Long-term drinking water advisory lifted at Miawpukek First Nation

OTTAWA, June 20, 2018 /CNW/ - Everyone in Canada deserves access to safe, clean, and reliable drinking water. The Government of Canada is committed to ending all long-term drinking water advisories on public systems on reserve by March 2021.

Today, the Honourable Jane Philpott, Minister of Indigenous Services, congratulated Chief Mi'sel Joe and the community of Miawpukek First Nation for their work in lifting a long-term drinking water advisory.

Miawpukek First Nation, located at the mouth of the Conne River on the south coast of Newfoundland, lifted the long-term drinking water advisory on June 13, 2018, following testing. The advisory had been in effect since September 10, 2014.

Indigenous Services Canada invested $2.4 million for improvements to the community's water treatment plant, including upgrades to the disinfection system, a building expansion, and repairs.

Quotes

"I am pleased to see another long-term drinking water advisory lifted. I would like to commend Chief Mi'sel Joe and the residents of Miawpukek First Nation for their perseverance while this advisory remained in place. There is much more work ahead, and I encourage Canadians to follow progress on our commitment to lifting all long-term drinking water advisories on public systems on reserve at www.canada.ca/water-on-reserve."

The Honourable Jane Philpott,
Minister of Indigenous Services

"Water is a fundamental human need and is one of the most importance substances on earth. Having safe drinking water is essential to the health of our people and we are extremely pleased that the long standing boil advisory has ended."

Saqamaw Misel Joe
Miawpukek First Nation

Quick Facts

• The Miawpukek First Nation (Miawpukek Mi'kamawey Mawi'omi) is a Mi'kmaq community of approximately 920 members located at the mouth of the Conne River on the south coast of Newfoundland. The community was formerly known as "Conne River".
• Budget 2016 provides $1.8 billion over five years to significantly improve on-reserve water and wastewater infrastructure and $141.7 million over five years to improve drinking water monitoring and testing on reserve.
• Budget 2018 invests an additional $172.6 million over three years toward improved water infrastructure, water operator training and innovative First Nations-led technical service delivery models. Since November 2015, 64 long-term drinking water advisories (those lasting one year or more) have been lifted from public water systems.
• There are currently 74 long-term drinking water advisories affecting public systems on reserve.

Associated Links

• Miawpukek First Nation
• Ending long-term drinking water advisories in First Nation communities
• Budget 2016: A Better Future for Indigenous Peoples
• Budget 2017

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SOURCE Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada

For further information: media may contact: Rachel Rappaport, Press Secretary, Office of the Honourable Jane Philpott, Minister of Indigenous Services, 819-934-2796; Media Relations, Indigenous Services Canada, 819-953-1160