From: Indigenous Services Canada
July 3, 2019 — Ottawa, Traditional Algonquin Territory, ON — Indigenous Services Canada
The federal government remains steadfast and on track in its commitment to end all long-term drinking water advisories on public systems on reserves by March 2021.
Today, the Honourable Seamus O’Regan, Minister of Indigenous Services, provided the department’s monthly progress update on the government’s commitment to end long-term drinking water advisories.
In June 2019, three short-term drinking water advisories at risk of becoming long-term were lifted from public systems on reserves while important work continues to lift the remaining long-term drinking water advisories on public systems. Working to resolve short-term advisories is an important part of the overall efforts underway alongside hundreds of water and wastewater infrastructure projects on-reserve across the country. No long-term drinking water advisories on public systems were lifted or added leaving the total lifted at 85 with 58 remaining on-track to be lifted by March 2021.
Short-term drinking water advisories lifted before becoming long-term:
Through Budget 2016, the Government of Canada committed $1.8 billion over five years to improve water and wastewater infrastructure and set a goal of March 2021 to end all long-term drinking water advisories on public systems on reserves. Budget 2019 committed an additional $739 million over five years, beginning in 2019-2020, with $184.9 million per year ongoing.
The number of long-term drinking water advisories affecting public systems on reserves has declined from 105 in November 2015, to 58 as of June 30, 2019.
Through budget investments in water and wastewater infrastructure on reserves across the country, 561 projects are either underway or have been completed.
First Nations and the Government of Canada will continue this important work to lift the remaining long-term drinking water advisories on public systems, complete the water and wastewater projects underway now, and bridge the gap in essential infrastructure on reserves.
Quotes
“Ensuring short-term drinking water advisories do not become long-term is equally important to our commitment to lift all long-term drinking water advisories by March 2021. I commend the people of Blood and Iskatewizaagegan #39 on lifting two short-term advisories. We are committed to our work with First Nations to bring safe drinking water to everyone in Canada.”
The Honourable Seamus O’Regan, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Indigenous Services
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Contacts
For more information, media may contact:
Kevin Deagle
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Seamus O’Regan
Minister of Indigenous Services
873-354-0987
Media Relations
Indigenous Services Canada
819-953-1160
SAC.media.ISC@canada.ca
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