NAN Statement on Federal Water Legislation
CHIPPEWAS OF RAMA FIRST NATION: Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler has issued the following statement following the introduction of federal legislation on water, wastewater, and related infrastructure on First Nation lands:
“Since Bill C-61 died on the order paper, the introduction of clean water legislation has been long overdue. We have been calling on our federal Treaty partner to make this a priority, and we are pleased to see that legislation has been introduced today to address the long-standing crisis of unsafe drinking water.
Nishnawbe Aski Nation is ground zero for water crises, facing the highest percentage of drinking water advisories in this country. We have communities, including my own community of Muskrat Dam, which have been on boil water advisories for decades. We have adults who have gone their entire lives unable to drink from the taps in their homes. We have communities, like Kashechewan First Nation, who have been evacuated thousands of kilometres from their homes for nearly six months, all due to a lack of clean and safe drinking water.
I have heard many governments over my years promise to make the necessary investments, but we remain in the same position. The legislation introduced today is not perfect, but it addresses the most immediate needs of our communities. It sets minimum standards for drinking water and affirms the inherent right of First Nations to hold jurisdiction in relation to water and wastewater. This offers a strong starting point to addressing an issue that has deeply impacted the NAN territory for years.
We do remain concerned that this bill may not adequately address the true costs of ending the water crisis on reserve. We will ensure that we are holding this government accountable for honouring the terms outlined in the First Nations Drinking Water Settlement, including providing the necessary long-term investments in First Nations water infrastructure that adequately responds to the scale of this crisis. We will take the necessary time to review the bill in detail, and we will work together with our leadership and Minister Gull-Masty moving forward to ensure that this legislation meets the unique and complex needs of our territory.
Clean water legislation is critical to securing safe drinking water for our communities. Instead of waiting for more evacuations, more lives disrupted, and more childhoods lost, we need to take action now before another generation grows up never having access to clean, safe drinking water.”
There are currently 16 Long-Term Drinking Water Advisories (including Boil Water Advisories and Do Not Consume Advisories) in effect in 15 NAN communities and eight Short-Term Drinking Water Advisories in seven communities. Neskantaga First Nation has been on a Boil Water Advisory for 31 years, the longest in Canada. Eabametoong First Nation has been on a BWA since 2001, Muskrat Dam First Nation has been on a BWA since 2003, and Wawakapewin First Nation since 2004.
Nearly 60 per cent of all Long-Term Drinking Water Advisories in Ontario are in NAN communities. More than 40 per cent of all Long-Term Drinking Water Advisories are in NAN communities.
For more information please contact:
Michael Heintzman,
Director of Communications
Cell: (807) 621-2790
mheintzman@nan.ca