Kehewin Cree Nation Celebrates Sod-Turning for a New Water Treatment System

August, 27, 2018 – Kehewin Cree Nation, Treaty 6 Territory, AB – Indigenous Services Canada

The Government of Canada is committed to working in partnership with First Nation communities to building water and wastewater facilities to ensure improved and reliable access to clean water.

Today, Randy Boissonnault, Member of Parliament for Edmonton Centre, on behalf of the Honourable Jane Philpott, Minister of Indigenous Services, visited Kehewin Cree Nation and congratulated Chief Brenda Vanguard and the entire community on the official sod turning for their new water treatment system.

This new water treatment system is critical to the community’s efforts to lift their long-term drinking water advisory. Indigenous Services Canada has invested $13.9 million to support construction of the new facility with the goal of lifting the long-term drinking water advisory by March 2020.

Quotes

“It gives me great pleasure to congratulate Chief Vanguard, and the entire Kehewin Cree Nation community on the sod turning of their new water treatment system. This milestone reflects our shared commitment to building critical infrastructure, and improving access to safe and reliable drinking water for First Nation communities across the country.”

The Honourable Jane Philpott, M.D., P.C., M.P.
Minister of Indigenous Services

“I thank the current Liberal government, for their commitment on making this day a reality. Our members have been patiently waiting for something as simple as clean water for too long. Our community has been on a boiled-water advisory for more than 11 years and the old treatment plant is no longer a viable option. So today marks the first step in a longer journey of partnership and a moment of renewed relationships. I look forward to ongoing, productive and fruitful partnerships with the Canadian, Provincial and local governments.”

Brenda Vanguard
Chief, Kehewin Cree Nation

Quick facts

• Kehewin Cree Nation, is located 31 km southwest of Bonnyville, Alberta and 235 km east of Edmonton, Alberta. The community has a population of over 1100 people on reserve.
• Budget 2016 provides $1.8 billion over five years to significantly improve on-reserve water and wastewater infrastructure, ensure proper facility operation and maintenance, and support training of water system operators. In addition, Budget 2016 included $141.7 million over five years in new funding to improve drinking water monitoring and testing on reserve.
• Budget 2018 commits an additional $172.6 million over three years to address water infrastructure in First Nation communities

Associated links

• Ending long-term drinking water advisories in First Nation communities
• Budget 2016 Highlights: Indigenous and Northern Investments
• Budget 2017 Highlights – Indigenous and Northern Investments
• Budget 2018 Highlights: Indigenous and Northern investments

Contacts

For more information, media may contact:

Rachel Rappaport
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Jane Philpott
Minister of Indigenous Services
819-934-2796

Media Relations
Indigenous Services Canada
819-953-1160

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