The Assembly of First Nations is urging parliamentarians to approve legislation that sets new standards for drinking water systems in Indigenous communities.
The bill is under review at the committee level.
National Chief Cindy Woodhouse says they need to move on getting the bill passed.
“The chiefs in assembly have passed a motion to support this bill, have passed a resolution in assembly,” says Woodhouse.
“We are supporting this bill, and we need to move ahead. Of course, we have to fine-tune some things together. Let’s do that together, and let’s get it moving. First Nations can’t wait another day for clean water. We can’t wait for political wrangling. We have to make sure that we write things to get this right once and for all.”
Woodhouse worries the bill will die if an early election takes place.
There are more than 30 communities still dealing with long-term boil water advisories.
Woodhouse feels there are measures in the legislation that will help end those advisories and prevent others.
Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hadju agrees.
“Canada, over the last nine years, has invested billions of dollars to try to rectify what has been an inequity, a profound inequity between municipalities that are non-indigenous and First Nations governments, having the tools, the certainty and the framework to be able to actually provide that clean water for their members in a consistent way. And that’s what Bill C 61 does,” says Hadju.
“It not only addresses some of those longstanding challenges that First Nations have faced, but it also creates a framework for Canada to be a strong partner and a collaborative partner with nations that have the right to clean drinking water, that have an inherent right to govern themselves.”
Hajdu adds there are also aspects that speak to First Nations’ inherent right to set regulations in their communities that meet or beat provincial standards.
