OTTAWA — The parliamentary budget officer has put a price tag on providing clean drinking water in First Nations, saying in a new report that the federal government still has a shortfall to make up
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© Provided by The Canadian Press
Yves Giroux’s report on Wednesday said the government has set aside more than enough money to meet the expected capital costs to build water and wastewater systems over the next five years.
Where the government falls short is on financial help to First Nations to operate the systems, which Giroux's office estimates would need $138 million more annually in federal funding.
Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu said the government intends to close that gap and is working with First Nations to understand what is standing in the way after the Liberals promised to fund all operating costs.
The budget officer's report warns that not spending enough, and not spending it on time, could increase the bill to provide water and wastewater services on reserves comparable to non-First Nations communities of the same size.
The report said "a low investment rate or a significant delay in the investment completion" could mean systems deteriorate faster than expected, "costing more money and risking service disruption."
The Liberals had promised in their successful 2015 election campaign to end all boil-water advisories in First Nations within five years of taking office, a timeline that was supposed to be met this year.
But the government last year said the target wouldn't be met, pointing to the pandemic among a variety of other factors in its way.
Hajdu didn't set a new deadline when asked on Wednesday.
"We'll be working with First Nations communities to understand how we can make sure that we expedite the work and give them the tools that they need to move forward in this planning," she said outside the House of Commons.
"This isn't something the government unilaterally can impose on a community. This is something that we do together with communities."
The latest federal figures show that 119 long-term drinking water advisories have been lifted since November 2015, with 43 remaining in 31 communities with federally supported systems.
The government says many of those remaining should be lifted over the next 12 months based on plans in place for each community. Hajdu's office said some project scopes have changed or construction schedules have been complicated by pandemic measures that shifted timelines.
"We have to be truthful with our timelines to Canadians who are looking for answers," said Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Marc Miller. "But behind all that is the resolve of this government to continue investing in essential water and essential assets in communities."
He also said homegrown solutions to train local Indigenous people to run water plants and working with First Nations on plans are as important as funding.
The PBO report also noted that the share of water systems deemed to be "high" or "medium" risk — meaning they are unlikely to manage through any problems — has remained virtually the same since 2015 despite annual federal spending more than doubling during that time.
The government says it takes time to improve systems, years in some cases to plan, design and build them, so changes to levels of risk may be more gradual than dramatic.
Jamie Schmale, the Conservative critic on the file, said the government should look at all solutions and alternative ideas to end long-term drinking water advisories, although his statement didn't provide any specifics.
"Success isn't measured by funding announcements and election promises, it's measured by outcomes," Schmale said.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 1, 2021.
— With files from Erika Ibrahim
Jordan Press and Stephanie Taylor, The Canadian Press
Yves Giroux’s report on Wednesday said the government has set aside more than enough money to meet the expected capital costs to build water and wastewater systems over the next five years.
Where the government falls short is on financial help to First Nations to operate the systems, which Giroux's office estimates would need $138 million more annually in federal funding.
Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu said the government intends to close that gap and is working with First Nations to understand what is standing in the way after the Liberals promised to fund all operating costs.
The budget officer's report warns that not spending enough, and not spending it on time, could increase the bill to provide water and wastewater services on reserves comparable to non-First Nations communities of the same size.
The report said "a low investment rate or a significant delay in the investment completion" could mean systems deteriorate faster than expected, "costing more money and risking service disruption."
The Liberals had promised in their successful 2015 election campaign to end all boil-water advisories in First Nations within five years of taking office, a timeline that was supposed to be met this year.
But the government last year said the target wouldn't be met, pointing to the pandemic among a variety of other factors in its way.
Hajdu didn't set a new deadline when asked on Wednesday.
"We'll be working with First Nations communities to understand how we can make sure that we expedite the work and give them the tools that they need to move forward in this planning," she said outside the House of Commons.
"This isn't something the government unilaterally can impose on a community. This is something that we do together with communities."
The latest federal figures show that 119 long-term drinking water advisories have been lifted since November 2015, with 43 remaining in 31 communities with federally supported systems.
The government says many of those remaining should be lifted over the next 12 months based on plans in place for each community. Hajdu's office said some project scopes have changed or construction schedules have been complicated by pandemic measures that shifted timelines.
"We have to be truthful with our timelines to Canadians who are looking for answers," said Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Marc Miller. "But behind all that is the resolve of this government to continue investing in essential water and essential assets in communities."
He also said homegrown solutions to train local Indigenous people to run water plants and working with First Nations on plans are as important as funding.
The PBO report also noted that the share of water systems deemed to be "high" or "medium" risk — meaning they are unlikely to manage through any problems — has remained virtually the same since 2015 despite annual federal spending more than doubling during that time.
The government says it takes time to improve systems, years in some cases to plan, design and build them, so changes to levels of risk may be more gradual than dramatic.
