Check against delivery
Good morning ladies and gentlemen. Thank you all for joining me here today for this press conference.
Earlier this morning, at a meeting with my provincial and territorial counterparts in the Aboriginal Affairs Working Group, I announced a new approach to strengthen emergency management support on First Nation communities.
This new approach aims to establish new or enhanced agreements with provincial and territorial governments, who in many cases are the first responders to emergencies, like fires and floods on reserves.
New agreements would better clarify roles and responsibilities and support strengthened preparedness activities, including the development of more robust community emergency plans for First Nations on reserve.
Our Government appreciates the lead role that provinces and territories take in emergency response and recovery for First Nations. Further progress will require comprehensive bilateral agreements that integrate with provincial programs and services.
The formal agreement that the federal government has with the Alberta Emergency Management Agency facilitated successful response and quick recovery efforts for the First Nation communities affected by the major flooding event in Alberta earlier this year. The Government intends to work toward agreements with provinces and territories.
As bilateral agreements for emergency management on-reserve are improved or negotiated with provinces and territories, the department of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada will engage with First Nations representative organizations.
Through these agreements our Government aims to clarify roles and responsibilities, and set out clear guidelines for emergency management on reserve that reconcile any jurisdictional uncertainty, and ensure that First Nations have access to the services they need in a manner that ensures responsible and accountable use of provincial and federal tax dollars.
This new approach includes dedicated funding to support the development and implementation of these agreements, as well as to support strengthened preparedness activities. It also includes stable funding for response and recovery that can be accessed in a more timely fashion and a single window access point to receive funding for emergency costs would provide First Nations and provinces and territories improved access to emergency funds when needed.
Our Government is committed to taking action across all four pillars of emergency management: response, recovery, preparedness and mitigation, to help ensure that First Nation communities have access to more robust and effective emergency management regimes.
This new approach to improved First Nations emergency management will, we trust, lead to improved long-term health and safety of First Nation residents, and stronger and more resilient communities.
Lastly, I would like to mention that the Government of Canada recognizes that for those still out of their homes as a result of the 2011 Manitoba flood that this is a difficult situation. Our Government continues to work with provincial and First Nation partners to return flood evacuees to long-term permanent accommodations at appropriate sites.
I truly believe that this new approach I am introducing today will put emergency management on reserve on better footing and protect the well being of First Nations residents.
Thank you.
