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BACKGROUND
Established in
1991
The Technical Services
Unit is responsible for the provision of technical advisory,
consultation, review and recommendation services in capital management,
engineering and architectural related activities inherent in the
management of real property and other capital assets to all Mushkegowuk
First Nations.
Mushkegowuk Council
Technical Services was established in 1991 to provide technical support
to the seven Mushkegowuk First Nations.
- Attawapiskat First Nation
- Chapleau Cree First Nation
- Fort Albany First Nation
- Kashechewan First Nation
- Missanabie Cree First
Nation
- Moose Cree First Nation
- Taykwa Tagamou
Mushkegowuk
Council Technical Services Department
P.O. Box 370
12 Centre Rd.
Moose Factory, ON
P0L 1W0
Phone: 705-658-4222
Fax: 705-658-4250
Email: ryansmall@mushkegowuk.ca
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CANADA
MORTGAGE AND HOUSING CORPORATION
- Is the Government of
Canada’s national housing agency.
- Provides financial
assistance to Canadians most in need of safe, affordable, and
quality homes.
- Constantly researches
new methods and technologies to help develop better homes and
communities.
- Offers a wide variety of
information products to aid potential homeowners and builders in
their decision-making and purchasing processes.
- Provides First Nations
with the support necessary to productively inspect, monitor and
maintain on-reserve homes.
- Developed the Native
Inspection Services Institute (NISI) in 1995 to allow First
Nations greater involvement in the inspection processes for
delivery of CMHC Programs.
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Non-Profit On-Reserve
Rental Housing Program (Section 95)
- assists First Nations in
the construction, purchase and rehabilitation, and administration of
suitable, adequate and affordable rental housing on-reserve.
Loan Insurance
Program: Homeownership On-Reserve (Section 10)
- assist Band Councils or
Aboriginal persons living on-reserve in accessing financing for the
construction, purchase and/or renovation of single-family homes or
multiple residential rental properties.
Residential
Rehabilitation Assistance Program (RRAP) On-Reserve
- offers financial
assistance to Band Councils and Band members to repair substandard
homes to a minimum level of health and safety and to improve the
accessibility of housing for disabled
persons.
Residential
Rehabilitation Assistance Program (RRAP) - Secondary / Garden Suites
- assist in the creation of
affordable housing for low-income seniors and adults with a
disability by providing financial assistance to convert/develop
existing residential properties that can reasonably accommodate a
secondary self-contained unit.
Residential
Rehabilitation Assistance Program (RRAP) - Persons with disabilities
- offers financial
assistance to homeowners and landlords to undertake accessibility
work to modify dwellings occupied or intended for occupancy by
low-income persons with disabilities.
RRAP Conversion
On-Reserve
- Assists FN councils with
the conversion of non-residential units to residential dwellings.
Shelter Enhancement
Program On-Reserve
- offers financial
assistance for the repair, rehabilitation and improvement of
existing shelters for women and their children, youth and men who
are victims of family violence.
Home Adaptations for
Seniors Independence (HASI) On-Reserve
- helps homeowners and
landlords pay for minor home adaptations to extend the time
low-Income seniors can live in their own homes independently.
Direct Lending Program
- provides financing and
renewals for eligible social housing projects, offering the lowest
average financing rate available.
Below are a list of adapted programs for First
Nations:
For more information on the programs available to
First Nations visit the CMHC website at: www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca
Or
Contact your local First Nation office.
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PROJECTS
Researching new
methods and ideas to improve the quality of life of all Mushkegowuk
members
INAC’s Safe Water Operation Program (SWOP)
- A program developed by
INAC to ensure that First Nation water treatment plants are operated
by appropriately certified operators similar to what occurs
off-reserve in Ontario
- Funding is provided to
First Nation communities to enable them to obtain assistance in
operating their water treatment system from qualified service
providers while the First Nation communities build their capacity at
a local level.
- Working with the First
Nation communities to ensure that their water treatment facilities
are meeting the appropriate standards / regulations to ensure the
health and safety of the community and its members.
