Indigenous Services Canada has announced the elimination of a number of long-term drinking water advisories for First Nation communities in Saskatchewan.
Investments in water and wastewater infrastructure are working to eliminate long-term drinking water advisories on public systems on reserve and to prevent short-term advisories from becoming long-term. Minister of Indigenous Services, Jane Philpott, was pleased to share progress made on the federal government’s commitment to ending long-term advisories.
“Everyone in this country deserves access to clean drinking water. I am pleased to see a number of both long-term and at-risk short-term advisories lifted in March 2018, continuing the progress being made by communities and Indigenous Services Canada together,” said Minister Philpott. “We remain on track in our commitment to lift all long-term drinking water advisories on public systems on reserve by March 2021.”
Four long-term advisories were successfully lifted in March 2018 in the following communities:
- Red Earth Cree Nation in Saskatchewan lifted a long-term drinking water advisory on March 2.
- Pauingassi First Nation in Manitoba lifted a long-term advisory on March 15.
- Poundmaker in Saskatchwan lifted a long-term advisory on March 20.
- Cowessess First Nation in Saskatchewan lifted a long-term advisory on March 22.
Additionally, four short-term advisories that were at-risk of becoming long-term were lifted. They were:
- Ministikwan Lake Cree Nation in Saskatchewan on March 1.
- Fox Lake Cree Nation in Manitoba on March 8.
- Sunchild First Nation in Alberta on March 8.
- Buffalo River Dene Nation in Saskatchewan on March 13.
One drinking water advisory on a public system in Big Grassy River First Nation in Ontario became long-term on March 1st, as well. Indigenous Services Canada is working with the community on an action plan to restore safe drinking water to the community with a projected lifting date of June 2018.
Image Credit: Meadow Lake Tribal Council.
