Advocates say making First Nations accessible will cost more than AFN estimates

Ka’nhehsí:io Deer

Cathy Rice knows first hand about how inaccessi‐ ble First Nations infrastruc‐ ture can be.

"I live in a wheelchair. There's a certain perspective I have," said Rice, who is from Kahnawà:ke, south of Mon‐ treal, and is a board member of Connecting Horizons, a support group for individuals with disabilities, their fami‐ lies, and caregivers.

"Places where [they say] 'Yes, we're accessible,' and they're not ... or you can get in, but I can't use the washroom. Or it's got a wide door but I can't pull it open."

Last week, the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) re‐ leased its Closing the Infra‐ structure Gap by 2030 report that estimates the federal government must invest $349.2 billion now to ensure First Nations have access to similar infrastructure to nonIndigenous communities by 2030.

The report estimates $1.6 billion is needed to address accessibility needs in First Nations, for retrofitting ex‐ isting infrastructure to ac‐ commodate modern accessi‐ bility standards such as ram‐ ps, sidewalk let downs and railings for people with dis‐ abilities and elders.

The federal 2024 budget outlines over $9 billion in new funding for Indigenous

Peoples across five years, in‐ cluding $918 million over five years dedicated to Indige‐ nous housing and infrastruc‐ ture.

More than ramps and railings

However, Connecting Hori‐ zons says making First Na‐ tions accessible is more than ramps and railings.

"Just in our own commu‐ nity, we know that there's a lot of improvements that can be made," said Iris Phillips, advocacy co-ordinator with the group.

"$1.6 [billion] is a frag‐ ment of what we could use."

Both Rice and Phillips gave the example of side‐ walks in their community, some of which are inaccessi‐ ble to wheelchair users due to large holes, cracks or ob‐ structions like fire hydrants and utility poles. They said some community buildings have ramps, but aren't user friendly.

The group works with community organizations to advocate for changes, but lack of funding has been a major barrier.

"We've done an informal survey that Cathy had started in 2009 just to touch base with the local organizations and their building managers to suggest upgrades," said Phillips.

"The barriers they face is the budget. We try and ask them can you consider for your next budget to put in new paint for stairs or new signage or to adjust your ramp. We always asked nicely if they could accommodate accessibility into their follow‐ ing year budget."

Proactive rather than reactive

Neil Belanger, chief executive officer of Indigenous Disabil‐ ity Canada and the British Columbia Aboriginal Network on Disability Society, said the AFN's estimate is "alarmingly low."

"It'd be a lot more than $1.6 billion, particularly when you look at communities that don't have sidewalks, social housing that's never been re‐ ally built to be accessible," said Belanger.

"To make it accessible $1.6 billion is going to be light."

According to the national non-profit, the Indigenous population in Canada experi‐ ences a disability rate much higher than that of the gen‐ eral population, at approxi‐ mately 30 to 35 per cent.

Belanger said First Na‐ tions leadership needs to be proactive rather than reactive when it comes to making communities accessible.

"Everything should be built with the idea of being accessible, accessible for members with disabilities," he said.

"I always ask the question, though, when it comes to dis‐ abilities and in addressing them within your community, are you proactive or reactive and 90 per cent of them are reactive."

He said he hopes the re‐ port puts pressure on the federal government to invest more.