Proposed federal legislation that would have helped make First Nations drinking water safe, is now dead after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau prorogued Parliament on Monday.
Bill C-61, the proposed First Nations Clean Water Act, was currently being studied in committee but because of prorogation – all business in Parliament has come to a close. The bill set new safety standards for drinking water, offered new protections for water sources, and promised financing to meet the standards.
During Trudeau’s resignation announcement on Monday, he also announced Parliament won’t be back until March 24.
”This (prorogation) was my biggest fear with the First Nations clean water legislation,” Jaime Battiste, Mi’kmaq Member of Parliament for Sydney—Victoria told APTN News. “This was one of the reasons I felt a little bit emotional when we weren’t able to get the First Nations clean water legislation across.”
Following Trudeau’s announcement, Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak issued a news release stressing the importance of the bill.
“This legislation has been long in the making, and we again urge that it be moved through the approval process as swiftly as possible,” she said.
Bill C-61 had made it halfway to passing and was at report stage, but will have to be reintroduced by the government when parliament resumes. It could be further delayed if the NDP and the Conservatives join forces to trigger a non-confidence vote and force a spring election. A change in government could mean it is not re-introduced at all.
“With all three opposition parties saying that they’re not willing to work with us, we’re left in a position where these important pieces of legislation may, may die on the table,” said Battiste.
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“If we see a quick election called, or if we see a big shift in leadership in the Liberal Party… certainly things are now unsteady or uncertain at the very least,” said Niigaan Sinclair, a professor at the University of Manitoba and member of the Truth and Politics panel on APTN.
