The Government of Canada reaches an Agreement in Principle to resolve class action litigation related to safe drinking water in First Nations communities

BELLA BELLA, HEILTSUK TERRITORY, BC, July 30, 2021 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada is firmly committed to improving reliable access to safe drinking water in First Nations communities.

Today, Tataskweyak Cree Nation, Curve Lake First Nation and Neskantaga First Nation, together with the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Indigenous Services, announced that an historic Agreement in Principle has been reached through a successful negotiation process to resolve national class action litigation related to safe drinking water in First Nations communities.

This Agreement in Principle addresses important concerns identified by First Nations represented in the class action lawsuits. The agreement includes the following:

• $1.5 billion in compensation for individuals deprived of clean drinking water;
• the creation of a $400 million First Nation Economic and Cultural Restoration Fund;
• a renewed commitment to Canada's Action Plan for the lifting of all long-term drinking water advisories;
• the creation of a First Nations Advisory Committee on Safe Drinking Water;
• support for First Nations to develop their own safe drinking water by-laws and initiatives;
• a commitment of at least $6 billion to support reliable access to safe drinking water on reserve;
• planned modernization of Canada's First Nations drinking water legislation.

The Government of Canada will continue to work with all First Nations, including Tataskweyak Cree Nation, Curve Lake First Nation and Neskantaga First Nation, to address water concerns. Together, we will develop sustainable, long-term solutions so that future generations do not worry about whether their water is safe to drink.

Significant progress has been made and the Government of Canada will continue to support First Nations communities' efforts to ensure that their members have access to clean drinking water.

As of July 30, 2021, First Nations, with support from Indigenous Services Canada, have lifted 108 long-term drinking water advisories since November 2015. In addition, 186 short-term drinking water advisories have been prevented from becoming long term. Since 2016, the Government of Canada has committed over $4.2 billion to First Nations to build and repair water and wastewater infrastructure and support effective management and maintenance of water systems on reserves.

Quotes

"I strongly believe in resolving important matters like this through open dialogue grounded in the principles of co-operation, partnership and transparency. We are proud to have worked in partnership with Tataskweyak Cree Nation, Curve Lake First Nation and Neskantaga First Nation to establish an Agreement in Principle that lays the groundwork for long-term sustainable solutions to ensure access to clean water on reserves now and in the future. The safety of community members is our top priority and we will continue to work together to ensure that their water is clean and safe to drink."

The Honourable Marc Miller
Minister of Indigenous Services

"Today First Nations from coast to coast can look to the future with hope that another generation of their children will not be raised to distrust the water from their taps. This historic agreement recognizes a basic human right to clean drinking water, compensates those who were wrongly deprived of it, and gives First Nations confidence that the future will not resemble the past. It is a remarkable shift. Because First Nations had the courage to pursue justice, the painful legacy of long-term drinking water advisories will finally be history. Today the Government deserves real credit for committing to turn a corner. All Canadians should be proud of these measures to end a water crisis." 

Michael Rosenberg
Partner, McCarthy Tétrault LLP, counsel to Tataskweyak Cree Nation, Curve Lake First Nation and Neskantaga First Nation

"When I left the Ontario Court of Appeal in 2018, I left knowing that I remained committed to improving the lives of my people, something that has driven me since before I became a lawyer. There is hardly any file more meaningful to me in Canada than these national class actions. I grew up on the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, where in my youth, we could not drink from our tap. I know most Canadians agree that it is intolerable to see so many First Nations still living with this reality. Today's announcement may not be the beginning of the process of reconciliation, but it is certainly a major step along this journey that we pursue together. I am honoured and humbled to have a say in this critical issue as we work with our negotiation partners, the Government of Canada, to ensure First Nations are finally able to have the same right to clean water in their homes as any Canadian."

