Transcript Slide 1

First Nations Water and Wastewater in Ontario
Paul Schauerte
A/Director, Capital Program Design and
Regional Partnerships, AANDC-HQ
and
Joan Broussard
Manager, Capital-South
Southern Tribal Council Meeting
Rama, Ontario
October 27, 2011
Purpose
 Share AANDC’s response to issues identified in the National
Assessment
 Discuss First Nations views on the right priorities in response to the
National Assessment
 Discuss current plans regarding water protocols and legislation
 Outline funding levels under the First Nations Water and Wastewater
Action Plan for Ontario Region 2011-12
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Safe Drinking Water for First Nations
 This Government believes that First Nations should expect, as do all Canadians,
safe, clean drinking water and the effective treatment of wastewater. This is an
important health and safety issue.
 The Government is committed to helping First Nations ensure that First Nation
communities have comparable drinking water and wastewater standards to those
found off reserve in provinces and territories.
 Between 2006 and 2013, the Government of Canada will have invested
approximately $2.5 billion in water and wastewater infrastructure in First Nation
communities.
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National Assessment of First Nations Water and
Wastewater Systems
•
In 2009, AANDC commissioned Neegan Burnside Ltd., to conduct a national
assessment on First Nations water and wastewater systems. This Assessment
is the most rigorous, comprehensive and independent assessment of its kind,
surveying 97% of water and wastewater systems in First Nation Communities.
•
Results of the Assessment were released July 14, 2011, with Neegan
Burnside having identified the following:
 314 High-Risk drinking water systems, serving 228 First Nations
Majority of risk is due to capacity issues, although infrastructure issues and lack of
enforceable standards are also a concern;
 1,880 homes currently do not have drinking water service and 1,777 do not have
wastewater service;
 37% of community buildings (schools, daycares, etc.) with individual wells have
water quality problems;
 $1.2 billion in upgrades for existing systems to meet AANDC standards; and
 $3.5 billion to address projected growth over 10 years.
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National Assessment – Ontario Findings
•
The National Assessment surveyed the water and wastewater systems of 120 First
Nations in Ontario. Water systems in remote communities are 2.5 times more likely to
be high risk than low risk.
•
Of the 158 water systems inspected: 72 are categorized as high overall risk, 61 as
medium overall risk and 25 as low overall risk.
•
Of the 77 wastewater systems inspected, 28 are categorized as high overall risk, 38
as medium overall risk and 11 systems are categorized as low risk.
•
The total estimated cost for Ontario systems to meet AANDC’s departmental protocols
for safe water and wastewater is $309 million which includes, amongst other factors,
the development of better management practices, improved operator training,
increasing system capacity, and the construction of new infrastructure when required.
•
The contractor also calculated costs to meet growth over 10 years. Including this $309
million to meet current protocols, the contractor’s projections for the cost of new
servicing in Ontario region is approximately $1 billion.
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AANDC Investment
•
The data and recommendations from the National Assessment will inform
funding decisions for the coming years, starting in the current year.
•
Between April 1, 2006 and March 31, 2010, AANDC invested approximately
$318.6 million in water and wastewater infrastructure for First Nations in
Ontario. Major projects for the South included:
 investment of $14 million for new Garden Village water and wastewater
treatment system at Nipissing First Nation to improve the water quality
and communal wastewater treatment within the community; and
 development of a $20 million water system in Moose Deer Point First
Nation through Canada's Economic Action Plan, including the construction
of a new water treatment plant and repairs to the current infrastructure.
•
Between 2010/11 to 2015/16 AANDC plans to invest $75.9 Million in 12
projects for water systems identified as both High Design Risk and High
Overall Risk.
•
AANDC and First Nations need to work together to develop investment plans
that align with the key priorities identified in the Assessment.
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AANDC Response to Identified Issues
•
AANDC is reviewing and considering the results and
recommendations of the independent report. AANDC is also seeking
First Nations feedback in developing its long-term strategy to support
water services on reserve and making the case for needed
investments.
