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.
The Indigenous Services Minister has tabled much-anticipated legislation to improve water quality in First Nations communities. “Created with First Nations, this legislation is the foundation of clean and safe drinking water for generations to come,” stated Minister Patty Hajdu. “It establishes the rights and supports that should have always been there for First Nations. It creates the tools First Nations need to manage their water systems and ensure the water they draw from is safe.”
The Liberal government tabled much-anticipated legislation Monday that aims to improve water quality in First Nations communities, improve collaboration on water protection and codify a new First Nations-led commission. The long-promised bill, which Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu is touting as the result of immense collaboration and knowledge-sharing, would apply a new framework for source water, drinking water, wastewater and related infrastructure on First Nations land.
Bill C-61 is the next step to ensure First Nations have clean drinking water for generations to come. Everyone in Canada should have access to safe and clean drinking water. First Nations have long called for legislation that affirms their inherent rights, recognizes their stewardship in keeping water clean and meets First Nations needs. Effective legislation, a national regulatory regime, and First Nations-led institutions are essential to supporting sustainable access to clean, safe and reliable drinking water in First Nations communities.
The City of Kawartha Lakes has experienced a significant increase in growth over the recent years. The Water and Wastewater Servicing and Capacity Master Plan was initiated to identify the existing servicing constraints and provide a long-term water and wastewater servicing strategy that supports existing communities and growth to 2051 and beyond (ultimate buildout). The study will conform to provincial policies and legislation, Official Plan, Growth Management Strategy and other existing and ongoing planning initiatives.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau repeated promises Tuesday to update legislation that governs water use while formally announcing the Canada Water Agency is to be headquartered in Manitoba's capital city. Trudeau said his government's first priority is to update the act regulating the use and development of the resource in Canada.
Sault Ste. Marie’s pitch to host the new Canada Water Agency was not successful. A tiny few lines in Thursday’s federal budget under the heading Protecting Our Freshwater awarded the new agency to Winnipeg. The 2023 federal budget proposes to inject $85.1 million over five years to support the creation of the Canada Water Agency, “which will be headquartered in Winnipeg.” “By the end of 2023, the government will introduce legislation that will fully establish the Canada Water Agency as a standalone entity,” the document reads. The announcement comes just one week after World Water Day, on March 22. Ward 5 Coun. Corey Gardi, who led the charge to have the agency located here, said he was disappointed.
The Ontario Sewer and Watermain Construction Association (OSWCA) recently made a pre-budget submission to Ontario Minister of Finance Peter Bethlenfalvy asking the provincial government to pass legislation that would require municipal and regional governments to operate their water and wastewater systems on a full cost recovery funding model.
Environmental groups are applauding B.C. Premier David Eby's new promise to protect 30 per cent of the province's land by 2030 in partnership with Indigenous Peoples. The goal signals a potential shift by the NDP under the new premier to improve B.C.'s lacklustre record of protecting biodiversity and endangered species hot spots, conservation groups say.
The province has unveiled a five-year, 89-point action plan to advance the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), which became legislation in B.C. over two years ago. Hailed as historic by government and Indigenous leaders speaking at its unveiling, the plan outlines a list of "significant actions" the province is promising to undertake in consultation and cooperation with Indigenous Peoples.
Following public uproar of the Alberta government quietly pulling the 1976 coal policy, opening up more areas of the province for coal mining, a Calgary committee has started work to find out how those changes could affect the city on the Bow and Elbow Rivers. “The good news is, we found out today that although there’s different (land use) categories, the main category of the national parks and everything for our river system in the Bow is not affected with this policy,” Ward 1 Coun. Ward Sutherland said. “Obviously we’re very pleased with that.”
