Standing Committee on Public Accounts

Comité permanent des comptes publics

For immediate release

Ottawa, June 17, 2021 -

Drinking water advisories remained a constant for many First Nations communities where almost half of the existing advisories have been in place for more than a decade, according to a report by the House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Accounts that was presented today by Committee Chair Kelly Block.

In February 2021, the Office of the Auditor General of Canada released a performance audit whose objective was to determine whether Indigenous Services Canada provided adequate support to First Nations communities to ensure that they have access to safe drinking water. The audit also examined the department’s progress in meeting the federal government’s 2015 commitment to eliminate all long-term drinking water advisories on public water systems on First Nations reserves by 31 March 2021.

The audit found that Indigenous Services Canada did not meet its commitment. Deficiencies for some water systems had not been addressed and until long-term solutions are fully implemented, communities may continue to have challenges accessing safe drinking water. The audit also found that the operations and maintenance policy and funding formula did not reflect First Nations’ needs. Finally, no regulatory regime was in place to help ensure access to safe drinking water in First Nations communities.

During the Committee’s hearing on this audit, Karen Hogan, Auditor General of Canada, said she was “concerned, and honestly disheartened to find [herself] reporting a long-standing issue that is still not resolved. Access to safe drinking water is a basic human necessity.” The Committee shares this sentiment and thus makes four recommendations to Indigenous Services Canada to ensure that the department follows the recommendations of the Auditor General of Canada and works in collaboration with First Nations to meet this fundamental need.