Evidence of meeting #145 for Transport, Infrastructure and Communities in the 42nd Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was funding.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Ken Hardie Liberal Fleetwood—Port Kells, BC
I want to go back to the beginning, again chiming off one of Mr. Doherty's questions.
Okay, they have a big project. They are going to build a school and they are building the capacity in the community to manage this project. What obligations do they have back to you to ensure that the money was used wisely and the project was delivered as intended?
Director General, Regional Infrastructure Branch, Regional Operations Sector, Department of Indigenous Services Canada
Thank you for your question. I'll start on the schools, and maybe Mr. Barbosa will add something.
With the size of these projects, we work with the first nations. There is reporting on how they are spending the monies. There is reporting as well on meeting their certifications. All of these projects are meeting the official building code certifications to make sure that they are compliant with the province in which they are built. There is, then, accounting on the money side and there is accounting as well with the way the building is built and the way it's going to be maintained. They report back to their band councils as well, through which there is an accountability to the chiefs and councils.
Do you want to add anything?
Director, Capacity, Infrastructure and Accountability Division, Department of Indigenous Services Canada
I would just say that absolutely there is, first and foremost, accountability to first nation citizens, which Claudia just alluded to. There are two separate ways of ensuring that reporting requirements are upheld. One is through annual financial cycles and annual reporting vis-à-vis the funding that has flown. Then there is also reporting back, as I am sure you are aware, on the elements of a project as it's being developed—feasibility, design, getting class A estimates, construction and closure, making sure that the facility, whatever it may be, is up to par in terms of national standards.
I would say there is a dual reporting there, a financial reporting and then a project-based reporting.
Conservative
Todd Doherty Conservative Cariboo—Prince George, BC
There are an estimated 300 communities off grid. Most of those are first nations communities. They rely on diesel generation.
What has the department undertaken to try to get these communities off their dependency on diesel? Has there been a study done on the economic impact of the carbon tax on those communities?
Director General, Regional Infrastructure Branch, Regional Operations Sector, Department of Indigenous Services Canada
Thank you.
With regard to first nations south of 60, which is the only portion that I can speak to, there are actually 58 communities that rely on diesel fuel to generate the majority of their electricity. Of these 58 communities, 40 receive direct funding from Indigenous Services Canada to finance the construction operations of their diesel generating, and 13 have agreements with the provincial utility boards.
Of the 40 communities, two have recently undertaken projects to eliminate dependence on diesel—Wuikinuxv and Pikangikum. In addition to Pikangikum, the Wataynikaneyap project will enable the grid connection of 15 other diesel-dependent first nations communities. These projects should be completed over the next few years.
With regard to the 16 remaining communities from there, we're working on a solution that takes into consideration their location, their geographic need, and the power needs are worked on those.
With regard to carbon pricing, we're working collectively with first nations and through a joint council with first nations on the transition to lower-carbon options, and with other experts from different departments in government, such as, Natural Resources, Environment Canada, and the Clean Growth Hub in order to see what the options are for first nations on reserve that are diesel-dependent.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro
Mr. Martel, are you finished?
All right, everybody has finished their questions.
Thank you very much to the witnesses. You can see that the committee had a lot of questions and you provided some great answers, so thank you all very much.
We will suspend and then come back in camera to do some committee business.
[Proceedings continue in camera]
