The First Mile

Supported by the SSHRC-funded First Nations Innovation Project

First Nations Infrastructure Fund (AANDC)

There is no legislative or legal obligation for the federal government to fund infrastructure in First Nations. However, since the 1960s AANDC has funded areas like water/wastewater, electricity, roads/bridges, and capacity-building. Connectivity became part of the FNIF portfolio partly given its necessity in supporting remote water treatment plants. This reflects AANDC’s position that connectivity is required for First Nations governments to support services like e-commerce, remote banking, e-health, online education, and program reporting. According to the Government of Canada: “it is imperative that the majority of Canada’s Aboriginal communities have access to reliable high-speed internet”, particularly as more government services and businesses move online. 

According to Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC), which now administers the First Nation Infrastructure Fund (FNIF), the fund combined a portion of INAC’s Capital Facilities and Maintenance Program, Infrastructure Canada’s Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund, and the Gas Tax Fund -- a ‘single-window’ approach designed to increase efficiency and streamline access to funding (Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, n.d.). It initially focused on four eligible funding categories: community planning and skills development; solid waste management; roads and bridges; and energy systems. The FNIF was described as “a project-based proposal driven program aimed at helping First Nations improve infrastructure on reserve” (Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, 2007, para 7). Broadband infrastructure and connectivity was recently added to the eligible funding categories. However, this inclusion was not initially accompanied with any new funding. 

FNIF is a 5-year, $131M component of the broader Building Canada initiative. FNIF’s proposal-based funding model supports public-private partnerships between government, private sector entities, and First Nations organizations. The Table below provides an overview of several FNIF projects (as of late 2012).

FNIF Projects and Regional Partners as of Winter 2012

First Nation communities interested in expanding their connectivity infrastructure are required to complete a First Nation Infrastructure Investment Plan (FNIIP). This five-year capital investment plan outlines infrastructure needs and development plans.).