Monthly progress update through May 2019 on long-term drinking water advisories on public systems on reserves

OTTAWA, TRADITIONAL ALGONQUIN TERRITORY, June 5, 2019 /CNW/ - 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 May 2019, five short-term drinking water advisories at risk of becoming long-term were lifted from public systems on reserves. One long-term drinking water advisory on a public system on a reserve was added. No long-term drinking water advisories were lifted.

Short-term drinking water advisories lifted before becoming long-term:

    --  Wapekeka, in Ontario, lifted a short-term advisory from its public water
        system on May 2, following the successful completion of repairs to the
        distribution system. The advisory had been in effect since January 15,
        2019.
    --  Montreal Lake, in Saskatchewan, lifted a short-term advisory from the
        Montreal Lake Public Water System on May 1 following the repair of a
        line break. The advisory had been in effect since February 15, 2019.
    --  Little Red River Cree Nation, in Alberta, lifted a short-term advisory
        from the John D'Or Prairie Public Water Supply on May 3 following an
        increase of disinfection at that plant to address elevated turbidity in
        the treated water. The advisory had been in effect since February 26,
        2019.
    --  Acadia, in Nova Scotia, lifted a short-term advisory from the Acadia
        Gold River Community Building on May 3 following the repair of a
        waterline and the installation of a new treatment system. The advisory
        had been in effect since February 19, 2019.
    --  Fox Lake, in Manitoba, lifted a short-term advisory from the Fox Lake
        (Bird) Public Water System on May 1 following repairs to the water
        treatment plant's pump equipment. The advisory had been in effect since
        June 12, 2018.

Advisories that reached more than one year in duration and became long-term:

    --  A drinking water advisory at Standing Buffalo, in Saskatchewan, became
        long-term on May 9 after being in place for more than 12 months.
        Operation and maintenance repairs to the existing treatment system have
        been completed and options to address plant capacity issues or reduce
        demand are being explored. ISC continues to work with the community to
        complete a long-term recapitalization and capacity expansion of the
        water treatment plant. These longer-term upgrades are projected to be
        complete by December 2020.

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.

The number of long-term drinking water advisories affecting public systems on reserves has declined from 105 in November 2015, to 58 as of May 31, 2019.

Through budget investments in water and wastewater infrastructure on reserves across the country, 505 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

"As we move closer to our goal of ending long-term drinking water advisories on public systems on reserves, preventing short-term advisories from becoming long-term takes on greater significance. Working in partnership with First Nations, we will improve access to safe drinking water for years to come. Follow our progress at www.canada.ca/water-on-reserve."

The Honourable Seamus O'Regan, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Indigenous Services

Quick Facts

    --  A drinking water advisory becomes long-term when it has been in place
        for more than a year.
    --  In total, 85 long-term advisories have been lifted, 39 have been added,
        and one system with a long-term drinking water advisory was deactivated.
    --  Working in collaboration with First Nations, the Government of Canada
        has committed to ending all long-term drinking water advisories on
        public systems on reserves by March 2021.
    --  Short-term drinking water advisories are precautionary public health
        measures in place for less than a year. They are issued when the safety
        of the drinking water cannot be guaranteed.
    --  Since November 2015, 126 short-term drinking water advisories (lasting
        between two and 12 months) were lifted before becoming long-term.
    --  Budget 2016 provided $1.8 billion over five years towards water and
        wastewater infrastructure.
    --  Budget 2017 committed an additional $49.1 million over three years
        towards improving access to safe drinking water.
    --  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 prior to 2021.
        Budget 2018 also provides support for repairs to high risk water
        systems, recruitment, training and retention initiatives, and the
        establishment of innovative First Nations-led service delivery models.
    --  Budget 2019 proposes to invest an additional $739 million over five
        years, beginning in 2019-2020, with $184.9 million per year ongoing. The
        investment will support ongoing efforts to eliminate and prevent
        long-term drinking water advisories - funding urgent repairs to
        vulnerable water systems and providing water operator training and
        support programs so that First Nations communities can effectively
        operate and maintain their public drinking water systems.
    --  Through the Investing in Canada infrastructure plan, the Government of
        Canada is investing more than $180 billion over 12 years in public
        transit projects, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, trade and
        transportation routes, and Canada's rural and northern communities.

Associated Links

    --  Ending long-term drinking water advisories
    --  Investing in First Nations community infrastructure
    --  Lifecycle of a First Nation community infrastructure project
    --  Budget 2016: A Better Future for Indigenous Peoples
    --  Budget 2017 Highlights - Indigenous and Northern Investments
    --  Budget 2018 - Advancing Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples
    --  Budget 2019 - Advancing Reconciliation
    --  Investing in Canada: Canada's Long-Term Infrastructure Plan
    --  Investing in Canada Plan Project Map

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SOURCE Indigenous Services Canada