The depths of Canada’s chronic Indigenous community water problems start at the top, say experts – Northern Ontario Business
Contractor calls out Indigenous Services Canada’s ‘broken’ procurement and delivery models, advocates for First Nation-industry partnerships
Access to clean, drinkable water is a widely acknowledged basic human right.
But Canada seems to be running on two different sets of standards when it comes to executing on sewer and water treatment projects in Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities, according to one expert panel this week.
In a June 27 webinar dubbed The Endless Indigenous Water Controversy, hosted by the MacDonald-Laurier Institute, a public policy think-tank, panellists from Western Canada shared stories of frustration and inspiration of what needs to be done to bring Indigenous community water services up to national standards..
When water treatment plant construction projects go sideways, moderator Ken Coates noted, the media narrative is usually to lay blame on the First Nations when quite often it’s caused by circumstances beyond their control.
