Skilled water and wastewater operators are essential to ensuring long-term access to safe drinking water in First Nations communities. The Government of Canada is committed to supporting First Nations as they implement sustainable solutions that address the need for skilled operators in ways that best suit their communities.
Today, the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services, launched a call for proposals for projects that address the retention, recruitment, and availability of water and wastewater operators working on reserve.
Applicants are invited to submit proposals that will address community-based, regional, or national issues related to building water and wastewater operator capacity in First Nations communities. Proposals delivered or offered by Indigenous communities, Indigenous organizations, or in partnership with Indigenous peoples will be prioritized. Projects that are selected will receive up to $500,000 in funding to support new or expanded capacity building initiatives.
The call for proposals is open until April 25, 2022. For details on how to apply, visit Capacity building for water and wastewater operators.
Indigenous Services Canada supports various capacity building initiatives for water and wastewater operators through investments of approximately $20 million annually. This includes more than $12 million per year for the Circuit Rider Training Program.
Since 2016, the Government of Canada has committed over $5.2 billion to building and repairing water and wastewater infrastructure, and to supporting effective management and maintenance of water and wastewater systems on reserve. Operations and maintenance funding allocations have increased to provide 100% of formula funding for water and wastewater assets, up from 80%. Future funding allocations will also include adjustments for annual inflation and any new assets constructed.
