More resources needed for safe drinking water

Newly proposed legislation that will regulate clean and safe drinking water in First Nations communities is good news, as long as affected communities receive the resources they need to keep up with the new bill, says Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations Vice-Chief Lyle Whitefish.

“If it is going to come with infrastructure, with improvements, than I don’t see a problem with moving ahead with it,” said Whitefish, referring to the Safe Drinking Water for First Nations Act, which was introduced into Parliament on May 25.

Whitefish said he spoke with an Indian and Northern Affairs of Canada (INAC) representative on June 10 and he was assured that First Nations will be given the opportunity to work hand in hand with the federal government to ensure the potential regulation is a success.

Allocating funds to First Nations for modern water infrastructure is crucial in order for Bill S-11 to be a success, said Whitefish.

Three days following the federal government's announcement the FSIN issued a statement that chiefs were not in support of the proposed legislation. Whitefish, along with other critics, believed the bill was not on point with the specific needs of First Nations communities and clean drinking water.

“Here is another example of what happens when a government fails its duty-to-consult obligation,” said Whitefish in a May 28 press release. “The Federal Government held minimal discussions with First Nations in the development of this proposed safe drinking water legislation.”

The Safe Drinking Water Foundation (SDWF) also criticized the details of Bill S-11. In a May 31 release, they went as far as to say that the new regulation has the potential to put some First Nations communities in an even more difficult situation than before.

“For First Nation communities to be able to produce truly safe drinking water and meet these regulations they will require more funding, more training and more effective water treatment processes than are currently provided. The responsibility to provide the resources necessary to meet the requirements of this bill must belong to INAC, not the communities themselves,” the release stated.
Assembly of First Nations (AFN) National Chief Shawn Atleo has also stated that the legislation falls short when it comes to providing training on maintaining water systems on-reserve.

INAC has confirmed that the legislation is only one step of an entire process to improve conditions in First Nations communities. The bill includes an additional $330 million over the next two years to support First Nations communities. The government forecasts that between 2006 and 2012, they will have invested over $2.3 billion in First Nations water and wastewater infrastructure.

According to Whitefish, INAC has assured the FSIN that they would share a responsibility in preparing First Nations and that they will begin to test the water in Saskatchewan First Nations in order to find out the overall water quality.