Long-term drinking water advisory lifted in Kinonjeoshtegon First Nation

News Release
From Indigenous Services Canada

Kinonjeoshtegon First Nation in Manitoba successfully ends long-term advisory

December 22, 2017 Ottawa, ON Indigenous Services Canada

Everyone in Canada should have access to safe, clean, and reliable drinking water. Our government remains steadfast in our commitment – to end all long-term drinking water advisories on public systems on reserve by March 2021.

Today, the Honourable Jane Philpott, Minister of Indigenous Services, was pleased to share progress on this commitment, with the lifting of the long-term drinking water advisory in Kinonjeoshtegon First Nation.

The government of Canada invested approximately $170,000 for pumps, piping, pressure tanks, power panel and chlorinator to improve water and wastewater infrastructure in the community.

Upon Indigenous Services Canada’s recommendation, Kinonjeoshtegon First Nation lifted a long-term drinking water advisory on December 21, 2018. The advisory had been in effect since July 7, 2016.

Quotes

“Every Canadian deserves access to clean drinking water, and I would like to commend the people of Kinonjeoshtegon First Nation for their perseverance while this advisory remained in place. I am pleased to see this progress on our commitment to remove all long term drinking water advisories on public systems on reserve by March 2021.”

The Honourable Jane Philpott
Minister of Indigenous Services

Quick Facts

Budget 2016 provides $1.8 billion over five years to significantly improve on-reserve water and wastewater infrastructure, ensure proper facility operation, maintenance, and support training of water system operations. Budget 2016 also included $141.7 million over five years in new funding to Health Canada to improve drinking water monitoring and testing on reserve.
Committing investments over five years allows for long-term planning to improve on-reserve water and wastewater systems.
Between November 2015 and December 2017, 32 long-term DWAs were lifted on public water systems financially supported by Indigenous Services Canada through the work done in partnership with First Nation communities and partners. Twenty-two drinking water advisories were added during that same time. Indigenous Services Canada is working to address both at-risk and long-term drinking water advisories affecting public systems financially supported by the Department.
There are currently 67 long-term drinking water advisories affecting public systems that receive financial support from Indigenous Services Canada.

Associated Links

Contacts

Andrew MacKendrick
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Jane Philpott
819-956-5372

Media Relations
Department of Indigenous Services Canada
819-953-1160

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