Water and
Wastewater Operator Training
- Providing assistance and
recommendations to First Nation water operators in relation to their
training and certification.
- Advise and assist in the
preparation of any training plans or requirements by INAC to be
eligible for water or wastewater operator training funds.
- Administer and deliver
such training funds in accordance with INAC’s requirements.
(2006/2007 Training Subsidy for First Nation Water / Wastewater
System Operators)
INAC Reporting
and Updates
- The updates and reports
required by INAC is an annual on-going requirement that First Nation
communities must meet. Our department provides assistance in the
completion of these updates such as CAMS (Capital Asset Management
System), Capital Planning Reports, as well as other O&M
(Operation and Maintenance) reports as required.
Emergency Management Services Coordinator
- The goal of the Public
Safety program is to assist and advise in the development,
implementation and maintenance of an effective Public Safety Program
and consists of the following components: Emergency Management,
Search and Rescue, Fire Prevention and Public Safety, Fire
Protection, Forest Firefighting and Environmental Safety and
Protection.
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Firefighter Training
A proposal was submitted to Mushkegowuk Employment & Training Services ( METS ) to provide firefighter training to Attawapiskat , Kashechewan, and Fort Albany First Nations. The Ontario Firefighter Curriculum will be utilized. This training will be delivered by a qualified Trainer Facilitator. At the completion of the modules each firefighter will be trained to the “Ontario Fire Service Standard” and will be presented with a certificate as proof of training and due diligence.
Firefighter Equipment and Apparatuses
Our First Nations Fire Departments received from INAC through Ontario First Nations Technical Services Cooperation (OFNTSC) firefighter equipment such as hoses, nozzles, ladders, bunker gear etc. We will be distributing equally to those communities that require such equipment. Also with in the last few years Attawapiskat acquired a new pumper, Kashechewan to have acquired a pumper and rescue vehicle, Fort Albany has acquired a new pumper and Moose Cree also acquired a 4x4 command vehicle.
Fire Prevention
This year's campaign focuses on ways to keep homes fire safe and prevent painful burns, we will be send each of First Nations fire departments, fire safety information along with home extinguishers, and carbon monoxide detectors as a proactive approach to home safety.
We also received the Risk Watch program. Risk Watch is a comprehensive injury prevention resource for elementary school teachers. The program consists of a variety of activities, resources and lesson ideas that teachers of pre-kindergarten to grade 8 can easily incorporate into their daily lesson plans. The aim of the activities is to prevent childhood injuries by teaching students safe decision-making practices.
Risk watch is divided into five teaching modules covering the following grade levels:
Pre-kindergarten / kindergarten; grades1/2; grades3/4; grades 5/6; grade7/8. Each module includes age-appropriate activities and resource materials on the eight leading causes of injury among children: motor vehicle injury, fire and burn injury, choking, suffocation and strangulation injury, poisoning injury, falls and playground injury, firearms injury, bike and pedestrian injury, and water and ice injury. It will be sent to all our schools.
New Tank Legislation
Environment Canada implemented new regulations governing storage tank systems under federal jurisdiction. Basically all storage tanks must be registered with Environment Canada or fill out the storage tank system progress report which will give you one additional year to register your tanks (June 12 th 2010). The fuel supplier will not fill any tanks that are not registered with Environment Canada. Our department along with Environment Canada will be in each of the communities to assist with this registration. Also this year the steel drums will not be refilled as per the “Transportation of Dangerous Regulation. In the past they filled the tanks but the regulation states that there must not be any residue and the tanks can only be used to transport waste oil to a waste oil station. In turn the supplier is working with Imperial Oil to have on hand between 800 – 1000 new drums and is waiting for a response on how to deal with the existing steel drums that the consumer has on hand. The supplier must follow these regulations or otherwise will loose their license to distribute fuel. So far the registration forms, e-mail address, and along with a list of the business that requires registration of their tanks in First Nations communities.
