APTN National News
Legislation aimed at improving the quality of water on First Nations is one step way from becoming law.
Bill S-8 will now go to the Governor General to get royal assent.
MPs voted 165 to 115 in favour of the bill Monday afternoon.
Aboriginal Affairs Minister Bernard Valcourt said recently the bill is necessary to improve the water situation for First Nations across the country by creating water-related regulations on-reserve.
“Until regulations are in place, we know that achieving long-term sustainable progress will be challenging,” said Valcourt last month at the Aboriginal affairs committee. “Modern equipment and good intentions are great, but they need regulations to support them. That is why all municipalities and communities off reserve across Canada have regulations in place.”
But at that same meeting the Tsuu T’ina Nation in Alberta said the bill would leave its people parched in the midst of a major water shortage crunch.
The Tsuu T’ina Nation reserve finds itself battling industrial, agricultural sectors along with neighbouring municipalities over an increasingly dwindling resource in an area of Alberta known as a “bellweather” region near the city limits of Calgary.
A Tsuu T’ina Nation band councilor also said it would erode treaty obligations by forcing the reserve to fend for itself against a province that doesn’t recognize its over water.
Has Nestle got a hand in this?
115- MP delegates turned DOWN this new law ? 165- for progressive healthy change ?…doesn’t this tell us what the Government personnel, really think of the Indigenous First Nations of Canada ?