Huge First Nations infrastructure gap reported

A reported $8.8 billion infrastructure gap for Ontario’s First Nation communities raised questions at the 16th Annual Ontario First Nations Technical Services Corporation Conference and Tradeshow in Thunder Bay Aug. 23-25.
“What (Ontario) First Nations have reminded government that their annual (infrastructure) budget is $260 million,” said Ontario Regional Chief Angus Toulouse. “So how are we going to close this (infrastructure) gap when the cost of doing nothing almost is costing more than $260 million with inflation and the growing rates of many of our communities.”
Canada’s Aboriginal population is growing faster than the general population, increasing by 20 per cent from 2001 to 2006 according to Statistics Canada.
The infrastructure gap between government funding and actual community needs was reported by OFNTSC during the first day of the conference. The report detailed gaps of about $2.2 billion for housing, $2.5 billion for institutional service buildings, $2 billion for water and wastewater treatment plants and $1.9 billion for linear structures and roads.
OFNTSC calculated the infrastructure gap over a 20-year period, so the annual infrastructure gap would be about $500 million per year, considerably more than the annual infrastructure budget of about $260 million.
“So somebody has got to put some additional money into the system,” said James Taylor, an engineer with OFNTSC.
OFNTSC developed the infrastructure gap figures over the past nine months from a variety of sources, including Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, specific First Nations and capital plans.
“We basically came up with numbers for each person, how much it would cost and then we could multiply that out and inflate the numbers to future dollars,” Taylor said.
He said the report was presented at the Ontario Chiefs in Assembly and the Assembly of First Nations Assembly in Moncton in mid-July.
“It gives them a number,” Taylor said. “They recognize it’s not an exact number — it’s an approximate number. But it gives them a number they didn’t have before so they can basically get an idea of the whole picture.”
Grand Chief Stan Beardy feels the estimated infrastructure needs in Nishnawbe Aski Nation are low because many families in NAN communities have up to 10 children compared to the two children average used nationally when designing community infrastructure, such as schools, health centres and water plants.
“Most families will have 10 kids, so the calculations, the formula being used is not in line with reality in First Nations,” Beardy said.
Beardy said NAN communities need from 3,000 to 5,000 new housing units, which would cost about $750 million for 3,000 units, at $250,000 per unit.
“I can safely say 3,000 new units are required in NAN alone,” Beardy said. “But if you were to include repairs and renovations, it could be as high as 5,000.”
Beardy said roads and other services in NAN communities also need upgrading.
“Our water systems and wastewater treatment plants are among the poorest in Canada,” Beardy said. “Failures have endangered the health and lives of our people.”
Toulouse said there is a tremendous demand for housing in Ontario’s First Nation communities.
“We have tremendous growth going on,” he said. “People want to come back to their First Nation communities.”
Toulouse said many single young parents are in need of housing and the current situation in many communities includes multi-generational families living in one home, including grandparents, parents and grandchildren.
“It’s all about health and safety,” Toulouse said. “This is not $8.8 billion for all the fancy stuff; this is just basic health and safety.”
Keewaytinook Okimakanak is currently facing a dire need of serviced building lots used for the construction of new homes in five of their communities.
“The First Nations don’t have any money — they have to use their minor capital, which is for housing, for minor repairs and major repairs,” said Ray Stewart, a home inspector with KO. “Underground infrastructure is just not happening. Most moneys available for housing are geared to home ownership.”
Stewart said one three-bedroom home he did an inspection on in Spirit Lake had 16 people living in it.
“They need additions on the houses or the houses actually should be torn down and new ones built,” Stewart said. “Every one of our communities is the same thing. Every one, and I look after five of them. It’s terrible; we need to get something done about it.”