Government Has Spent $700 Million on Clean Water on First Nations Reserves Since 2015

Advisories still remain in 28 indigenous communities

Water bottles are seen on the Grassy Narrows First Nation in northwestern Ontario on Oct. 5, 2019. The Canadian Press/Paul Chiasson

The federal government has spent over $700 million to resolve boil-water advisories on First Nation reserves since taking office in 2015.

The details were disclosed in an Inquiry of Ministry of which analysis by The Epoch Times, based on data provided by Indigenous Services Canada (ISC), shows that $762,498,226.45 was spent since the fiscal year 2015/16 to eliminate long-term drinking water advisories in First Nations communities.

According to the government, currently 19 percent of water advisories are still in place, leaving 28 indigenous communities with no access to clean tap water.

“Since November 2015 and as of February 3, 2023, First Nations, with support from ISC, have lifted 138 long-term drinking water advisories (LT DWAs) from public systems on reserve,” said the Inquiry document, tabled to the House of Commons on March 20.

“Initiatives are underway in 28 communities to resolve the remaining 32 advisories.”

The majority of the remaining advisories are in Ontario affecting communities including the Chippewas of Nawash First Nation, Gull Bay First Nation, and Sandy Lake First Nation.

The request for ISC’s expenditures was made by NDP MP Lori Idlout who asked the federal department to provide a breakdown of the total amount allocated to individual Nations and reserves, for boil-water advisories that have been lifted, are still in effect, and the expected costs to lift each of the remaining advisories.

Deadline

During the 2015 federal election, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised that his government would eradicate all LT DWAs by March 2021. In December 2020, former Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller announced that the minority government couldn’t meet the target by the promised deadline.

The delay was caused by the COVID-19 pandemic which interfered with the government’s effort to upgrade water systems and carry out on-site training, according to former deputy minister of Indigenous Services Christiane Fox at the time.

Supply chains were also disrupted and some reserves opted to restrict travel, she added.

A report by the Office of the Auditor General of Canada (OAG) in February 2021 said there were other delays preceding the pandemic.

“[OAG] found that in many cases, water system projects were already experiencing delays prior to the start of the pandemic,” the auditor’s report said.

The Epoch Times sought comment from Idlout on the progress made on drinking water safety by the federal government, including the amount spent to date, but did not hear back by publication time.

Breakdown

The OAG report stated that since 2016, the Liberal government has committed over $2 billion to improve water and wastewater systems in First Nations communities. This targeted funding ended on March 31, 2021, and as of Nov. 30, 2020, it was estimated $1.79 billion was spent.

In its 2020 fall economic statement, the Trudeau government pledged an additional $1.5 billion to “accelerate” the work toward lifting all LT DWAs, the auditor noted.

The ISC confirmed to The Epoch Times that $5.6 billion has been committed by the federal government since 2015 to improving access to clean drinking water in First Nations communities, and that the over $700 million spending was part of the amount committed

A breakdown of the expenditures provided in the Inquiry shows that First Nations collectively in Ontario receive the most funding support at $445,881,473.96 (58.5 percent), followed by Saskatchewan and Manitoba, at $127,553,520.86 (16.7 percent) and $89,847,083.63 (11.8 percent), respectively.

Alberta and B.C. took the next two spots at $46,098,363 (6 percent) and $40,953,652 (5.4 percent), followed by Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador at $7,809,500 (1 percent) and $3,067,463 (0.4 percent). New Brunswick took the last spot at $1,287,170 (0.2 percent).

Spending resulting in LT DWAs lifted on reserves across provinces totaled $490,483,348.48 (64.3 percent), while those that are still in effect amount to $272,014,877.97 (35.7 percent).

Not Tracking Short-Term Advisories

The Inquiry document said that not all funding to First Nations where LT DWAs have been lifted, or are still in effect, was included in its response.

“Funding listed includes targeted funding spent on infrastructure repairs, upgrades and new construction projects. It does not include operations and maintenance funding or funding spent on operator support and capacity building to address long-term drinking water advisories,” said the Inquiry.

“Furthermore, it does not include funding from other government departments.”

The Inquiry document added that the ISC does not track the amount of funding spent to address short-term drinking water advisories.

“Short-term advisories tend to be addressed and lifted quickly, and the nature of the issue may not require significant investment,” it said.