Government of Canada – Today, the Honourable Seamus O’Regan, Minister of Indigenous Services, announced Budget 2019 funding of $9.97 million over three years, starting in 2019–2020, to support the creation of an Indigenous Fire Marshal Office (IFMO). The funding will support Indigenous partners in the next steps in establishing a new IFMO, including how the Office would be structured and governed, its mandate and any associated legislation. Arnold Lazare, President of the Aboriginal Firefighters Association of Canada (AFAC), is the IFMO Project Lead. An Indigenous Advisory Committee is being established to support the IFMO Project to help develop the roles and responsibilities of an IFMO. An IFMO would promote fire safety and prevention, undertake public education, and support the use of fire safety, building codes and regular building inspections in Indigenous communities. More information about the project and progress to date can found at:
https://www.ifmo.ca/