NDP Indigenous Affairs Critic Condemns Backpedaling on First Nations’ Rights in Liberal Water Bill

OTTAWA — NDP Indigenous Affairs critic Leah Gazan (Winnipeg Centre) is calling out the Liberal government for not acknowledging the right to clean and safe drinking water as a human right in Bill C-37.

In the last parliament, the Liberal government introduced First Nations water legislation in response to a class action lawsuit by First Nations across the country concerning the failure of the federal government to ensure clean and safe drinking water on reserves. The former legislation was met with opposition from First Nations across the country because of its failure to protect source water, in addition to other weaknesses. Bill C-37 has even weaker protections to ensure that the right to clean and safe drinking water is guaranteed in First Nations across the country.

Says Gazan: “In 2015, when the Liberal government was elected, they promised to end all water boil advisories. It is now 2026 and, in addition to not fulfilling that promise, they have now confirmed that they do not even recognize clean drinking water as a human right for First Nations. I would like to remind the government that the right to clean, safe drinking water is a right that has been guaranteed in international law including Article 25 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and is protected under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. It is abhorrent that the federal government not only fails to acknowledge this fundamental right but continues not to act to ensure clean and safe drinking water for all persons across Canada. This is unconscionable and unacceptable.”

According to Gazan, this follows a disturbing trend of Indigenous rights violations under the Liberal government. A recent report by Amnesty International found that Canada is 'rolling back' support for Indigenous rights under Prime Minister Carney, particularly relating to his major projects' agenda.

“The government has already shamelessly delayed the tabling of this legislation that was ordered by the courts, and at every turn they have continue to water down even the most basic rights for Indigenous peoples. It is especially disturbing that while Carney’s Liberals are failing to respect the right to clean and safe water, they are doubling down on environmentally catastrophic fossil fuel and natural resource projects without environmental safeguards to protect water systems.”

Gazan emphasized the gravity of these rights violations, considering the recent preliminary findings by the Permanent People’s Tribunal that Canada’s policies constitute an ongoing genocide against Indigenous Peoples.

“The right to clean and safe drinking water in a country as rich as Canada should not be up for debate. It is shocking that the Liberals have reached such lows when it comes to attacking the dignity and human rights of Indigenous peoples.”