Comparing Levels of Service (LoS) between a First Nation
and a Municipality

Client: Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador

​

Project Date: 2020-2023

​

Project Role: Project Manager; Researcher; Subject Matter Expert

​

In the context of the eventual transfer of control of housing and infrastructure to First Nations, the Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador (AFNQL) supported the development and testing of a comparative analysis methodology for levels of service (LoS) of community infrastructure in the Quebec region. The initial development work included data collection and interviews with staff of three First Nations and three municipalities of comparable size and located in the same sub-region, as well as a review of the literature and laws relevant to the subject matter. This comparative analysis tool can help First Nations in their process towards self-determination, more specifically to identify an acceptable level of service and the corresponding funding.

Considering the interest in the methodology developed in Phase 1 of the project among First Nations partners and representatives, the AFNQL initiated a second phase of this project, which consisted of testing the application of the methodology with a First Nations community twinned with a municipality.

​

Since the launch of this comparative analysis tool in July 2021, the methodology has been adapted in two projects aimed at identifying service levels in First Nations communities to determine their asset needs. The section of the methodology to develop the contextual profile of the communities was specifically used. The first project involves 25 First Nations in the Yukon, Northwest Territories, British Columbia and Manitoba engaged in devolution negotiations. The second project involves 21 First Nations in northwestern Ontario that are part of the Robinson Huron Waawiindaamaagewin (Robinson-Huron Treaty of 1850) in negotiations with the government.

The reports and spreadsheet tools are available in French and English at: https://apnql.com/en/housing/

​