Residents of some of the first nations affected by unsafe drinking water can now sue under an agreement with the federal government, but the head of a community in northwestern Ontario says he does not support the agreement.
“I just want to say that I do not agree with the agreement,” said Roy Munias, a member of Neskantaga First Nation, which has been on the drinking water council for nearly three decades.
“I heard the community say the same thing. They don’t agree.”
The agreement was signed last year after members of the First Nations in communities with a water council of at least one year since 1995 began a legal challenge in 2019.
The settlement provides:
- About $ 1.5 billion in compensation for individual residents of the First Nation affected by the lack of clean drinking water.
- The creation of a fund for economic and cultural reconstruction of the first nation worth $ 400 million.
- Establishment of the First Nations Advisory Committee on Safe Drinking Water.
- At least $ 6 billion to improve access to safe drinking water for the First Nations.
The government has also renewed its promise to end long-term drinking water councils in the first nations.
Roy Munias said the terms of the agreement were too restrictive.
Compensation is open to anyone who has lived in the First Nation, which has consulted on water boiling for at least one year between November 20, 2013 and June 20, 2021.
However, the age of the plaintiffs plays a role in how much compensation they can receive. Those born before November 20, 1995 are entitled to benefits only for the period from November 20, 2013 to June 20, 2021.
According to the website of the First Nations Drinking Water Settlement, “there are certain legal restrictions that apply to the settlement, due to Canadian laws that set limits on how long adults must file a claim after an event occurs.”
At a press conference, Munias said he did not support the agreement because of this.
“I myself do not support the government format,” he said. “I suffered for 27 years. I suffered, my family and everyone in the community here, for 27 years.”
However, under the terms of the agreement, Munias said he was entitled to compensation for only six of those years.
“I just want to say that I do not agree with the agreement,” he said. “I heard the community say the same thing. They don’t agree.”
Tataskweyak Cree Nation leader Doreen Spence has invited Indigenous Federal Minister Patti Haidou to visit her community, which has been under water consultation since 2017.
“I know that every first nation also has its own unique, different problems with water quality and service,” Spence said. “The settlement agreement … promises to put an end to all advice on boiling water, and we know this will not happen overnight.
“If this continues to argue about what we want, the stumbling block is still there, because we know the federal government usually dictates to ‘No, that’s what you’re going to get, that’s how we’re going to get rid of the council.’ for boiling water. ‘ But I think that’s unacceptable. “
Recommendations for boiling water are still in force in various communities of the first nations, despite promises to end it. (Olivia Stefanovic / CBC)
Spence said the government needs to listen to the first nations and their contributions to what they need in terms of drinking water.
Nescantaga chief Wayne Munias said the water had caused health problems for community members.
“We visited houses from time to time where we have small children, small children who are bandaged due to wounds and exposure to dangerous drinking water,” he said. “There is a lot of work to be done and I think this is the way to look at some of these things more urgently and urgently to try to get the support of the communities. “
The lack of clean drinking water for such a long time also affects the mental health of residents, said Wayne Munias.
“It’s really discouraging. We deal with many issues when it comes to access to clean drinking water, as well as ensuring the quality of life of community members. “
Haidou said there are 33 active long-term recommendations for drinking water in the communities of the first nations, and up to a dozen are expected to be removed this year.
“We will continue to work with all 33 communities and I will personally talk to the bosses regularly to find out how best I, as a minister and their department, serve as we work to remove these water councils,” Haidu said.
Add Comment