Water quality act flawed, says NAN

The dire lack of safe drinking water on northern Ontario First Nations will not be remedied by new federal government water quality legislation, Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) has warned.
NAN deputy grand chief Les Loutit denounced the federal government’s introduction of the Safe Drinking Water for First Nations Act, calling it “an attempt by the federal government to unload its responsibility for water quality to First Nations.”
Loutit noted that the act fails to address the “critical lack of infrastructure in NAN communities.”
“This legislation will impose water quality standards on impoverished communities that do not have the infrastructure and resources to meet them,” Loutit said in a press release. “Regulating drinking water does nothing to address the fact that many of our communities do not have access to an adequate supply of safe drinking water in the first place.”
The federal government re-introduced the act into parliament on Mar. 1. In a press release the department of Aboriginal and Northern Development Canada said the act allows the government to set drinking and wastewater standards for First Nations communities that are comparable to those in Canada’s provinces and territories.
The act was first introduced in 2010, but died when the last federal election was called.
"Improving water conditions in First Nation communities is an issue of great concern for our government,” said Leona Aglukkaq, minister of health in a press release. “I am pleased that the proposed legislation is moving forward as it will provide us with another mechanism to help protect the health and safety of First Nations across the country.”
According to NAN, nearly all 49 NAN communities have dealt with a boil water advisory in the past five years, and nearly every community’s water plant system is in need of replacement or repair.
Loutit said NAN supports the development of water quality standards for First Nations, but only if the standards are developed in consultation with First Nations and are fully funded by the federal and provincial governments.
But in his view the new act’s lack of any mention of the financial resources needed for communities to meet water quality standards means the act is flawed from the outset.
“Water is a basic human right, and continued failure by the federal government to address the drinking water and wastewater needs of NAN First Nations will lead to more boil water advisories, evacuations and serious health risks to our communities.”