Question Period Note: Water and Wastewater

N/A

• The Government of Canada continues to partner with First Nations to lift all drinking water advisories on public systems on reserves as quickly as possible.
• As of June 9, 2025, with support from Indigenous Services Canada, First Nations have lifted 148 long-term drinking water advisories and 304 short-term advisories, preventing them from becoming long-term.
• Action plans are in place in 35 communities to resolve the 37 active long-term advisories.

First Nation communities manage their drinking water systems, including operations, maintenance, and local decision-making, while ISC provides funding, technical support, and policy guidance to help First Nations maintain and improve water infrastructure and train water operators. To help protect the health of residents, ISC also works in partnership with First Nations to assist communities in verifying the monitoring of drinking water quality in all water systems at the tap, which includes providing advice and guidance about drinking water safety and wastewater disposal.

Drinking water advisories are issued to protect the public from drinking water that is potentially, or confirmed to be, unsafe, based on water quality testing. In many First Nation communities there are several types of water systems. Based on the type of water system, a drinking water advisory could affect one building or the whole community. Drinking water advisories are issued by First Nations in their communities. Drinking water advisories are put in place for various reasons. For instance, a community may issue an advisory if there are problems in the overall water system, such as water line breaks, equipment failure, or poor filtration/disinfection during water treatment.

Communities may also choose to issue a drinking water advisory as a precautionary measure, such as when there are emergency repairs in the water distribution system or if a community does not have an operator in place to ensure the safety of the drinking water.

Recently lifted long-term drinking water advisories (LTDWAs):
• In May 2025, Sweetgrass First Nation in Saskatchewan lifted the drinking water advisory on their public water system, after completing upgrades and an expansion to their water treatment system.
• In November 2024, English River First Nation lifted the long-term drinking water advisory (LTDWA) on their public water system. Upgrades to the water treatment plant were completed in September 2024. A new water operator was hired and is keeping the community's water safe.
• In October 2024, Fort Severn First Nation lifted the drinking water advisory on their public water system, after completing upgrades to their water treatment system and training their water operators on the new equipment.

Recent LTDWAs:

Community: Mishkeegogamang First Nation
LTDWA Effective Date: May 8, 2025
Details: The community is currently working on repairs to their water treatment plant. Once repairs are complete, the community should be able to lift the advisory. A project to upgrade and expand their water treatment plant is also underway.

Community: Berens River First Nation
LTDWA Effective Date: May 8, 2025
Details: The community is working on a project to upgrade their water treatment plant and currently has access to clean drinking water through a bottling station. When upgrades are complete, the community should be able to lift the advisory

Community: Weenusk First Nation
LTDWA Effective Date: May 3, 2025
Details: The community is currently repairing their water treatment plant and are developing an action plan to address operational challenges. Once resolved, the community should be able to lift the advisory.

If pressed on what is being done to ensure safe drinking water
• ISC provides advice and financial support to First Nation communities for their public water systems. Ninety-seven point 5 percent (97.5%) of public water systems on reserve meet the Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality.
• Local, trained water operators ensure long-term, sustainable access to safe drinking water in First Nations communities.
• ISC works in partnership with First Nations to identify and prevent public health risks related to all drinking water systems.

If pressed on investments for clean drinking water in First Nation communities
• ISC provides advice and funding to First Nations communities for their public water and wastewater systems.
• Since 2016 and as of December 31, 2024, more than $4.61 billion has been invested to support 1,453 water and wastewater projects, with 670 complete and 783 ongoing. These projects will serve 591 First Nation communities.
• ISC will continue to work in partnership with First Nations to build a sustainable foundation and increase access to clean drinking water on reserves for generations to come.

If pressed on operations and maintenance funding
• Water operators are key to ensuring communities have access to clean drinking water and reliable infrastructure.
• We are working closely with First Nations to support the improvement of water operator salaries, retention and training, and in ensuring the longevity of their water and wastewater infrastructure.
• In recent years, the Government of Canada has substantially increased the annual funding it provides for operations and maintenance of water and wastewater systems on reserve on a permanent basis.

If pressed the state of emergency in Cree Nation of Chisasibi
• Being under a modern treaty, infrastructure funding received from the Government of Canada is managed and prioritized by the Cree Nation Government.
• A new plant was completed in August 2024. Due to concurrent events, including low water levels in the La Grande River, the community of Chisasibi’s water plant stopped producing drinking water.
• As of June 8, 2025, repairs have been completed. The boil water advisory has been lifted, however the state of emergency remains in place as a precautionary and temporary measure. Work is underway to ensure the plant continues to produce and distribute clean drinking water.

If pressed on First Nations Water Legislation
• Aligned with the 2021 Safe Drinking Water for First Nations Class Action Settlement Agreement, Bill C-61, the proposed First Nations Clean Water Act, was introduced in the Parliament of Canada on December 11, 2023.
• However, due to the prorogation of Parliament on January 6, 2025, all Parliamentary business, including progress on Bill C-61, came to an end.
• The Government of Canada remains committed to working with First Nations to support safe and clean drinking water now and in the future, including pursuing potential legislation.

If pressed on the Shamattawa safe drinking water class action
• The Government of Canada respects the choice of Indigenous groups, including Shamattawa First Nation, to seek the Court’s assistance on the issue of safe drinking water.
• On October 7-9, 2024, the Court heard submissions from both Parties to determine whether Canada has a legal duty to provide safe drinking water. The Court has not yet released a decision.
• We continue to work closely with First Nations to help ensure everyone in First Nations communities has access to safe drinking water.

If pressed on litigation
• Everyone in Canada should have access to reliable, safe and clean drinking water.
• The Government of Canada respects the choice of Indigenous groups to seek the Court’s assistance on the important issue of safe drinking water.
• We continue to work closely with First Nations to help ensure everyone in First Nation communities has access to safe drinking water.

If pressed on Tataskweyak Cree Nation
• ISC is working closely with Tataskweyak Cree Nation to support safe access to clean drinking water as health and safety of community members remains our top priority.
• ISC is providing $62 million to Tataskweyak Cree Nation for the construction of a new water treatment plant and water intake system to address their long-term drinking water advisory which is anticipated to be completed for Fall 2025.
• The Department will continue to work with Tataskweyak Cree Nation leadership to ensure the existing plant is returned to full operation to support the repatriation of evacuees.