1. Increasing the Sustainability of
First Nation Water and Wastewater Infrastructure
Circuit Rider Trainer Professional Association (CRTPA)
2018 Annual General Meeting (AGM)
Chad Westmacott, Sr. Director,
Strategic Water Management, ISC

2. Your efforts are appreciated! You are making a difference!
THANK YOU!
Your efforts are appreciated! You are making a difference!

3. The Plan for Today Updates from ISC Program Performance Check
Recap: What we’ve heard so far
Breakout Session – Your thoughts on future directions

4. ISC Updates
Fall 2017: Creation of Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) and Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC)
ISC’s vision: Support and empower Indigenous peoples to independently deliver services and address the socio-economic conditions in their communities
January 23, 2018: Government expands commitment, 24 additional long-term drinking water advisories added

5. ISC’s Water and Wastewater Priorities
End all long-term drinking water advisories on public systems on reserve by March 2021
Support vulnerable systems
Support capacity building and innovative approaches i.e. Hubs
Review of Safe Drinking Water for First Nations Act via Assembly of First Nations-led engagement
Work with First Nations to move to long-term sustainability of water and wastewater infrastructure
Operation & Maintenance reform
Update policies and supporting the transition to First Nation full care and control

6. Safe Drinking Water for First Nations Act
Came into force in 2013
Engagements on regulations started, but halted in 2015
No regulations are in force in any region under the Act and no regulatory development while the Act is under review
AFN and other Indigenous organizations called for repeal of the Act
ISC carried out face-to-face engagement sessions on the Act in 2017
In fall 2017, engagement process revised – AFN leading process
ISC will continue to lead regional engagement sessions on request
Timelines for the engagement and options on a revised act are to be determined with the AFN

7. Water and Wastewater Program Performance Check
The first two years of Budget 2016 spending:
ISC invested $763.6 M in 463 First Nation water and wastewater infrastructure projects.
Of the 463 projects, 108 were completed and 355 remain in progress.

8. Progress in Eliminating Long-Term Drinking Water Advisories
Between November 2015 and August 7, 2018:
67 long-term drinking water advisories on public systems lifted
34 long-term drinking water advisories on public systems added
72 long-term drinking water advisories in effect, from 105 in November 2015
Long-Term DWA Progress Since November As of August 7, 2018
Region
LT DWAs in effect
# of communities affected
LT DWAs added since Nov. 2015
LT DWAs lifted since Nov. 2015
DWAs that have been in effect for 2-12 months
Year for no LT-DWAs
ATL 1 2 6
2019 QC 3
N/A ON 47 26 15 27 5
2021 MB 7 SK 8 12 AB BC 10 9
2020 YK
TOTAL 72 49 34 67

9. Framing Today’s Discussion
How can we continue to work together to best support First Nations?
Discussions from Circuit Riders and CRTPA has informed work on:
Operations and Maintenance reform
Operator salaries, retention and recruitment
Creative solutions for small and remote communities
Break-out session: Instructions

10. Today’s Discussion Questions
1. Operator and trainer recruitment and retention
What drew you to become an operator and eventually a circuit rider trainer?
What aspects of the job have kept you in this career?
How do we encourage women to become operators and circuit rider trainers?
2. Telling the Story
ISC collects data through CRTP regional reports (attendance and number of training sessions).
What other data might be more impactful to tell the story of CRTPs?
Would collecting this new data add significant additional workload for the CRTPs?
3. Future Directions for CRTP
Should CRTPs have a role in asset maintenance or focus specifically on training?
What skills / additional supports would Circuit Rider Trainers need to provide asset maintenance support?
4. Supporting Innovation
What innovative practices are CRTPs doing in your region (i.e.: operator awards, workshops)? Have they been successful?
How can these practices be brought to other regions?

11. ___________________________________________
THANKS AGAIN!
___________________________________________
QUESTIONS?