Chiefs of Ontario call for urgent implementation of 2021 water settlement and legislation as a third of Ontario First Nations face drinking water advisories
Press Release
(Ottawa, Ont.–Dec. 3, 2025) After years of unacceptable delays, Chiefs of Ontario is demanding the Government of Canada stop delaying implementing the 2021 First Nations class action settlement agreement.
First Nations Leadership collectively representing tens of thousands of First Nations people and hundreds of thousands of kilometres of Treaty lands went to the House of Commons today to share their concerns with the country.
Among their concerns are rumours that the government will make amendments to safe drinking water legislation that was previously tabled and abandoned earlier this year.
“In the 2021 settlement agreement, Canada committed to tabling essential legislation and providing sustainable funding to ensure safe drinking water for First Nations,” said Ontario Regional Chief Abram Benedict. “More than four years later, there is no bill, no funding, and no end in sight for our communities. My question to Minister Gull-Masty and Prime Minister Carney is simple: where is the legislation and where the court-mandated investments?”
This historic agreement mandated, among other things, new legislation and a minimum of $6 billion in funding to support reliable access to safe drinking water on reserves. Instead, nearly a third First Nations in Ontario currently face short- or long-term drinking water advisories and the settlement is unresolved. This has prompted pressure from First Nations across Turtle Island.
The previous government led by Justin Trudeau initially introduced Bill C-61 to meet their obligations under the agreement. The legislation died on the order paper when the Liberals prorogued Parliament in last January. The bill would have established new safety standards for drinking water, implemented new source-water protection mechanisms and provided financial resources to enable First Nations to meet the new standards. First Nations were instrumental in drafting the legislation.
WATCH: First Nations Chiefs address House of Commons press gallery
Grand Council Chief Linda Debassige, Anishinabek Nation, was one of those who was deeply involved in negotiations around drafting the drinking water legislation.
“I am honoured to have had a role developing this important piece of legislation, Bill C-61. This legislation was the result of years of dedicated advocacy by First Nations and sets out a firm commitment to implementing the right to safe and clean drinking water,” Grand Council Chief Debassige said today at the House of Commons.
“Canada said they intend to delay re-introduction of Bill C-61 until the spring of 2026. This is unacceptable. First Nations have waited too long,” said Grand Council Chief Debassige, who also holds the environment portfolio for COO’s Leadership Council.
“We have heard that Canada intends to make amendments to the legislation, potentially weakening the legislation. This is unacceptable,” she said. “Abandoning source water protection and protection zones would be detrimental to not just first nations but to all Canadians. We cannot jeopardize source water at the expense of the economy.”
The Liberals originally promised to re-introduce legislation this fall, but with less than two weeks before Parliament breaks, there is still no bill. Yesterday, Prime Minister Carney committed to “introducing” a drinking water bill during the spring session. It remains unclear what shape that legislation will take and when it will be tabled.
Chief Shelly Moore-Frappier, Teme Augama Anishinabek (Temagami First Nation), told reporters today that regional representatives for Indigenous Services Canada’s Ontario office have said there is no more funding for First Nations water infrastructure.
“Let’s really think about that. Imagine if the City of Ottawa, or the City of Toronto, or any other city or town in Canada, was told there was no more money for their water. Would you accept it? Would you accept that your children could not drink the water in their own home? That’s what we’re facing today in 2025,” she said.
The Ontario region still has the most long-term boil water advisories in the country including the longest consecutive advisory in Canada that has been in place since 1995.
Neskantaga First Nation Chief Gary Quisess said his community has watched seven prime ministers come and go along with their promises. He explained the profound and serious consequences of the 30-year-old boil water advisory that his community faces.
“We have people going to the hospitals due to infections. I am in the third world, and projects are getting pushed on us—the Ring of Fire is getting pushed on us. We’re in the middle of it, and here we have 30 years of boil water advisory. We get 1.5 litres of per person to bathe, to drink, to eat, that’s the kind of service we have,” he said.
Chief R. Don Maracle’s community, Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte, has faced over a decade of boil water advisories. He drew attention to the Auditor General’s 2025 report which found ISC’s progress on eliminating drinking water advisories for First Nations has been woefully inadequate.
“Hundreds of other communities have a long way to go before they can reach parity with non-First Nations,” he said. “Without legislation, there is no enforcement or legal recognition.”
Chiefs of Ontario will continue to push the government to honour its legal commitments and its promises so that all First Nations in Ontario can have safe, clean drinking water.
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Media Contact:
Isak Vaillancourt, Communications Manager
Chiefs of Ontario
Telephone: 416-819-8184
Email: isak.vaillancourt@coo.org
Declan Keogh, Strategic Advocacy Manager
Chiefs of Ontario
Mobile: (514) 519-5375
Email: declan.keogh@coo.org
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