As a result of their deliberations committees may make recommendations which they include in their reports for the consideration of the House of Commons or the Government. Recommendations related to this study are listed below.

Recommendation 1

That the Government of Canada work with Indigenous people to identify capacity needs in the context of emergencies, and that adequate and flexible funding (including advance payments) and other resources, such as training, be provided to address identified capacity needs.

Recommendation 2

That the Government of Canada, in partnership with Indigenous people, work with provincial and territorial governments and organizations that provide services to Indigenous people during emergencies to ensure that such services are provided in a culturally-safe and appropriate manner.

Recommendation 3

That the Government of Canada provide funding to Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) to ensure that infrastructure mitigation projects that have been approved by ISC can be funded appropriately.

Recommendation 4

That the Government of Canada work with Indigenous communities and organizations to identify additional funding needs for mitigation projects and that those projects be funded accordingly.

Recommendation 5

That the Government of Canada prioritize work on multilateral agreements for emergency services and service transfer in First Nations communities, including by providing adequate resources to First Nations to support their participation in the development and implementation of agreements, and that Indigenous Services Canada report its progress to the committee within six months of the tabling of this report.

Recommendation 6

That Indigenous Services Canada, in working to support Indigenous emergencies management, ensure that all information from all relevant sources, including other federal departments, is considered in developing a comprehensive emergencies management response.

Recommendation 7

That the Government of Canada work with all public alerting stakeholders, in partnership with Indigenous communities, provinces and territories and providers to evaluate emergency alerting approaches to ensure that the needs of communities are being met.

Recommendation 8

That as part of the ongoing redesign of the federal Additions to Reserve policy, the Government of Canada, in partnership with First Nations communities and organizations, explore improving the Additions to Reserve process by streamlining the process for communities whose lands are frequently affected by emergencies such as wildfires and flooding.

Recommendation 9

That the Government of Canada, in partnership with Indigenous communities and organizations, provinces and territories, and organizations like the National Indigenous Fire Safety Council, work to improve the capacity of communities to respond to wildfires develop a comprehensive wildfire response that respects and integrates Indigenous knowledge and expertise, including wildfire mitigation practices, and that Indigenous Services Canada report its progress to the committee within six months of the tabling of this report.

Recommendation 10

That the Government of Canada, in partnership with Indigenous communities and organizations, identify which communities do not have emergency response plans and provide resources necessary to develop those plans, and that Indigenous Services Canada report its progress to the committee within six months of the tabling of this report.

Recommendation 11

That the Government of Canada uphold its commitment to the renewal and modernization of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD); and that it strengthen the capabilities of the Canadian Armed Forces in the Canadian Arctic.

Recommendation 12

That the Government of Canada work with Northerners, territorial governments and First Nations, Inuit and Métis to establish a new joint rescue coordination centre in the territories to ensure that the Arctic is better served by the Canadian Armed Forces’ search and rescue assets.

Recommendation 13

That the Government of Canada, recognizing the crucial role played by the Canadian Rangers with respect to security and sovereignty in the Arctic, take all measures necessary to ensure that they can effectively conduct their duties; and that in doing so, the government commit to:

• reviewing and adjusting the Equipment Usage Rate on an annual basis;
• ensuring that members of the Canadian Rangers continue to qualify for and are paid an Isolation Allowance;
• ensuring that the Canadian Rangers receive timely and adequate compensation for their work and personal usage equipment; and
• prioritizing investments in training for members of the Canadian Rangers.

Recommendation 14

That the Government of Canada, recognizing that climate change disproportionately affects the Arctic region, work with northern and Indigenous partners to mitigate and adapt to climate change in the Arctic, notably by investing in net-zero and climate-resilient infrastructure, renewable energy systems, emergency preparedness, and northern research, knowledge and capacity building.

Recommendation 15

That the Government of Canada develop and implement, with Indigenous and northern partners, a long-term plan to invest in northern infrastructure; that this plan be used to better align strategic investments in military and civilian infrastructure in remote and northern regions of the country; and that infrastructure investments in the Arctic focus on community sustainability and socioeconomic development.

Recommendation 16

That the Government of Canada, in partnership with Indigenous peoples, Northerners and territorial governments, develop and implement a long-term strategy and vision to assert Canada’s sovereignty in the Arctic; and that such a policy be designed to support reconciliation and to empower resilient and responsive local communities.

Recommendation 17

That the Government of Canada, in partnership with like-minded states and Indigenous permanent participants, determine the best way forward for the Arctic Council considering Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression against Ukraine; and that the government work with its partners to facilitate the continued participation of Indigenous peoples in intergovernmental cooperation in the Arctic.