Newsletter | OFNTSC

Continuing to Support Our First Nation Communities

When Ontario first declared a state of emergency in response to COVID-19 on March 17, everyone at OFNTSC sprang into action. Our staff were already equipped to start working remotely and the transition was virtually seamless.

While our offices remain closed for the foreseeable future, and as we monitor the situation daily, I want to assure you that our staff continue to work just as hard to ensure you and your community receive the same high quality technical advisory services you've come to expect from OFNTSC.

As restrictions around stay at home orders begin to lift, and more organizations start to open up in Ontario, we've taken a proactive approach to our eventual return to the office by re-invigorating our internal Joint Health and Safety Committee. This committee will be working diligently to establish the "new normal" for how we will work together upon our return to the office.

In the meantime, please do not hesitate to reach out to us should you have any questions about how we might be able to support you/your community during this time.

We've got a lot happening and exciting plans, so without further ado, please enjoy our June 2020 newsletter.

Melanie Debassige
Executive Director

Tips for First Nations on Submitting Funding Applications

By Tricia Hamilton, Senior Engineer, OFNTSC

First Nations in Ontario are used to submitting funding requests to Indigenous Services Canada (ISC). The First Nations Infrastructure Investment Plans (FNIIP) are submitted every year and managers cross their fingers that this might be the year funding shakes out.

Future Plans

FN Infrastructure Resilience Toolkit (FN-IRT) Training

OFNTSC will be providing additional training in 2020 - 2021 to First Nations on how to use the FN Infrastructure Resilience Toolkit (FN-IRT), both on the climate risks and asset management modules. The FN-IRT toolkit was developed to help First Nation communities identify climate risks and develop mitigation measures for their infrastructure. The toolkit also provides guidance on how to incorporate climate risks into sound asset management practices to better plan maintenance, repairs, and replacement of community assets.

Dates and locations will be announced once travel restrictions are lessened due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

NSTC Asset Management Plans

Through a multi-year, multi-phase project, OFNTSC has partnered with Mamaweswen and the North Shore Tribal Council to launch an Asset Management journey with all seven (7) of their First Nation communities. The ultimate goal of the project is to build asset management awareness, develop Asset Management Plans and provide a reasonable understanding of the risks inherent in service delivery, accurately define the levels of service desired by the community, and translate those into a short-medium-long-term financial plans for each First Nation.

For more information on the Infrastructure Resilience Toolkit or the Asset Management Plans, please contact Elmer Lickers, at [email protected].

Fire and Safety Program Update

The OFNTSC continues to provide technical advisory support for Fire Safety during this time through conference calls and information shares.

As a Member of the NAN Amber's Fire Safety Working Group has a total of 12 different organizations that participated in this conference call.
At the meeting chaired by NAN all partners in the working groups have equal share prompting "Fire Safety" to all First Nations in the province and beyond.
Assisted Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte Fire Department with technical advisory services for Bulk Fuel Storage perimeter distancing.

Current Opportunities