Canada tables Indigenous water bill, $4.6 billion funding

The federal government has tabled legislation that establishes new federal standards for drinking water in First Nations communities but moves away from explicitly recognizing a human right to clean water, a key demand of Indigenous leaders. The bill, introduced by Indigenous Services Minister Mandy GullMasty on Tuesday, is backed by a commitment of $4.6 billion over five years for infrastructure and system maintenance.

The proposed legislation aims to create a legal framework to address the systemic lack of access to safe drinking water that has resulted in long-term boil water advisories in some communities. GullMasty said the bill would advance the critical work of addressing these advisories and recognizes First Nations jurisdiction over water on their lands. She characterized the funding as the single-largest commitment ever made to First Nations water protection.

A significant change from a previous version of the bill is the revision of language concerning human rights. The new text declares it "to be the policy of the Government of Canada to further the progressive realization" of the human right to safe drinking water, referencing international covenants. The earlier...