Long-term drinking water advisory lifted in Tsal’alh First Nation

Tsal’alh First Nation successfully ends long-term drinking water advisory

February 9, 2018 – Ottawa, ON – Indigenous Services Canada

Everyone in Canada deserves access to safe, clean, and reliable drinking water. Our government is 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, as the long-term drinking water advisory for Tsal’alh First Nation in British Columbia was lifted on February 5, 2018. Tsal’alh First Nation is located in the Central Interior-Fraser Canyon region of British Columbia, and the advisory had been in effect since November 30, 2016.

Quotes

“I am pleased to see continued progress on our commitment to end all long-term drinking water advisories on public systems on reserve. I would specifically like to commend the people of Tsal’alh First Nation for their perseverance while this advisory remained in place. We are determined to work with partners to ensure that all First Nations communities can access clean and reliable drinking water.”

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. In addition, Budget 2016 also included $141.7 million over five years in new funding 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.
• Since November 2015, 41 long-term drinking water advisories have been lifted from public water systems through the work done in partnership with First Nation communities and partners. Twenty-six 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 on reserve.
• There are currently 90 long-term drinking water advisories affecting public systems that receive financial support from Indigenous Services Canada.

Associated Links

• Ending long-term drinking water advisories in First Nation communities
• Budget 2016: A Better Future for Indigenous Peoples
• Budget 2017
• Backgrounder – Update on the Government of Canada’s Commitment to Clean Drinking Water on Public Systems on Reserve

Contacts

For more information, media may contact:

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

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

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