Emergency management service agreements
Learn about what service agreements are in place to support First Nations facing emergencies.
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About emergency management service agreements
To enhance the delivery of emergency management services, including emergency preparedness and response and recovery efforts, to First Nations communities on reserves, Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) has bilateral agreements with provincial and territorial governments and third party service delivery partners across the country.
These agreements were put in place to ensure First Nations have access to emergency management services comparable to other residents in their jurisdiction.
Currently ISC has bilateral emergency management service agreements in place with:
- British Columbia
- Alberta
- Saskatchewan
- Manitoba
- Ontario
- Quebec
- Prince Edward Island
- New Brunswick
- Yukon
- Northwest Territories
In provinces and territories where there is no service agreement in place, ISC works with the provincial or territorial government, First Nations, tribal councils and third-party organizations to deliver emergency services and supports to First Nations communities on reserve. ISC provides funding to governments and partners for the provision of emergency services and supports through the Emergency Management Assistance Program.
In addition to bilateral service agreements ISC has bilateral wildfire agreements in place with provincial and territorial governments. These agreements were established to provide provincial governments with a predictable cost-recovery mechanism for wildfire suppression services to affected eligible First Nations.
Currently, ISC has wildfire agreements in place with:
- British Columbia
- Alberta
- Saskatchewan
- Manitoba
- Ontario
- Quebec
- New Brunswick
Funding for eligible wildfire suppression costs is available to provincial and territorial governments that do not have a wildfire agreement through direct reimbursements processed through the Emergency Management Assistance Program’s Response and Recovery program stream.
Moving toward multilateral service agreements
Although these bilateral agreements are a good starting point, more work needs to be done to ensure that First Nations are full and equal partners in a comprehensive approach to emergency management service delivery, including supports for First Nations-led approaches. ISC is committed to improving emergency management services and transferring control of emergency management programs to First Nation partners.
ISC is engaging with First Nations partners, provincial and territorial governments and other service delivery partners, to develop emergency management multilateral service agreements. New agreements reflect collaboration as part of a multilateral process to clarify the roles and responsibilities of all partners in emergency events that affect First Nation communities.
The development of new emergency management multilateral service agreements intends to:
- include First Nations as full and equal partners with Canada and provincial and territorial governments in emergency management
- support First Nations' right to self-determination
- support the inclusion of all partners in decision making and implementation mechanisms
- set a foundation for the service transfer mandate
- ensure that high quality and culturally appropriate emergency management services are provided to First Nations and are equitable to those provided off reserve
Agreements across Canada
While new multilateral service agreements are being developed, existing bilateral emergency service and wildfire agreements and memoranda of understanding currently in place between the Government of Canada, provincial and territorial governments and other service delivery partners continue to be in effect.
Below is a list of active emergency management agreements across Canada.
British Columbia
ISC has a 10-year bilateral service agreement with the BC Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness (EMCR) for emergency services on reserve, including the prevention of emergencies, response to emergencies and recovery from emergencies. ISC also has a bilateral wildfire agreement with BC Wildfire Services for the provision of wildfire suppression on reserve lands.
In 2019, ISC, the First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) and the Province of British Columbia entered into a Tripartite Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen First Nations' voices in the governance and operations of emergency management services. Since 2023, FNLC, ISC, and EMCR have been working together towards a new Multilateral Emergency Management Agreement.This agreement aims to build on the Tripartite Memorandum of Understanding, ensuring that First Nations are full and equal partners with Canada and the provincial government in emergency management. It supports First Nations' right to self-determination, and ensures high-quality, culturally appropriate emergency management services. Phase 1 of the negotiation, completed in January 2025, brings immediate enhancements to emergency management funding and capacity for First Nations across British Columbia while the 2 remaining phases of the negotiation continue.
In addition to these agreements which apply to all First Nations in British Columbia, the Collaborative Emergency Management Agreement (PDF) is an additional partnership between the Tŝilhqot'in National Government, the Government of Canada, and the Government of British Columbia. Signed in 2018 and renewed for 5 years in 2022, this agreement aims to enhance emergency management services for the Tŝilhqot'in communities who have experienced consistent and increasingly significant wildfires in recent years.
Alberta
In 2015, ISC and the Province of Alberta signed a 10-year comprehensive emergency management service agreement. The agreement ensures that First Nations located in Alberta have access to direct support from the province, as needed, for emergency events on reserves. A 2-year extension of this agreement was signed in 2024 and ends March 31, 2026.
ISC also signed a 10-year wildfire management agreement with the Government of Alberta in 2015 for the provision of wildfire prevention, pre-suppression, detection and suppression services to First Nations on reserve. A 1-year extension of this agreement was signed in 2025.
Saskatchewan
ISC signed a wildfire management agreement with the Government of Saskatchewan in 1993 to provide wildfire protection, control and suppression services to First Nations on reserve within the province’s protected forested lands. The agreement remains in effect indefinitely, ensuring ongoing wildfire protection services for First Nations on reserve within Saskatchewan's protected forested areas.
Manitoba
ISC signed a 5-year agreement with the Canadian Red Cross in April 2017 and continues to renew the agreement on an annual basis. This agreement helps to support First Nations in Manitoba in the event of emergency situations. Key services provided under the agreement include:
- evacuation
- support to Evacuation and Repatriation Team
- registration, reception and information
- family reunification
- lodging
- clothing
- food
- mental health psychosocial support, safety and wellbeing
- personal services
- recreation
- transportation
- repatriation
Additionally, ISC has an agreement in place with the Government of Manitoba to provide wildfire protection operations to First Nations on reserve. This agreement is renewed annually.
Ontario
ISC and the Government of Ontario signed a 10-year bilateral agreement in 2018 that helps strengthen provincial response capacity to better support First Nations affected by natural hazards and other emergency events.
Additionally, ISC and the Government of Ontario have a bilateral wildfire management agreement in place to provide wildfire management services to First Nations on reserve in Ontario. This agreement was signed in 1991 and is ongoing.
Quebec
ISC and the Government of Quebec signed a bilateral agreement in 2019 to ensure that provincial assistance is available to First Nations during emergencies. It also allows the federal and provincial governments to collaborate on disaster risk management.
Additionally, a bilateral agreement was signed in 2017 between the Canadian Red Cross and Indigenous Services Canada to support emergency management preparedness and training for First Nations in Quebec.
ISC and the Societé de protection des forêts contre feu signed a wildfire management agreement in 2019 to provide wildland surveillance and suppression services to First Nations on reserve in Quebec.
Prince Edward Island
ISC and the Government of Prince Edward Island signed a 5-year bilateral agreement in 2015 that is renewed annually. This agreement helps to support First Nations in Prince Edward Island in the event of emergency situations.
New Brunswick
ISC signed a wildfire management agreement with the Government of New Brunswick in 2022 to provide wildfire suppression services to First Nations on reserve. This agreement is renewed annually.
Yukon
ISC and the Government of Yukon signed a 5-year bilateral agreement in 2016. This agreement helps to support First Nations in Yukon in the event of emergency situations. This agreement was renewed in 2023 for 2 years. It will be renewed again in 2025.
Northwest Territories
ISC and the Government of Northwest Territories signed a bilateral agreement in 2015. This agreement helps to support First Nations in Northwest Territories in the event of emergency situations. This agreement is renewed annually.