Our Work Advancing Economic Reconciliation through investments in First Nation infrastructure and housing

The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) collaborated with industry experts and over 400 First Nations to co-develop a landmark report with Indigenous Services Canada titled “Closing the Infrastructure Gap by 2030: A Collaborative and Comprehensive Cost Estimate Identifying the Infrastructure Investment Needs of First Nations in Canada“.

This unique and groundbreaking report estimates the national capital and operational investments needed from the Government of Canada to fulfill its mandate to Close the First Nation Infrastructure Gap by 2030.

From 2020 to 2030, the population of First Nations people on-reserve is expected to grow at an average rate of 1.7% per year compared with only 1% for the rest of Canada.

This growth requires immediate investments, upgrades and long-term planning of community building, utilities, transportation, and housing infrastructure to ensure First Nations communities can thrive.

The Report estimates that based on the Government of Canada’s Budget 2021 commitments, First Nations are only being funded 23% of their educational capital needs.

202 First Nations schools are overcrowded and require additions; 56 First Nations schools require immediate replacement based on reported poor conditions.

Closing the Gap will help reduce the impacts of colonialism and improve First Nation communities.

Closing the infrastructure gap in First Nations communities is key to fostering sustainable economic growth, enhancing social outcomes and building stronger, healthier communities for all.

Initiatives & Priorities Closing the Gap will help reduce the impacts of colonialism and improve First Nation communities.

Closing the Infrastructure Gapchevron_right
Economic Reconciliationchevron_right
Critical Investmentschevron_right
Benefits of Closing the Gapchevron_right
Delays and Rising Inflationchevron_right
Read the Summary Reportchevron_right
Read the Full Reportschevron_right
In the Mediachevron_right
French (Coming Soon)chevron_right

Closing the Infrastructure Gap

This report quantifies the capital and operational investments needed for the government to fulfill their public — and federally mandated — commitments to First Nations:

To bring comparable community infrastructure — $208.9 billion
To address the housing and overcrowding crisis — $135.1 billion
To make high-speed internet available to 457 communities — $5.2 billion ¹

This economic investment can generate approximately 150,000 jobs in its first year, benefiting both the First Nations and non-First Nations private sectors. It will also unlock First Nations’ potential to create new trade corridors and commerce centres that will transform this country’s economic landscape.

¹ Please note that all estimates are accurate as of November 2023, and are subject to inflationary changes

“At its core, Bell Canada is an infrastructure builder. We recognize the critical role leading-edge fibre optic and cellular networks play in economic development, education, healthcare and the preservation and promotion of Indigenous heritage and culture.

Bell fully supports the Assembly of First Nations’ (AFN) goal of closing the digital infrastructure gap in First Nation communities. Extending quality, high-speed digital infrastructure into First Nation communities is key to fulfilling our collective goals of equity, inclusion, and reconciliation. But, to close this gap, we need stable, long-term public policy that enables private sector investment in networks.

We look forward to working with the AFN and, together with the AFN, call upon all levels of government to support continued investment to advance how First Nations across Canada connect with each other and the world.”

— Robert Malcolmson, EVP & Chief Legal Regulatory Officer, Bell Canada

Economic Reconciliation

Over the past seven years, Canada has generated at least $1.6 trillion dollars in export revenue from Canada’s natural resources. The wealth generated from the traditional territories of First Nations far exceeds $349.2 billion needed to Close the Infrastructure Gap by 2030.

The concrete, wood, and bitumen used to support the construction of Canadian homes, cities, and transportation infrastructure has been extracted from the traditional territories of First Nations in Canada. It’s time for economic reconciliation and to support the critical needs of First Nations by providing access to similar community infrastructure and housing.

“Closing the infrastructure gap in First Nations communities is key to fostering sustainable economic growth, enhancing social outcomes and building stronger, healthier communities for all.

This report outlines the profound socioeconomic benefits that we can unlock when First Nations, the federal and provincial governments, and businesses work together to ensure every First Nation has access to broadband connectivity.

TELUS is deeply committed to working alongside First Nations and policy makers to close the infrastructure divide, and we encourage others in the business sector to do their part too.”

— Shazia Zeb Sobani , Vice President of Customer Network Planning, TELUS

Critical Investments

What happens if the government doesn’t make this investment now?

Underfunding and neglecting this federal mandate will widen the infrastructure gap, weaken on-reserve community infrastructure, and put the Government of Canada in an impossible position to accommodate the projected growth of the First Nations population, that could increase to 1,786,000 people in 2041.

This growth cannot be supported by the existing poor and deteriorating infrastructure. First Nations require adequate investments to close the infrastructure and housing gap.

“The incredible investment needed to bridge Canada’s First Nations infrastructure gap by 2030 is significant and must be urgently addressed to ensure all communities have access to quality infrastructure and services.

It’s clear success will require not only supportive government policy and stable funding, it will also need innovative thinking and collaboration with the private sector — the gap is far too large for governments and communities to go it alone.

Harnessing the expertise of these companies, along with additional private financing to stretch government funding further, will bolster community capacity and control and ensure local ideas and priorities are fused into the procurement, design, construction, operation and maintenance of these critical assets for decades to come.”

— Lisa Mitchell , President and CEO, The Canadian Council for Public-Private Partnerships (CCPPP)

Benefits of Closing the Gap

The development of Closing the Infrastructure Gap report began in January 2022 and was completed in July 2023. In that time, the Government of Canada has publicly announced over $370 billion dollars of investments in the military industry — more than what is needed to Close the First Nations Infrastructure Gap.

Industry experts estimate that due to Government of Canada inaction and lack of investments, the timeline to close “The Gap” is expected to be delayed until the year 2040. With inflation and rising prices, the cost of this decade-long delay will balloon to $527.9 billion dollars, resulting in 16 more years of inadequate access to infrastructure, housing, and digital connectivity — basic essential services enjoyed by Canadians each day.

The cost to bring basic education, communal, and social infrastructure to First Nations will not go away. Urgent action is needed. This critical issue can no longer be neglected.

“Investment in well-designed infrastructure is a key ingredient to economic growth. The Indigenous economy is growing, and strategic investments in infrastructure will support future productivity gains for the entire economy, allowing for stronger growth and more jobs with less risk of inflation.”

– Carolyn Rogers, Senior Deputy Governor, Bank of Canada

Delays and Rising Inflation

The year-to-year lack of sustainable and adequate investment in First Nation communities has caused intergenerational disadvantages for First Peoples and widened both the infrastructure and socioeconomic gap between First Nations and the rest of Canada.

Addressing the infrastructure funding needs that are identified in the report will benefit First Nations communities across Canada in the form of new utilities, transportation, community buildings, housing, and healthcare infrastructure assets.

This investment will also provide economic opportunities for First Nation and non-First Nations individuals and businesses as they recover within a post-pandemic marketplace.

Read the Summary Report

Read and download the Summary Report, which summarizes key information from Report 1 – National Cost Estimate and Report 2 – Prioritization and Implementation Plan.

AFN Summary Report – Closing the Infrastructure Gap 2030 Report

Read the Full Reports

Read the Full Report 1 — The National Cost Estimate

Read and download the Closing the Infrastructure Gap by 2030 – National Cost Estimate report, which includes the capital and operational investments needed by the Government of Canada to make its timeline to close the gap by 2030.

Read the Full Report 2 — The Prioritization and Implementation Plan

Read and download the Prioritization and Implementation Plan, which includes an estimate on the previous report’s investment needs and quantifies how the First Nations infrastructure gap will continue to grow by the year 2040 due to Government of Canada inaction and insufficient funding.