Aug 2, 2018   SOURCE: PR NewsWire

Update on long-term drinking water advisories on public systems on reserve through July 2018

OTTAWA, Aug. 2, 2018 /CNW/ - The federal government remains steadfast in its commitment to end all long-term drinking water advisories on public systems on reserve by March 2021.

For the month of July 2018, the Honourable Jane Philpott, Minister of Indigenous Services, has provided the following update:

    --  One long-term drinking water advisory was lifted in Whitefish Lake First
        Nation in Alberta on July 3. An interim solution is being implemented
        with water trucks and new cisterns for the community while a new water
        treatment plant is under construction to meet the population's long-term
        needs.
    --  One long-term drinking water advisory was added in Fond du Lac in
        Saskatchewan. Indigenous Services Canada is working with the community
        to make maintenance repairs to existing water infrastructure and restore
        safe drinking water.

Through Budget 2016 and 2018 investments totalling almost $2 billion, 108 water and wastewater projects have been completed, with an additional 355 underway, in a total of 587 communities. It is projected that an additional 20 long-term drinking water advisories will be lifted by the end of 2018.

Quotes

"As we share regular updates on long-term drinking water advisories, some months will show more progress than others. However, the work underway to improving water systems that allows for long-term advisories to be lifted continues at full speed, with 463 water and wastewater projects completed or underway in 587 communities. Since November 2015, 67 long-term drinking water advisories have been lifted, and we anticipate close to 20 more by the end of 2018. We remain steadfast and on track in our commitment to ensuring all long-term advisories on water systems on reserve will be lifted by March of 2021, and Canadians can follow progress at www.canada.ca/water-on-reserve."

The Honourable Jane Philpott, M.D., P.C., M.P.
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 and maintenance, and support training of water system
        operators. In addition, Budget 2016 included $141.7 million over five
        years in new funding to improve drinking water monitoring and testing on
        reserve.
    --  Budget 2018 provides an additional $172.6 million over three years to
        help accelerate progress on lifting drinking water advisories and to
        ensure more infrastructure projects can be completed by 2020 instead of
        2021. Budget 2018 also proposes support for repairs to high risk water
        systems, recruitment, training and retention initiatives, and the
        establishment of innovative First Nations-led service delivery models.
    --  Since November 2015, 67 long-term drinking water advisories (those
        lasting one year or more) have been lifted from public water systems
        through the work done in collaboration with First Nation communities and
        other partners. Additionally, 34 drinking water advisories were added
        during that same time. ISC is working to address both long-term drinking
        water advisories affecting public systems on reserve and drinking water
        advisories at risk of becoming long-term.
    --  There are currently 72 long-term drinking water advisories affecting
        public systems on reserve.

Associated Links

    --  Ending long-term drinking water advisories in First Nation communities
    --  Long-term drinking water advisory lifted at Miawpukek First Nation
    --  Department of Indigenous Services Canada provides update on commitment
        to end long-term drinking water advisories on public systems on reserve
    --  Lifecycle Process for an Infrastructure project
    --  Budget 2016: A Better Future for Indigenous Peoples
    --  Budget 2017
    --  Budget 2018

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SOURCE Indigenous Services Canada