First Nations Call for Urgent Support on Clean Water Legislation

Indigenous leaders urge Canadian MPs to prioritize water rights legislation amidst political delays and legal battles.

Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu and AFN National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak are urging cross-party support for a bill ensuring clean drinking water for First Nations.
The proposed legislation, described as co-developed with First Nations, faces criticism for not adequately protecting Indigenous rights or securing sufficient funding.
The bill has stalled in a House committee, with Hajdu blaming Conservative opposition for delaying its progress to the Senate.
The Shamattawa First Nation in Manitoba is suing the federal government, seeking legal recognition of its obligation to provide safe drinking water.
First Nations leaders criticize the government's legal defense as undermining trust, calling the water crisis a national embarrassment.