Everyone in Canada should have access to safe, clean, and reliable drinking water

“Every Canadian deserves access to clean drinking water, and I would like to commend the people of Kinonjeoshtegon First Nation for their perseverance while this advisory remained in place. I am pleased to see this progress on our commitment to remove all long term drinking water advisories on public systems on reserve by March 2021.”

The Honourable Jane Philpott
Minister of Indigenous Services

• Budget 2016 provides $1.8 billion over five years to significantly improve on-reserve water and wastewater infrastructure, ensure proper facility operation, maintenance, and support training of water system operations. Budget 2016 also included $141.7 million over five years in new funding to Health Canada to improve drinking water monitoring and testing on reserve.

• Committing investments over five years allows for long-term planning to improve on-reserve water and wastewater systems.

• Between November 2015 and December 2017, 32 long-term DWAs were lifted on public water systems financially supported by Indigenous Services Canada through the work done in partnership with First Nation communities and partners. Twenty-two drinking water advisories were added during that same time. Indigenous Services Canada is working to address both at-risk and long-term drinking water advisories affecting public systems financially supported by the Department.

• There are currently 67 long-term drinking water advisories affecting public systems that receive financial support from Indigenous Services Canada.

Associated Links

• Safe drinking water for First Nation communities
• Budget 2016: A Better Future for Indigenous Peoples
• Budget 2017

Andrew MacKendrick
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Jane Philpott
819-956-5372

Media Relations
Department of Indigenous Services Canada
819-953-1160