The First Nations Leadership Council, Indigenous Services Canada, and the Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness have been working together to advance the development of a new Multilateral Emergency Management Agreement that reflects the unique needs and priorities of First Nations in British Columbia.
The negotiation of this new agreement marks a significant milestone and recognizes First Nations as full and equal partners and provides a level of self-determination and control over emergency management services in their communities.
Today, the First Nations Leadership Council, the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services, and the Honourable Kelly Greene, British Columbia's Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness, announced the completion of the Phase I negotiations. Achievements made in Phase I will bring immediate enhancements to emergency management funding and capacity for First Nations across British Columbia.
Examples of enhancements under Phase I include:
- New funding of $2.5 million from Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) to establish 34 new emergency management program coordinator positions in high risk communities, in addition to the 14 existing positions already working in First Nations communities.
- Co-developing of a risk-based funding approach;
- Confirming ISC funding of $2.8 million a year to support the 31 remaining eligible structural mitigation projects identified in the 2022 report by the Office of the Auditor General of Canada on Emergency Management in First Nations Communities.
- Implementing significant improvements to the emergency response claims process to streamline procedures and ensure First Nations receive more timely reimbursements.
Additionally, Emergency Management and Climate Readiness has launched the Disaster Resilience and Innovation Funding program to provide direct funding to First Nations and local governments in British Columbia. This program enhances capacity to withstand and adapt to natural and climate-driven hazards such as droughts, erosion, storms, floods, landslides, and tsunamis.
Enhancements achieved in Phase I provide a foundation for Phase II and Phase III, which will further develop the British Columbia First Nations Multilateral Emergency Management Agreement . These next phases will continue to advance the goal of recognizing full First Nations jurisdiction over emergency management services in their communities.
