Prime Minister Trudeau’s 2015 pledge to end all long-term drinking water advisories on first nations remains unfulfilled

BY SIMONE J. SMITH

“The frustrating reality is that Canada’s water crisis is solvable, if our government had the political will to prioritize Indigenous communities. Access to safe, clean drinking water is the most fundamental human right, and a pivotal step on the path to reconciliation. It’s long past time to take action in the fight for water justice.” Chris Aylward, PSAC National President

To think that we still live in a country, a first world country, where there are communities who do not have one of the basics of human existence; clean drinking water. Canada possesses the world’s third largest freshwater reserves. Despite that, 618 First Nations Communities are not supplied with safe drinking water. This issue has been going on for decades, with these communities suffering the full weight of the consequences of not having access to clean drinking water. The lack of clean, safe drinking water in the Canadian First Nations communities is one of the greatest violations of our time.

In 2010, the United Nations General Assembly recognized the basic human rights to water and sanitation, decreeing that everyone has the right to: sufficient, continuous, safe, acceptable, physically accessible, and affordable water for personal and domestic use. The Sixth Sustainable Development Goal also calls for universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water.

While in Canada there has been progress in recent years, there are still 28 long term drinking water advisories on reserves including some that have been in place for more than 25 years. There is also a deficit in funding for the maintenance and operation of drinking water systems on reserves, which the Parliamentary Budget Officer identified as amounting to $138 million per year.

In response to the dire clean water crisis that continues to impact dozens of Indigenous communities and threatens the livelihoods of thousands of people, the Public Service Alliance of Canada is renewing its commitment to Indigenous partners and intensifying efforts to hold the federal government accountable and ensure universal access to clean and safe water for all.

Prime Minister Trudeau’s 2015 pledge to end all long-term drinking water advisories on First Nations by 2021 remains unfulfilled, with 28 long-term advisories affecting 26 communities persisting to this day. Decades of broken promises by the federal government have perpetuated harm to Indigenous communities, eroding confidence in the Liberal government’s commitment to reconciliation.

The Liberal government has been promoting public-private partnerships (P3s) as a solution. History has shown that P3s not only cost more, but they also lead to the privatization of water and a loss of community control and jobs. P3s are not the answer to the drinking water crisis in First Nations.

“Last year, PSAC partnered with Asubpeeschoseewagong First Nation (Grassy Narrows) in Ontario and Samson Cree Nation in Maskwacis, Alta to launch the Still Thirsty for Justice campaign, advocating for universal access to clean and safe water, and featuring an educational video to shine a light on the people impacted,” explained Chris Aylward, PSAC National President.

“Since then, we’ve engaged Indigenous communities and organizations to dig deeper into how the water crisis impacts Indigenous peoples and others — including PSAC members — across the country. Thousands of PSAC members and supporters have written to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau demanding they keep their promise to ensure access to safe, clean water in every community in this country.

Last week, we launched Phase 2 of the campaign highlighting the stories of members and communities impacted by the crisis and we are renewing our call for the government to take urgent action.”

To learn more about the clean water crisis and support Indigenous water warriors, visit StillThirstyForJustice.ca, FreeGrassy.net, and the Samson Cree Nation on Facebook.