•
Based on the results of the National Assessment, AANDC believes
priority areas for action include:
 Enhance capacity building for operators and training to ensure the
proper operation and maintenance of the systems;
 Upgrade existing systems so they meet AANDC standards;
 Address unserviced homes and community building wells; and
 Proceed with the development of regulations.
•
These areas are only options – we need First Nations input to
determine if we have the right options.
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Circuit Rider Training Program (CRTP)
(Enhance Capacity Building)
•
A new set of guidelines is being developed to provide clear procedures
that will facilitate the successful administration of CRTP nationally.
•
Improvements to the CRTP:
 Improve program consistency across the country;
 Clarify performance standards for CRTs;
 Ensure appropriate number of visits to First Nation communities; and
 Ensure CRTs have minimum qualifications.
•
These activities should build capacity and provide support for
operating and maintaining systems.
What other supports are needed to improve operator capacity?
•
How could AANDC better support First Nations in training operators
and ensuring facilities are properly operated and maintained?
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Upgrading Existing Systems
•
According to the National Assessment, $1.2 billion in upgrades are
needed for existing systems to meet AANDC standards.
•
The development and use of cost-effective, sustainable technologies,
and alternative financing models (e.g., Public Private Partnerships)
could support us in advancing much needed investments to upgrade
facilities.
 What role could Tribal Councils play?
 Can projects be grouped?
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Addressing Unserviced Homes and
Community Building Wells
•
The National Assessment identified that 1,880 homes currently do not have drinking
water service and 1,777 do not have wastewater service.
•
According to the National Assessment, which sampled approximately 5% of all wells on
each reserve, roughly 36% of residential wells and 37% of wells attached to community
buildings did not meet the Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality for healthrelated reasons.
•
About 47% of septic systems assessed had operational concerns identified, generally
attributed to limited maintenance.
•
AANDC has established policies and standards for the design, construction and
centralised operation of new wells and other decentralised systems. However, no
measures have been identified for existing individual systems.
•
Should there be a collective approach to managing individual systems? Or
should residents be responsible for the systems attached to their homes?
•
Should community building wells be a priority?
•
How can we work together to address these problems?
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Improvements to AANDC Protocols
• Until there is legislation and regulations in place, current protocols will be
improved to bolster water and wastewater protection in First Nation
communities:
 Protocol for Centralised Drinking Water Systems;
 Protocol for Centralised Wastewater Systems;
 Protocol for Decentralised Water and Wastewater Systems.
• The Protocols provide standards for the design, construction, acquisition,
operation, and maintenance of water and wastewater systems.
• The Protocols are guides for the cost-effective management of water and
wastewater assets through their life-cycle.
• The AANDC Protocols are ever-green documents, and comments can be
provided at any time to [email protected]
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Safe Drinking Water for First Nations Legislation
• Bill S-11, An Act respecting the safety of drinking water on first nation lands, was
introduced on May 26, 2010. It was before the Standing Senate Committee on
Aboriginal Peoples when a general election was called.
• The intention of the legislation was to provide a framework for the development
of enforceable regulations to protect the health and safety of First Nations
people on reserve. Concerns were raised regarding:
 funding for infrastructure and capacity;
 a clear role for First Nations in the development and application of standards; and,
 respect for Aboriginal and treaty rights.
• The Government in partnership with First Nations will define an approach to
develop regulations. Development of regulations will take time and will be
implemented in a phased approach, which will give time to the Government and
First Nations to discuss the state of readiness of individual First Nation
communities, and identify priorities for action.
• It is the Government’s intention to introduce safe drinking water legislation in the
fall session of Parliament.
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Key Components of Proposed Legislation
• Key elements of the proposed legislation include:
 Design and approvals of water and wastewater systems;
 Operator training and certification requirements;
 Drinking water quality; and,
 Protection of sources of drinking water on First Nation lands.
