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PACP Committee News Release

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Standing Committee on Public Accounts
House of Commons / Chambre des communes
Comité permanent des comptes publics

For immediate release


NEWS RELEASE


Indigenous Services Canada Failed to Provide Necessary Support to Manage Emergencies on Indigenous Communities

Ottawa, November 27, 2023 -

PARLIAMENT HILL – The Auditor General of Canada found in a 2022 audit that Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) was more reactive than preventative when working with First Nations, despite indigenous communities identifying many infrastructure projects to mitigate the impact of emergency situations. As well, the department had a backlog of 112 infrastructure projects that federal officials had determined were eligible but awaiting federal funding.

Many issues have not improved since they were first identified in the Auditor General’s 2013 audit of emergency management on reserves. After almost a decade, ISC still had not identified which First Nations communities did not have sufficient resources to manage emergencies. Doing so proactively would allow the department to target investments in these communities, such as building culverts and dikes to prevent seasonal floods, and help avoid some of the costs of responding to and recovering from emergencies and evacuations.

The department also did not know whether indigenous communities received services that were culturally appropriate and comparable to emergency services provided in other communities of similar size and circumstances. Moreover, it was discovered that the department did not have an updated emergency management plan as required under the Emergency Management Act.

A report by the House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Accounts, presented today by Committee Chairman John Williamson, makes seven recommendations to ensure that the Auditor General’s recommendations are adequately addressed, and that ISC provides evidence of this to the Committee through progress reports.

For more information or a copy of the report, please contact:
Cédric Taquet, Clerk of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts
Tel: 613-996-1664
E-mail: PACP@parl.gc.ca