Today, the Honourable Eleanor Olszewski, Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience and Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada, and the Honourable Robert Gauvin, New Brunswick Minister of Public Safety and Minister responsible for La Francophonie, in their roles as co-chairs of this year's meeting of federal, provincial, and territorial (FPT) ministers responsible for emergency management, issued the following statement:
"Keeping people safe in the face of emergencies and natural disasters is a responsibility we all share. Across Canada, Indigenous Peoples are essential partners in this work, bringing their leadership, knowledge, and experience to how we prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters.
As Canada faces a growing range of threats and emergencies, building resilience is increasingly a matter of national security. Wildfires, floods, and other disasters are becoming more frequent, severe, and costly across the country. First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities, particularly in rural, remote, and northern areas, often face disproportionate impacts and distinct challenges.
To that end, today we met with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis leaders from across Canada to discuss shared priorities and identify opportunities to further strengthen our collective emergency management efforts.
Remarks were provided from First Nations, Inuit, and Métis leaders, each sharing the importance of emergency management through their own distinct perspectives, lived experiences, and knowledge systems. We heard directly from Regional Chief George MacKenzie and Tribal Chief Tyronne McNeil from the Assembly of First Nations, President Natan Obed from Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, and Secretary Aurora Leddy and Secretary Lisa Wolfefrom from the Otipemisiwak Métis Government on behalf of the Métis National Council, as well as Grand Chief Joey Pete and Cold Lake First Nation Chief Kelsey Jacko from the Confederacy of Treaty Six First Nations. The Honourable Mandy Gull-Masty, Minister of Indigenous Services, and Ginette Lavack, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indigenous Services, also contributed to our discussions on how to better support and partner with Indigenous communities across Canada.
Our discussions focused on the impacts of recent disasters, including this summer's flooding and wildfires, and how we can continue strengthening our collective ability to prepare for, respond to, and recover from future emergencies. This included opportunities to support Indigenous-led preparedness and mitigation, evacuations, strengthen the mobilization and training of Indigenous wildfire firefighters, and improve the resilience of critical infrastructure.
We also discussed the lasting impacts disasters have on First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities. Recovery extends well beyond the immediate emergency, and our partnerships must continue through the difficult work of rebuilding and healing. That means continuing to work alongside First Nations, Inuit, and Métis partners to support long-term recovery efforts that reflect the unique needs and priorities of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities and help build resilience for future emergencies.
Today's meeting was an opportunity to build on the work already underway between First Nations, Inuit, and Métis partners and all orders of government. By continuing to share knowledge and information, strengthen coordination and collaboration, and learn from our experiences, we can improve our collective ability to protect communities before, during, and after emergencies and strengthen Canada's resilience in the face of future threats and disasters.
Meeting the challenges of this moment requires us to build on the strengths of our existing partnerships. First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities bring generations of knowledge, deep connections to their lands, and invaluable experience in emergency management. Their leadership and expertise are central to our collective efforts to keep people safe and build a more resilient Canada.
As FPT co-chairs, we will continue working alongside First Nations, Inuit, and Métis, federal, and provincial and territorial partners to advance the priorities discussed today.
The challenges we face are significant, but together we will build on the progress already made and strengthen the safety and resilience of communities across Canada."
