'We urge all Members of Parliament, across all party lines, to act,' says Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak, seen here at the AFN gathering in Ottawa, in an open letter to Parliamentarians. Photo: Mark Blackburn/APTN.
The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) has penned an open letter to all MPs asking them to “prioritize the advancement of Bill C-61, First Nations Clean Water Act.”
“Your support is needed to ensure this Bill is referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Indigenous Peoples (APPA) before Parliament breaks for the holiday season,” said National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak in the letter. “The water and wastewater crisis in First Nations communities demands urgent action.
“Many First Nations continue to live without access to safe and adequate water systems.”
According to the federal government, there are 28 long-term drinking water advisories in First Nations across the country. The government’s website says there are 32 short-term advisories as of Dec. 11.
“First Nations (people) are 90 times more likely than other Canadians to lack access to running water …,” Woodhouse Nepinak added in the letter.
“Bill C-61 represents a step toward addressing the long-standing water issues faced by First Nations.
The national chief said the bill “acknowledges clean drinking water as a basic human right and a fiduciary obligation of the Crown.”
The AFN has been pushing hard for C-61 to pass.
In November, APTN News reported that chiefs in B.C. were dismayed to learn Woodhouse Nepinak intervened in the due process of the bill by asking the NDP to drop several amendments the AFN proposed to strengthen the law.
“The national chief contacted me to ask me to remove their amendments due to the time it is taking to amend Bill C-61,” Nunavut MP Lori Idlout told the Indigenous Affairs Committee.
“I respect the will of the AFN and I respectfully withdraw those amendments. I will, however, keep the amendments submitted by independent First Nations out of respect for their jurisdiction over their lands, territories and resources.”
Parliament at this time remains in gridlock over documents the governing Liberals refuse to hand over to the House of Commons. Work in the house has been almost exclusively limited to debate on the matter although a spending bill that included money for First Nations child welfare passed on Dec. 10.
The AFN likely wrote the letter to get things moving at the federal level.
“We cannot afford further delays to this legislation or missed opportunities while First Nations continue to live without access to safe and clean water,” Woodhouse Nepinak said. “Bill C-61 must advance now, not next year.
“We urge all Members of Parliament, across all party lines, to act.”