Search and Rescue; Search and Recovery
Our goal here is to put into place a written protocol and agreement among First Nations Communities, the long term goal is to implement a “regional Search and Rescue/Recovery Organization. Mushkegowuk First Nation's is supporting and working with each First Nations communities to ensure that a timely and coordinated response is provided for all SAR incidents in the Mushkegowuk region. Unfortunately, mainly due to our geographic (remoteness) location and government policy, the services and response from the OPP, RCC, and CCG are found to be limited. During our SAR operations, our beliefs and values take us well beyond the timelines and policies that the government agencies follow. To ensure all search and rescue / recovery operations in our region are provided with all available resources from our communities, there is a need to advance and formalize our unwritten SAR protocol.
Environmental Health and Safety:
As Health and Safety issues become more prevalent in the north, Mushkegowuk is taking steps to ensure that the quality of training and necessary courses is being offered to First Nations Communities. Because the remoteness of the communities it can be difficult at times to provide a qualified facilitator who is registered with the Ministry of Labour and will travel to these remote communities to provide quality training. However in my last occupation I was and still am a registered Health and Safety Facilitator, which now should help to off set the cost to provide this much needed service, keeping the Mushkegowuk Region up to date with opportunities in the Health & Safety department for a better future and opportunities;
Courses such as Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG), Work Place Hazards Information System (WHMIS), Fall protection and Prevention, Chainsaw Safety, are just a few of the Safety Courses we now will be offering to the Mushkegowuk Region.
All-Season Road Pre-Feasibility Study
This project was initiated November 2009 and is approximately 95% complete. The Engineering firm of Trow Associates (now called exp) has been retained by Mushkegowuk Council to complete the study under the guidance of a project team comprised of representation from the communities and Mushkegowuk Council. The project entails the conduct of a pre-feasibility study by Mushkegowuk Council for the development of a Western James Bay all-season access road to interconnect the communities of Attawapiskat, Kashechewan, Fort Albany, Moosonee, and Moose Factory and connect these communities with the Hwy 11 corridor to the south. The objective of the pre-feasibility study is to identify the preferred route for a road providing all-season access between the communities and with the Hwy 11 corridor to the south. As such, future work carrying on from the pre-feasibility study will be utilized by these communities in development of any future community plans. Four routes have been evaluated and as per the terms of reference a recommended route has been identified. A “draft” final report will be presented to the Chief’s in April 2011 for approval. The final report will be made available to the public and will located at the band office. If you have any questions regarding this project please contact the below
Ryan Small – Director of Technical Services, Mushkegowuk Council 705 658 4222
ryansmall@mushkegowuk.ca
Patrick Giard – P.Eng. CCE –Infrastructure Manager exp –Timmins 705 268 4351
patrick.giard@exp.com
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SCOPE
Technical Advisory
and Consultation Services include:
Housing
CMHC Program Delivery
Inspections and Building Code Advisory
Assistance and advisory in the planning and development of any First
Nation housing projects.
Asset
Management
Capital Asset Management System (CAMS) Operations
Operation & Maintenance (O&M) Scheduling/Budgeting
Capital Management/Technical
Advisory Functions
Capital Plan Development Implementation & Management
Government Liaising & Negotiating
Training & Preparation Programs
Technical Policies, Guidelines, & Standards Assistance/Guidance
Emergency Management Services
Fire Protection Services
Emergency & Preventative Measures Programs
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STAFF
MCTS staff are
committed to providing the best technical advice and support
The MCTS Team
currently has three members:
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Ryan Small, Director, Technical
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Ron Hunter, Building Advisor and Inspector,
Inspects and provides advice regarding building codes & standards.
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Wilbert Wesley, Emergency Management Services Coordinator,
Assists First Nations in fire services, search and rescue operations,
emergency measures, and prevention programs.
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Howard MacDonald, Project Officer
Assists FN’s with capital planning, development, and management.
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Mushkegowuk Council
P.O. Box 370, 12 Centre Road, Moose Factory, ON, P0L 1W0
Phone: 705-658-4222 • Fax: 705-658-4250
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