• A regulatory regime will help to:
 Establish appropriate oversight;
 Maintain infrastructure and address deficiencies;
 Define shared responsibility governing a legal basis for compliance;
and,
 Protect public health.
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Operator Training and CRTP proposal 2011-12
• AANDC continues to provide funding to First Nations
communities to independently seek out training and CEUs
• Operator Training budget for the Southern communities is
$5,000 per drive-in community
• Proposal for CRTP services under review and approval
expected end October/early November
• 97 communities to be visited (including 28 in the North)
• CRTP update – 20 modules accredited
• CRTP e-learning now available
• Website will be promoted nationally. To view the site visit:
www.circuitridertraining.com
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Annual inspections of water and wastewater systems
for 2011-12
• Annual Inspections for Water and Wastewater were approved at the
Capital and Facilities Management Sub-Committee (CFMSC) on
October 18, 2011.
• 135 water treatment plants and 68 wastewater treatment plants to
be inspected.
• OFNTSC will complete inspections with the assistance of a
consultant.
• Data retrieved from inspections will be directly uploaded in the
Integrated Capital Management System (ICMS)
• Work is starting in October 2011 and scheduled to be completed by
March 2012.
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Safe Water Operations and First Response Hotline
2011-12
Safe Water Operations Program in
Ontario South
- Henvey Inlet First Nation
- Shawanaga First Nation
- Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte
First Nation (School)
- UCCM Tribal Council
- Ogemawahj Tribal Council
First Response Hotline
- Ontario Clean Water Agency
continues to provide First
Response Services to Ontario
South communities ($252,500)
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Water Allocations 2010-11
Region Budget
Region
Expenditure
South
Expenditure
% of
Investments
Gathering Strength
$12,355,900
$12,355,900
$10,924,570
88.42
FNWWAP - Capital
$6,194,704
$6,194,704
$2,528,511
40.82
FNWWAP - O&M
$18,558,951
$18,558,951
$5,479,898
29.53
CEAP
$9,863,889
$9,863,889
$9,863,889
100.00
Capital Non Formula
$501,736
$501,736
$243,919
48.62
O&M Non Formula
$2,833,150
$2,833,150
$639,833
22.58
Total
$50,308,330
$50,308,330
$29,680,620
59.00
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Water Allocations 2011-12
Region Budget
Region
Expenditure
South Expenditure% of
Investments
Gathering Strength
$12,355,897
$12,355,897
$7,991,906
64.68
FNWWAP - Capital
$14,970,216
$14,970,216
$12,119,083
80.95
FNWWAP - O&M
$19,812,285
$17,311,288
$4,012,980
20.26
Capital Non Formula $8,924,692
$8,924,692
$3,876,200
43.43
O&M Non Formula
$1,527,680
$1,527,680
$9,670
0.63
Total
$57,590,770
$55,089,773
$28,009,839
48.64
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Ontario Region O&M Allocations 2011-12
Targeted Funded Activities
under O&M
Allocation
FNWWAP - O&M (Enhanced)
$9,360,685
FNWWAP - Operator Training
$750,000
FNWWAP - CRTP
$1,876,600
FNWWAP - SWOP
$7,825,000
Total
$19,812,285
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Determining First Nations Priorities
•
Moving forward will require working with First Nations to determine how to
prioritize investments and determine the best solutions.
•
Overall Questions:
•
–
What are the right priorities in response to the National Assessment?
–
What can First Nations do, working in partnership with AANDC?
–
What support do First Nations need?
Further comments or questions can be provided to Paul Schauerte, Acting
Director of Program Design and Regional Partnerships, Community
Infrastructure Branch, AANDC, at [email protected]
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Contact Information
Joan Broussard
Manager, Capital South, AANDC
416-973-1283 [email protected]
Paul Schauerte,
Acting Director of Program Design and Regional Partnerships, Community
Infrastructure Branch, AANDC
819-956-4703
[email protected]
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