Nicole Hancock
Indigenous community hosts full moon ceremony ...

Kristen Villebrun and Wendy Bush hoped they wouldn't have to pray for Chedoke Creek, but four years after they first raised alarm about the water's condition, they were part of an Indigenous full moon ceremony to do just that. About 50 people showed up near Princess Point on the dark and frigid Monday evening for the monthly ceremony, which was particularly special as it focused on Chedoke Creek. The body of water that runs into Cootes Paradise had about 24 billion litres of sewage and storm water runoff leak into it due to a gate being left open.

Indigenous community hosts full moon ceremony to heal Chedoke Creek

federal budget

At last, a federal water agency

At last, a federal water agency

Terry Duguid, Liberal member of Parliament for Winnipeg South, was given the task of turning the notion into reality, a fairly straightforward assignment given the unusual clarity of the promise; at least one would think. Ottawa is spending billions of dollars on water-related programs scattered among more than a dozen departments with co-ordination and common direction lacking for all but a few of these. The guiding policy — federal water policy — was crafted in 1987 and has been a dead letter for at least a couple of decades. An academic study of federal water expenditures conducted in 2020 found it impossible to determine from public records exactly how much Ottawa was spending on water and for what specific purposes.

The feds announced $850M to protect fresh water. We ask Muskoka Watershed Council if it's enough

The feds announced $850M to protect fresh water. We ask Muskoka Watershed Council if it's enough

The recent federal budget pledged $650 million over 10 years to support monitoring, assessment and restoration work related to fresh water across the country, including the Great Lakes and Lake Simcoe. Also on the table was $22.6 million over three years to better support co-ordination of efforts to protect freshwater across Canada. There was also $85.1 million over five years for the creation of the Canada Water Agency.

AYC, FCM set out requests for coming budget

AYC, FCM set out requests for coming budget

Ted Laking, the president of the Association of Yukon Communities (AYC), was in Ajax, Ont. earlier this month representing the Yukon at the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) board meetings. Municipal leaders from across the country discussed a number of priorities for the federal abudget to be tabled Tuesday. According to Statistics Canada’s Core Public Infrastructure Survey, 14 per cent of municipal and water infrastructure and 12 per cent of municipal transportation infrastructure is in “poor” or “very poor” condition.

First Nations urge Canada to Choose Partnership over Paternalism in Federal Budget by Enacting Collaborative Funding Model to Close the Infrastructure Gap

First Nations urge Canada to Choose Partnership over Paternalism in Federal Budget by Enacting Collaborative Funding Model to Close the Infrastructure Gap

First Nations Finance Authority (FNFA) is urging Canada to embrace a new and innovative method of funding Indigenous infrastructure based on partnership rather than paternalism to keep its promise to bridge the infrastructure gap between First Nations and the rest of Canada by 2030. "The federal model for funding infrastructure has failed to deliver the housing, clean water and other critical infrastructure that will improve the living conditions in First Nations communities," said FNFA President and CEO Ernie Daniels. "We believe there is a better way, a way that works with First Nations as partners rather than the colonial approach that's rooted in the almost 150-year-old Indian Act."

New investing orders should free Canada's Infrastructure Bank to spend

New investing orders should free Canada's Infrastructure Bank to spend

The head of a federal infrastructure agency says a new set of investing orders from the Liberal government should make it simpler to deploy more funding in the coming months. The recent federal budget added to the Canada Infrastructure Bank's plate by requiring it to now spend public dollars on private sector-led projects like small modular reactors, clean fuel production, and carbon capture and storage.

First Nations-led water authority in Mi'kma'ki sees $173 million investment in federal budget

First Nations-led water authority in Mi'kma'ki sees $173 million investment in federal budget

The federal government’s proposed 2022 budget includes millions for a first-of-its-kind Indigenous-led water authority to assume responsibility for water systems in First Nations communities. Indigenous Services Canada is set to receive $173 million in funding over 10 years to support the transfer of water and wastewater services in 17 First Nations communities in Eastern Canada to the Atlantic First Nations Water Authority. “We were optimistic about the budget submission but did not want to get ahead of ourselves leading up to the announcement. As Chief of a community that faced problems with its water for many years, (Thursday’s) announcement is a huge step in the right direction,” Potlotek Chief Wilbert Marshall, chair of the water authority’s board of directors said in a written statement.

Water agency must focus on current crises

Water agency must focus on current crises

The Liberal Party of Canada promised during the 2019 federal election to create the Canada Water Agency. During its first 20 months in office, it has repeated the pledge in ministerial mandate letters, in the 2020 speech from the throne, and in the most recent federal budget. This repetition has provided a pretty clear indication of just what the elected government has in mind. The Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration (PFRA) is repeatedly cited as, if not a blueprint, at least a model that the new agency should emulate. While co-ordinating the diverse water programs now spread over several government departments, agricultural water issues are seen as a major focus of the CWA, with those issues being linked to climate-change adaptation.

Why Indigenous Guardians are key to Canada's climate future

Why Indigenous Guardians are key to Canada's climate future

In a section focused on biodiversity and the climate crisis, the 2021 federal budget shared in April contained a clear line: “Support Indigenous Guardians.” It was an explicit reference to the Guardians programs caring for lands across the country. The Indigenous Leadership Initiative (ILI), which bolsters Indigenous nationhood and culture via land stewardship and care, helps support the growing Guardians movement.

Indigenous communities face unique challenges in funding infrastructure projects, experts say

Indigenous communities face unique challenges in funding infrastructure projects, experts say

A glaring example of this is the number of First Nations communities still dealing with long-term drinking water advisories. While the federal Liberal government pledged in 2015 to end all drinking water advisories by March of this year, 52 long-term advisories were in effect in 33 First Nation communities as of early April. According to Gale, Indigenous communities are increasingly taking matters into their own hands in leading and partnering in infrastructure projects. However, those projects tend to be small in size, typically valued at less than $25 million.

How colonial systems have left some First Nations without drinking water

How colonial systems have left some First Nations without drinking water

Rebecca Zagozewski, executive director of the Saskatchewan First Nations Water Association, said she has seen contractors save on costs when building water treatment plants on reserves by using obsolete parts and failing to include maintenance manuals, ventilation or chemical rooms, and bathrooms. “Engineering companies will put in their bids obviously as low as they can go,” said Zagozewski.

Follow us