Report Shows Drinking Water Issues Still Disproportionately Affect Indigenous Communities – Muskoka 411
October 7, 2022
A water contamination incident from over 20 years ago inspired a deep dive into drinking water protection in Ontario, but a new report shows that even decades later, Indigenous communities are still facing barriers when it comes to accessing safe drinking water.
The Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA) released an update on the status of safe drinking water in Ontario on Sept. 23. The report examines the progress on 121 recommendations made by Justice Dennis R. O’Connor after contamination led to widespread illness and seven deaths in Walkerton, Ontario in 2000. The report states that the overall assessment reflects “continued success in drinking water protection,” but it also recognizes that many of the remaining problems disproportionately impact Indigenous communities.
