Trade war driving up costs for emergency equipment for northern Ontario First Nation

A First Nation in northern Ontario says it's being priced out of critical emergency and policing equipment as trade tensions between Canada and the United States drive up costs.

Mississauga First Nation, located along the north shore of Lake Huron, says federal grant programs haven't kept pace with inflation or global tariffs — forcing the community to make tough budget decisions when trying to invest in emergency services. 

The cost of specialized equipment manufactured in the U.S., such as drones for search and rescue and protective gear for police and firefighters, has significantly increased due to the trade war, according to Chief Brent Niganobe.

"Not a lot of that manufacturing happens in Canada, and due to that reason, we have to purchase across the border. And now some of that equipment that would help, especially northern communities, has become less attainable just because of the cost," he said.

"Some of those costs have become quite significant, if not astronomical."

Niganobe said that the community has secured federal grants, like the First Nation Infrastructure Fund from Indigenous Services Canada (ISC), and other funding to help protect the community, but the trade war has made it difficult to obtain equipment.

The process can be unpredictable — both in how long the federal government takes to pay the First Nation back and in how much the equipment will cost by the time it's purchased, said Niganobe.

"The way we get reimbursed... is not always in a timely manner," said Niganobe. "So... we have to do a little more due diligence in our planning ahead."

He said this puts First Nation communities in a difficult position: plan months ahead without knowing if they'll receive the full amount in time, or delay important purchases that could affect safety and emergency response.

Call for federal review

Niganobe said unlike cities and towns,Indigenous communities often don't have the same financial buffer or access to shared emergency services.

"We have less resources, so we have to do a little bit better planning for the year and and have a better idea of where those spending costs come from," he said.

"It takes a little more planning for smaller communities and First Nations to really plan ahead with what we have and try to do the best with what we what we have."

He explained that sometimes means cutting corners in one area to make room for essential gear in another.

"To think that this can be a lifesaver, and some of the [grants] can be used for those emergency purposes. It's kind of disappointing, knowing that we're not necessarily going to get what we could out of the [grants]," Niganobe said.

Niganobe said he wants the federal government to review how emergency funding is distributed and to consider how international politics — like trade disputes — are impacting life on the ground for First Nations in northern Ontario.

Indigenous Services Canada has not yet responded to CBC's request for comment.