Time to get serious about water quality in First Nations communities – Winnipeg Sun
Pondering the crisis so many First Nations communities face over water quality, you can’t help but think of The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge: “Water, water, everywhere, Nor any drop to drink.”
The ironic dilemma of the mariner is obvious in more than 90% of Canada’s First Nations communities. Most are close to large bodies of water yet few can deliver clean water to their citizens.
The federal government and band councils need to get serious about water quality in First Nations communities. Clean drinking water should be a fundamental right for all Canadians.
The federal government got into hot water in early February for lack of progress on improving First Nations water systems. The Liberals made a big deal about ending boil-water advisories on First Nations during the 2015 election campaign, yet nothing has been done more than two years later.
