation relationship, first nation communities are ultimately responsible for delivering infrastructure projects in their communities.
These investments are helping to meet infrastructure needs of first nation communities and will lay the foundation of a long-term investment strategy with first nation community infrastructure to build healthy, safe and prosperous communities.
Thank you for inviting us to speak with you today.
We would be pleased to answer your questions.