Jamie Schmale, the Conservative critic on the file, said the government should look at all solutions and alternative ideas to end long-term drinking water advisories, although his statement didn't provide any specifics.
"Success isn't measured by funding announcements and election promises, it's measured by outcomes," Schmale said.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 1, 2021.
— With files from Erika Ibrahim
Jordan Press and Stephanie Taylor, The Canadian Press
Program aims to train First Nations water treatment operators
When Jerome McDonald flew south to help provide safe drinking water for his community, he left his newborn behind.
This year, McDonald left his life and family in Fond du Lac to join the kanātan nipīy (the water is clean/clean water) program at Saskatchewan Polytechnic in Saskatoon.
"Being away from them was hard. It was our first time," he said.
He's one of the First Nations students who joined the program’s inaugural run to ensure clean waters in their home communities.
That's not taken for granted. Last year, Fond du Lac was stuck dealing with a malfunctioning water treatment plant while grappling with new COVID-19 cases.
The kanātan nipīy program is a joint effort between the City of Saskatoon, Gabriel Dumont Institute, Radius Community Centre, Saskatchewan Polytechnic and Saskatoon Tribal Council.
It aims to train people to operate and maintain water and waste systems to provide clean drinking water needed in Saskatoon and First Nations across Saskatchewan, a news release said.
“As First Nations people, we are all protectors of water, and this training program provides the opportunity for our people to carry out this important work," STC Chief Marc Arcand said in a news release.
The program has already been renewed for another year, said Gerry Youzwa, academic chair for the Saskatchewan Polytechnic's School of Continuing Education.
The first year hosted 16 students; 12 are enrolled for the upcoming year.
Federal and provincial grants mean incoming students' tuition will be free, she noted, adding that graduates have an 80 per cent employment rate so far.
Youzwa said a placement at the City of Saskatoon's water treatment facilities contributes to those employment rates.
"There's not a lot of employment in (the field), and so it's fairly specialized," said Brendan Lemke, director of water and waste for the City of Saskatoon.
"This gives people a chance to be part of that."
Indigenous students can leverage their experience for work anywhere in the province.
McDonald hopes to put that into practice in his home community.
He started work at Orano around the same time the program began, so he spent his spare time during two weeks of full-time work studying for the program's exams.
That effort took a toll on him, but completing the program was rewarding, he said.
Now back in Fond du Lac, he hopes he can put his water treatment skills to work for his community.
His cousin works at the treatment plant at Fond du Lac; McDonald plans to join him one day.
"It opened quite a few doors for me," he said. "Getting noticed — it feels pretty good, actually."
Nick Pearce, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The StarPhoenix
When Jerome McDonald flew south to help provide safe drinking water for his community, he left his newborn behind.
This year, McDonald left his life and family in Fond du Lac to join the kanātan nipīy (the water is clean/clean water) program at Saskatchewan Polytechnic in Saskatoon.
"Being away from them was hard. It was our first time," he said.
He's one of the First Nations students who joined the program’s inaugural run to ensure clean waters in their home communities.
That's not taken for granted. Last year, Fond du Lac was stuck dealing with a malfunctioning water treatment plant while grappling with new COVID-19 cases.
The kanātan nipīy program is a joint effort between the City of Saskatoon, Gabriel Dumont Institute, Radius Community Centre, Saskatchewan Polytechnic and Saskatoon Tribal Council.
It aims to train people to operate and maintain water and waste systems to provide clean drinking water needed in Saskatoon and First Nations across Saskatchewan, a news release said.
“As First Nations people, we are all protectors of water, and this training program provides the opportunity for our people to carry out this important work," STC Chief Marc Arcand said in a news release.
The program has already been renewed for another year, said Gerry Youzwa, academic chair for the Saskatchewan Polytechnic's School of Continuing Education.
The first year hosted 16 students; 12 are enrolled for the upcoming year.
Federal and provincial grants mean incoming students' tuition will be free, she noted, adding that graduates have an 80 per cent employment rate so far.
Youzwa said a placement at the City of Saskatoon's water treatment facilities contributes to those employment rates.
"There's not a lot of employment in (the field), and so it's fairly specialized," said Brendan Lemke, director of water and waste for the City of Saskatoon.
"This gives people a chance to be part of that."
Indigenous students can leverage their experience for work anywhere in the province.
McDonald hopes to put that into practice in his home community.
He started work at Orano around the same time the program began, so he spent his spare time during two weeks of full-time work studying for the program's exams.
That effort took a toll on him, but completing the program was rewarding, he said.
Now back in Fond du Lac, he hopes he can put his water treatment skills to work for his community.
His cousin works at the treatment plant at Fond du Lac; McDonald plans to join him one day.
"It opened quite a few doors for me," he said. "Getting noticed — it feels pretty good, actually."
Nick Pearce, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The StarPhoenix
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