Harry LaForme
Senior Counsel, Olthuis Kleer Townshend LLP, counsel to Tataskweyak Cree Nation, Curve Lake First Nation and Neskantaga First Nation

"For 27 years Neskantaga has been plagued by not having access to clean safe drinking water. That's harmed us. It has harmed all aspects of our community. It continues to tear at who we are as people, as human beings. People have to live every day with the consequences of past policies. The water in Neskantaga has been so bad that we have been forced to evacuate our entire community twice within the span of twelve months. These were not our mistakes; these were not our policies. People from Neskantaga woke up today, yesterday, and every day for the past 27 years wondering how they will treat the symptoms of this water disaster. Our symptoms are real, and result in kids committing suicide, getting rashes, and suffering severe eczema. The skin conditions are particularly awful. They make our people feel like they have to hide themselves, and furthers their loss of dignity, on top of already feeling like maybe they don't deserve clean water. It took 27 years to get this far, and we are here and determined to move forward. We view the Agreement In Principle as hope that our water issues will be in the past and that we can move forward with a new beginning. But make no mistake: even when they provide hope, moments like these are very hard for us. Our suffering is still going on. We are cautious about promises, we're ready to work on legally binding commitments. It is time Neskantaga got clean drinking water. It is time Neskantaga and all other affected nations can focus on healing. Miigwetch"

Community of Neskantaga

"For hundreds of years now, Canada has enjoyed vast wealth while Indigenous people lack access to even the basic necessities of life like drinkable water. Today, we have come one step closer to reconciling this long history. We can celebrate the Agreement In Principle as a step in the right direction and we look forward to seeing how quickly we can achieve the goal of clean water for all."

Chief Emily Whetung
Curve Lake First Nation

"This Agreement in Principle between First Nations and Canada is a significant milestone. It signals Canada's recognition of the harmful trauma that we have suffered after going so many years without clean drinking water. The Agreement in Principle provides First Nations with compensation for hardships that we should not have had to experience, and enforceable standards to end our water crisis. For Tataskweyak Cree Nation, these standards mean that Canada is finally committing to draw our community's water from a safer and healthier source. This is a significant step toward ensuring that all First Nations have access to clean and reliable drinking water for our present and future generations. We are looking forward to working with Canada to implement this Agreement in Principle."

Chief Doreen Spence
Tataskweyak Cree Nation

Quick facts

• The Government of Canada and First Nations communities are working in partnership to build long-term solutions that support sustainable access to safe, clean drinking water and build trust in the water supply.
• The Government of Canada has committed to new investments in operations and maintenance funding which will directly benefit communities.

• As part of Budget 2019, the Government of Canada invested $605.6 million over four years, starting in 2020-2021, including an additional $184.9 million each year thereafter.
• As part of the 2020 Fall Economic Statement, $616.3 million over six years starting in 2020-2021, and $114.1 million each year thereafter, has also been invested. Funding committed as part of the 2020 Fall Economic Statement is in addition to funds previously committed in Budget 2019.
• With these increases, by 2025-2026, over $400 million per year in permanent funding will be provided to First Nations across the country for operations and maintenance of water and wastewater assets, up from $109 million in 2018-2019.
• In addition, Budget 2021 committed $4.3 billion over four years to support infrastructure projects in First Nations, Inuit and Métis Nation communities, and $1.7 billion over five years, with $388.9 million ongoing, to cover the cost of operations and maintenance costs of other community infrastructure in First Nations communities on reserve.
• These investments are helping to improve water infrastructure serving First Nations communities. In addition, increased operations and maintenance funding will allow First Nations to assume more control of infrastructure delivery.

Associated links

• Achieving clean drinking water in First Nations communities
• Ending long-term drinking water advisories
• Investing in First Nations community infrastructure
• Lifecycle of a First Nation community infrastructure project
• Investing in Canada: Canada's Long-Term Infrastructure Plan
• Investing in Canada Plan Project Map

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SOURCE Indigenous Services Canada

For more information from Indigenous Services Canada, media may contact: Adrienne Vaupshas, Press Secretary, Office of the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Indigenous Services, [email protected]; Media Relations, Indigenous Services Canada, 819-953-1160, [email protected]; For more information from counsel for Tataskweyak Cree Nation, Curve Lake First Nation, and Neskantaga First Nation, media may contact: Michael Rosenberg, Partner, McCarthy Tétrault LLP, 416-601-7831, [email protected] ; Harry LaForme, Senior Counsel, Olthuis Kleer Townshend LLP, 416-981-9408, [email protected]