Assembly of First Nations urges Canada to invest in safe drinking water – The Globe and Mail
Aug. 30, 2016
The Assembly of First Nations is calling on the government to invest immediately in First Nations’ access to clean drinking water after a Globe and Mail report revealed that risky water systems pose a health threat to more than 150,000 people living on reserves.
In a statement Tuesday, AFN National Chief Perry Bellegarde said urgent action is needed from all levels of government to dramatically improve water systems in First Nations communities. A six-month investigation by The Globe found that 152,000 of the approximately 462,000 people living on First Nations reserves across Canada – or one-third – use drinking water systems that threaten their health.
“It is completely unacceptable that there are more than 100 First Nations communities in this country that do not have access to safe drinking water,” Mr. Bellegarde said.
