The Government of Canada and First Nations communities are working in partnership to improve water infrastructure on reserves and support access to safe, clean and reliable drinking water.

"We are determined to take the necessary steps towards improving the health and well-being of Indigenous people across the country. As part of this commitment, we continue to work in partnership with First Nations communities to improve access to clean, safe drinking water by supporting them to build, repair and upgrade water and wastewater infrastructure that will ensure clean drinking water is accessible to all."

The Honourable Marc Miller
Minister of Indigenous Services

• A drinking water advisory becomes long-term when it has been in place for more than a year. Between November 2015 and January 2020, 88 long-term advisories affecting public systems on reserves have been lifted. 

• In total, 574 water and wastewater projects have been initiated or completed since Budget 2016. These projects include new, upgraded or repaired infrastructure, as well as feasibility and design studies to ensure First Nations have the right infrastructure systems in place for growing communities. To date, 265 projects have been completed and another 309 are underway, benefitting 606 First Nations communities across the country. 

• Short-term drinking water advisories are precautionary public health measures that have been in place for less than a year. They are issued when the safety of the drinking water cannot be guaranteed. 

• Working in collaboration with First Nations, the Government of Canada has committed to ending all long-term drinking water advisories on public systems on reserves by March 2021.

• Budget 2016 provided $1.8 billion over five years toward water and wastewater infrastructure.

• Budget 2017 committed an additional $49.1 million over three years toward improving access to safe drinking water. 

• Budget 2018 provided an additional $172.6 million over three years to improve access to clean and safe drinking water and accelerate the pace of construction and renovation of affected water systems.

• Budget 2019 committed an additional $739 million over five years, beginning in 2019-2020 with $184.9 million per year ongoing, to support urgent repairs to vulnerable water and wastewater systems and the operations and maintenance of water and wastewater infrastructure in First Nations communities. 

• Through the Investing in Canada Plan, the Government of Canada is investing more than $180 billion over 12 years in public transit projects, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, trade and transportation routes, and Canada's rural and northern communities. 

Associated links

• Ending long-term drinking water advisories
• Investing in First Nations community infrastructure
• Lifecycle of a First Nation community infrastructure project
• Budget 2016 Highlights – Indigenous and Northern Investments
• Budget 2017 Highlights – Indigenous and Northern Investments
• Budget 2018 Highlights: Indigenous and Northern investments
• Budget 2019 Highlights: Indigenous and Northern investments
• Investing in Canada: Canada's Long-Term Infrastructure Plan
• Investing in Canada Plan Project Map

For more information, media may contact:

Vanessa Adams
Senior Communications Advisor and Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Marc Miller,
Minister of Indigenous Services
343-543-7645

Media Relations
Indigenous Services Canada
819-953-1160
SAC.media.ISC@canada.ca

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