Public Accounts committee  I think there are two parts to that question. What the water legislation could or should be, I think, would be a question for parliamentarians, should it enter the House. Certainly, we hope that it would respect first nations' rights and that it would underscore the need to build frameworks for adequate funding to support the infrastructure needs and the development of a regulatory environment.

Public Accounts committee  Thank you for the question. I think the adherence to rights among first nations—nations being stewards over their own affairs—was a core component of the previous iteration of the legislation, which was the consultation draft shared with many first nations, including Alberta first nations.

Public Accounts committee  That's an excellent question. I appreciate it. As I mentioned, understanding the infrastructure gap begins with a conversation. We had that conversation last summer, and 72% of first nations participated in the exercise. In no way is that exercise complete. In essence, it follows the spirit or tenet of Indigenous Services Canada, which is to continually work with first nations partners, based on their self-prioritized needs.

Public Accounts committee  That's a great question. Mandates come from first nations leadership. Certainly, the Atlantic First Nations Water Authority, as an indigenous institution, is accountable to its constituents or the people it's providing services to. Indigenous Services Canada has a funding relationship with the Atlantic First Nations Water Authority that is based on a series of deliverables, but the deliverables, I think, require consideration as the deliverables and improved services that Atlantic first nations people will experience through an institution that's managed by a first nations entity.

Public Accounts committee  Thank you for the question. First, I had the pleasure of attending that meeting as well, with Deputy Fox. In the period between that discussion and today, we have engaged first nations from coast to coast to coast on essentially the question about what are some of the paramount infrastructure needs that would be seen in a given community.

Public Accounts committee  Thank you for the question. The Atlantic First Nations Water Authority has been designed and controlled by first nations over the last 10 years, and its function is largely akin to how municipalities run services. I was talking earlier about the need for first nations to manage and control their capital and their operations.

Public Accounts committee  Thank you for the question. First, first nations are the owners and operators of their water systems. The role of Indigenous Services Canada is to support that ownership and the control of first nations over their systems, whether it be through capital, operator supports or partnerships.

Public Accounts committee  Transfer is a core component. We would like to talk about the AFNWA, the Atlantic First Nations Water Authority, and their assumption of the care and control of water for thousands. There will be 4,500 homes managed by the Atlantic First Nations Water Authority in Atlantic Canada in building the first municipal model in this country controlled by first nations.

Public Accounts committee  Thank you for the question, and thank you for the invite to the committee again. I think there are three foundational factors that lead to conditions where there may be unsafe drinking water. The first is largely about infrastructure and infrastructure investments. That includes the establishment of clean drinking water systems and waste-water systems and the distribution systems that take clean water to taps and into schools and health centres.

Environment committee  I wouldn't say that was a paramount concern. I would say certainly consultation on source water protection and rights were the first and foremost. I would also note that, as per a previous question, one element of the settlement agreement on safe drinking water was to repeal the previous legislation and to bring into place new legislation based on co-developed principles.

Environment committee  The engagement is ongoing, and we hope to bring that forward soon. The engagement process on potential new legislation is under way.

Environment committee  That's a hypothetical question. I couldn't answer that question. I could say that legislation, particularly as it impacts first nations on their lands, should be co-developed, and also that we should recognize first nations voices in the development of legislation now and in the future.

Environment committee  Thank you for the question. On the $6 billion related to infrastructure, those resources are factored into the plans on long-term drinking water advisories, but I would like to bring to the attention of the committee that the reduction of long-term drinking water advisories and seeing them get to zero is one fabric or one element of the work we do.

Environment committee  Thank you for the question. While the act was passed, there were never any regulations brought into place to bring that legislation into regulatory force. The concerns raised by first nations were multivaried. I would say the two primary ones were the lack of adequate consultation with first nations on the establishment of that act in that period and also the lack of a robust understanding of how first nations rights, and management of source water protection, would be codified as part of that legislation.

Environment committee  I'm happy to provide the answer on the 7%. I'm not sure that our department has access to the totality of the Canadian landscape outside of on-reserve numbers, but I'm happy to provide on-reserve numbers for sure.