Ministers of Environment for Alberta and Ontario asked Liberals to refrain from reintroducing Clean Water Act.
They say water law guaranteeing clean drinking water to First Nations saying will “undermine competitiveness, and delay project development.”
The ministers of Environment for Alberta and Ontario kicked off renewed debate on the legislation, writing a joint letter Monday to their new federal counterpart Julie Debrusin. They asked that the new Liberal government refrain from reintroducing the First Nations Clean Water Act, saying it will “undermine competitiveness, and delay project development.”
The bill is aimed at ensuring First Nations communities have safe and reliable drinking water and wastewater services. It also aimed to affirm First Nations’ inherent right to self-government and jurisdiction over water resources on their lands.
Bill C-61, as well as other pieces of legislation died on the order paper when Parliament was prorogued in March. It was introduced in the House of Commons on December 11, 2023, and it had passed Second Reading and was under review by the Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs.
Both Ontario and Alberta want to forge ahead with resource development projects like Ontario’s Ring of Fire and an “energy corridor” and future pipeline projects in Alberta.
Read the full piece, co-authored with Leanne Sanders, and published by APTN news here:
https://www.aptnnews.ca/national-news/chiefs-in-ontario-and-alberta-condemn-opposition-to-reintroducing-first-nations-safe-drinking-water-bill/