The Harper government’s recognition of the right to water and the need for adequate funding of First Nations drinking water is urgently needed.
While the Harper government abstained at the historic July 2010 United Nations General Assembly vote recognizing the human right to water and sanitation, both the Assembly of First Nations and the Council of Canadians welcomed the UN resolution.
National Chief Shawn Atleo said, “This resolution establishes new international standards and, in affirming that clean water and sanitation are a basic human right, compels Canada to work with First Nations to ensure our people enjoy the same quality of water and sanitation as the rest of Canada.” At the United Nations the day of the vote, Council of Canadians chairperson Maude Barlow said, “We’re absolutely thrilled. This is a historic day and I think every now and then, the human species advances somewhat in our evolution and today was one of them.”
As of February 2011, there are 116 First Nations communities across Canada under a Drinking Water Advisory and 49 have water systems classified as high risk. The National Chief has said, “This is about nothing less than the health and safety of First Nations children.” Despite this reality, the recent Harper government budget failed to allocate any new funding for drinking water on First Nations reserves.
In response, Atleo said, “First Nations live with the very real and tangible results of a flawed federal approach that focuses on band-aid solutions rather than addressing long-term needs and solutions. We see it in over-crowded, crumbling homes, where people cannot trust the water that comes out of their taps.”
Council of Canadians water campaigner Emma Lui also condemned the Harper budget for this failure. She highlighted that, “The only new funding for First Nations infrastructure included ‘$22 million over two years to help First Nations ensure that the fuel tanks that power their essential community services…meet new environmental safety standards.’ In the 2010 Budget, $330 million was allocated over two years for the First Nation Water and Wastewater Action plan (FNWWAP). The five key areas under the FNWWAP are: Infrastructure investments; Operations and maintenance; Training; Monitoring and awareness; and Standards, which means First Nations have to fund all of these five areas with a meagre $165 million this year.”
The Assembly of First Nations and the Council of Canadians both supported the Alternative Federal Budget’s call for $1 billion to be spent this fiscal year to build, upgrade and maintain water and wastewater infrastructure in First Nation communities (as well as $1 billion in 2012-13 and 2013-14).
