Legal action has been taken against Canada by four Alberta First Nations

Legal action has been taken against Canada
by four Alberta First Nations—Sucker Creek First Nation, Ermineskin Cree Nation, Kainai Nation (Blood Tribe) and the Tsuu T’ina Nation—on unsafe drinking water. “Potable water is a serious issue in Alberta as we cannot even drink water from pumps or natural springs,” said AFN Alberta Regional Chief Cameron Alexis. “This situation is unacceptable and must be dealt with quickly.” The state of First Nations drinking water is a national shame, reads a news release from the Assembly of First Nations. As of March 31, there were 147 Drinking Water Advisories in 87 First Nations communities across Canada.  About 100, or 68 per cent, of these advisories were designated as continued advisories, many of which have been in place for several years. In July 2011, AANDC released the results of its National Assessment of First Nations Water and Wastewater Systems. The study found of the 807 water systems inspected:
    314 (39 per cent) were categorized as high overall risk
    278 (34 per cent) were categorized as medium overall risk
    215 (27 per cent) were categorized as low overall risk
Of the 532 wastewater systems inspected:
    72 (14 per cent) were categorized as high overall risk
    272 (51 per cent) were categorized as medium overall risk
    188 (35 per cent) were categorized as low overall risk
The report determined that, nationally, “based on the 10 year projected populations, the combined water and wastewater servicing needs are estimated to be $4.7 billion plus a projected operating and maintenance budget of $419 million per year.”
“In a country as rich as Canada, a country built on the resources and riches of First Nations traditional territories, we can and should do more to ensure First Nations have access to safe drinking water, something most Canadians take for granted,” said Chief Alexis.