A First Nations advisory committee for safe drinking water will also be created.Īn anticipated 142,000 people from 258 First Nations across the country who’ve had to consume unsafe water are eligible. Canada is also now legally bound to implement its clean water action plan. Ottawa agreed to repeal and replace the Harper-era Safe Drinking Water for First Nations Act. Whetung explained on N2N community members struggle with a broad range of issues related to their drinking water supply.įeds, First Nations reach proposed $8B settlement in clean water class action But if there’s issues, if there’s problems, there’s a mechanism to go and have those disputes resolved.”Ĭurve Lake is surrounded by water, yet has had to truck it in at times due to a bad supply. “It’s no longer political promises with moving targets.

“It becomes less and less important what the political promises are and it becomes more and more important that we have the ability to enforce real, meaningful access to clean drinking water,” said Whetung. She said the agreement creates a legal dispute resolution process so First Nations finally have ways to compel Ottawa to act on its promises. “This is great progress but it’s just a small stepping stone to ensuring that every status Indian living on an Indian reserve has access to clean drinking water,” she said.

Canada will pay $1.5 billion to individual members, and another $400 million will go into an economic and cultural restoration fund.Įmily Whetung, chief of Curve Lake First Nation in southern Ontario and one of three lead plaintiffs, spoke to APTN’s Nation to Nation about the deal on Dec. 22, will dish out at least $6 billion over nine years for water infrastructure in communities. The Federal Court and the Court of Queen’s Bench of Manitoba have jointly approved an $8-billion settlement in a national class-action lawsuit between Canada and First Nations and their members who’ve had to drink unclean water.

Water class actio lawsuit