Infrastructure: a step-by-step process
Find out what steps you need to take when your First Nation needs infrastructure.
Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) is committed to working with First Nation communities to support their infrastructure. INAC assesses projects on the basis of need:
- Emergency: This includes damage caused by a natural hazard (for example, flood or wildfire), accident or pollution to community infrastructure that poses an immediate risk to the health and safety of all community members.
- Immediate need: This includes infrastructure damage or issues that are not an urgent risk to the health and safety of community members, but require action in the short-term.
- Long-term need: This includes larger infrastructure projects that require planning and development. These types of projects (for example, schools, water treatment plants) are identified by the community through Comprehensive Community Plans, community meetings or other processes and should be included in the First Nations Infrastructure Investment Plan.
Emergency
Community members notify band office, which activates the First Nation’s emergency management plan.
As part of the plan, if First Nation emergency capacity is overwhelmed, chief and council request outside assistance from the INAC regional office, the provincial/territorial emergency management organization, or a non-government emergency service provider, based on the arrangements which exist with the INAC region.
Infrastructure damage is assessed once emergency is over. Eligible costs could be covered by INAC’s Emergency Management Assistance Program.
Immediate need
Community members contact chief and council to discuss infrastructure need.
Chief and council contact INAC regional office to discuss need or identify risks.
Regional office discusses infrastructure need with chief and council and community members, working together to determine best approach.
Regional office works with chief and council to identify solutions and develop a plan and implement the project.
Long-term need
Community members contact chief and council (directly or through Comprehensive Community Planning process) to discuss infrastructure need.
Chief and council contact INAC regional office to discuss need or identify risks.
Regional office discusses infrastructure need with chief and council and community members, working together to determine best approach.
Regional office works with chief and council to include the new project in the First Nations Infrastructure Investment Plan.