Shields advocates for clean water on First Nation lands

Posted on July 25, 2024 by Taber Times

By Cal Braid
Taber Times
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Bow River MP Martin Shields spoke in the House of Commons on recently, and brought some urgency to an issue that continues to be bumped down the federal government’s to-do list: a Clean Water Act for First Nations peoples.

He gave a brief history of migration, settlement, and the pursuit of freshwater sources, before zeroing in on the issue of clean drinking water, or a lack thereof for certain Indigenous people.

“Modern advances in sanitation, industrialization, and sanitation-based practices have led to an explosion of the use of water, and with it, a growth in populations. As populations grew, people moved into rural and remote areas, where they always experienced difficulty finding water. However, Indigenous people in this part of the world knew where freshwater was. It was essential not only to their survival as human beings, but also to their spiritual needs,” he said, contextualizing his narrative.

Shields explained that though a safe supply of drinking water has been prioritized for decades, under-served communities consistently remain on boil water advisories. “The consultations we held in a small area of communities did not happen overnight. It took months. It took years for people to understand that,” he said. “Consultation is so critical. (It’s) something that has been missing in this situation and something we need more of.”

He outlined how in 2001, the then Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development began surveying water and wastewater systems in Indigenous communities across Canada to establish a baseline of information on the drinking water infrastructure. “That was just over 20 years ago. However, we knew the situation had existed for a long time,” he said.

In 2003, the Government of Canada announced a First Nations water management strategy and then an action plan. Between 2003 to 2008, it allocated roughly $2 billion to a number of water strategies and action plans. Then, in 2013, the Safe Drinking Water for First Nations Act was created by the government to support the development of federal regulations to improve First Nations’ access to clean, reliable drinking water and the effective treatment of wastewater, Shields said.

He pointed out that in reading through the list of dates and action plans, he did not see anything about consultation. “From 2015 to the present, the federal government spent $5.7 billion,” he told the House. “Over $11 billion was spent between successive governments, and we are still facing the same problem: boil water orders (and) unsafe drinking water in a developed G7 country.”

He criticized the Liberal government for taking nine years to introduce legislation to protect clean water for First Nations without conducting any satisfactory consultations. “I have met with the Blackfoot Confederacy Chiefs who say they did not get consulted at any significant level on the proposed piece of legislation. What little they had suggested, they believed the minister had ignored. Those are not my words. They came from the Chiefs of the Blackfoot Confederacy, which is a huge part of southern Alberta,” he said.

“Canada is blessed with clean, fresh, and safe drinking water. It is home to 20 per cent of the world’s fresh water. We have seven per cent of the world’s renewable water supply, yet safe clean drinking water has been unavailable for many of our Indigenous communities.”

“This is not acceptable. An effort to provide fresh clean water for Indigenous communities across the country…” he said, but was cut off in mid-sentence. He was interrupted by Blake Desjarlais of Edmonton-Griesbach, AB, who said, “I have a point of order.”

The Assistant Deputy Speaker Alexandra Mendes said, “I was expecting that. I will just remind the Hon. Member for Bow River that the possessive language is highly offensive in terms of First Nations. The Hon. Member for Bow River has the floor.” The speaker and Desjarlais were apparently calling out Shields for his reference to “our Indigenous communities. Shields was quick to rebound and apologize. “I am sorry, Madam Speaker. Please object if I make a mistake with that.”

Desjarlais added, “Madam Speaker, it is a point of order on the use of possessive language, and I just want to invite the member to reflect on it. I know it is likely not purposeful or malicious, so I just wanted to reflect that it does harm to Indigenous persons who are pursuing their sovereignty and their independence.”

Shields replied, “Sometimes old dogs learn new tricks. It is incumbent and the collective responsibility of everyone, especially the Government of Canada, to empower First Nations and Indigenous communities across the country to achieve self-determination on this issue. In order to get this right, the government must listen to all First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities. One size does not fit all. That is why the consultation is important. It is critical. We need to listen to many voices across our country.”

The point was not lost, but with objectionable language and bureaucracy in play, the waters were getting muddied. Shields spoke about provisions in the bill that would address the quality and quantity of water, water licences, land zones, and funding guarantees for training, staffing, and maintenance of infrastructure.

“The study of Bill C-61 at committee is approaching. It is my hope that all parties will allow the opportunity to hear from all First Nations that the government missed in its consultations. Other affected parties are concerned with freshwater legislation, such as provinces, which should be consulted as well, so unintended consequences may be avoided. There are many questions that need to be answered on Bill C-61. The committee stage of the bill is not the time to rush through legislation. We need to get this right. This has gone on far too long. We need to make sure the legislation is not rushed and that we get it done right. It is our duty,” Shields concluded. His point was made and it seemed to be taken quite seriously.

The conversation in the House turned to housing shortly after that, though several members voiced their agreement for a well thought out bill that would address a water issue that should be seen as a right, not a privilege.

Assistant Deputy Speaker Mendes concluded the discussion by saying, “It being 6:58 p.m., pursuant to order made on Monday, June 3, Bill C-61, an act respecting water, source water, drinking water, wastewater and related infrastructure on First Nation lands, is deemed read a second time and referred to a committee. Accordingly, this bill stands referred to the Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs.”