Bill C-61

First Nations Clean Water Act

An Act respecting water, source water, drinking water, wastewater and related infrastructure on First Nation lands

Sponsor

Patty Hajdu Liberal

Status

Report stage (House), as of Dec. 2, 2024

Subscribe to a feed (what's a feed?) of speeches and votes in the House related to Bill C-61.

Summary

This is from the published bill. The Library of Parliament has also written a full legislative summary of the bill.

This enactment affirms that the inherent right to self-government, recognized and affirmed by section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982 , includes the jurisdiction of First Nations in relation to water, source water, drinking water, wastewater and related infrastructure on, in and under First Nation lands. It sets out principles, such as substantive equality, to guide the provision for First Nations of clean and safe drinking water and the effective treatment and disposal of wastewater on First Nation lands. It provides for minimum standards for water quality and quantity and wastewater effluent. It also provides pathways to facilitate source water protection.

Elsewhere

All sorts of information on this bill is available at LEGISinfo, an excellent resource from Parliament. You can also read the full text of the bill.

Bill numbers are reused for different bills each new session. Perhaps you were looking for one of these other C-61s:

C-61 (2017) Law Anishinabek Nation Education Agreement Act

C-61 (2015) Law Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area Act

C-61 (2013) Offshore Health and Safety Act

C-61 (2011) Law Assets of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act

Indigenous and Northern Affairs Committee, on June 12, 2024

Joanne Wilkinson, Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Regional Operations Sector, Department of Indigenous Services
Douglas Fairbairn, Senior Counsel, Legal Services, Department of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs and Department of Indigenous Services, Department of Justice
Nelson Barbosa, Director General, Community Infrastructure, Department of Indigenous Services
Rebecca Blake, Acting Director, Legislation, Engagement and Regulations Directorate, Department of Indigenous Services
Paula Hadden-Jokiel, Assistant Deputy Minister, Regional Operations Sector, Department of Indigenous Services

Indigenous and Northern Affairs Committee, on June 17, 2024

Merrell-Ann Phare, Lawyer, As an Individual
Lance Haymond, Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador
Sheldon Sunshine, Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation

Indigenous and Northern Affairs Committee, on June 19, 2024

Dawn Martin-Hill, Full Professor, Indigenous Studies Department, McMaster University, As an Individual
James MacKinnon, Director, Engagement and Government Relations, Atlantic First Nations Water Authority Inc.
Roy Fox, Kainai Tribe
Troy Knowlton, Piikani Nation
Ouray Crowfoot, Siksika Nation
Clayton Leonard, Lawyer, Blackfoot Confederacy First Nations
Samuel Crowfoot, Council Member, Siksika Nation

Indigenous and Northern Affairs Committee, on Sept. 16, 2024

John Paul, Executive Director, Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nations Chiefs Secretariat
David Pratt, First Vice-Chief, Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations
Emily Whetung-MacInnes, Chief Emerita, First Nations Advisory Committee on Safe Drinking Water
John Brown, Executive Director, First Nations Advisory Committee on Safe Drinking Water

Indigenous and Northern Affairs Committee, on Sept. 19, 2024

Joel Mykat, Ermineskin Cree Nation
Chief Craig Makinaw, Councillor, Ermineskin Cree Nation
Harriet Keleutak, Director General, Kativik School Board
Clayton Leonard, Lawyer, Ermineskin Cree Nation
Wilton Littlechild, Commissioner, Commission on First Nations and Métis Peoples and Justice Reform
Billy-Joe Tuccaro, Mikisew Cree First Nation

Indigenous and Northern Affairs Committee, on Sept. 23, 2024

Linda Debassige, Grand Council Chief, Anishinabek Nation
Erica Beaudin, Cowessess First Nation
Grand Chief Anna Betty Achneepineskum, Nishnawbe Aski Nation
Maheegan Armstrong, Legal Counsel, Nishnawbe Aski Nation
Chief Abram Benedict, Ontario Regional Chief, Chiefs of Ontario
Irving Leblanc, Advisory Consultant, First Nations Safe Drinking Water, Chiefs of Ontario

Indigenous and Northern Affairs Committee, on Sept. 26, 2024

Joss Reimer, President, Canadian Medical Association
James Hotchkies, Professional Engineer, Ontario Society of Professional Engineers
Desmond Mitchell, Utilities Manager, Water Movement
Deon Hassler, Board Member and Circuit Rider Trainer, Water Movement

Indigenous and Northern Affairs Committee, on Oct. 3, 2024

Clerk of the Committee, Mr. Thomas Bigelow
Sheldon Sunshine, Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation, Chiefs Steering Committee on Technical Services
Joe Miskokomon, Chippewas of The Thames First Nation
Heather Exner-Pirot, Director, Energy, Natural Resources and Environment, Macdonald-Laurier Institute
Taralee Beardy, Tataskweyak Cree Nation
Rupert Meneen, Tallcree First Nation, Chiefs Steering Committee on Technical Services
Norma Large, Policy Advisor, First Nations Technical Services Advisory Group Inc., Chiefs Steering Committee on Technical Services
Chris Moonias, Neskantaga First Nation
Byron Louis, Okanagan Indian Band
Henry Lewis, Onion Lake Cree Nation
Darian Baskatawang, Associate Lawyer, Olthuis Kleer Townshend LLP, Neskantaga First Nation
Bailey Komarnicki, Director, Operations, Onion Lake Cree Nation

Indigenous and Northern Affairs Committee, on Oct. 7, 2024

Chief Cody Diabo, Mohawk Council of Kahnawake
Sherri-Lyn Hill, Six Nations of the Grand River
Kelly Carter, Chief Executive Officer, Alberta Wildlife Federation
Greg Frazer, Councillor, Six Nations of the Grand River
Katie Spillane, Legal Counsel, Mohawk Council of Kahnawake

Indigenous and Northern Affairs Committee, on Oct. 10, 2024

Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak, Assembly of First Nations
Betsy Kennedy, Acting Grand Chief, Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs
Kelsey Jacko, Cold Lake First Nations
Trevor John, Kehewin Cree Nation
Christopher Rapson, Legal Counsel, Assembly of First Nations
Irving Leblanc, Former Director, Infrastructure and Safe Drinking Water, Assembly of First Nations
Nelson Barbosa, Director General, Community Infrastructure, Department of Indigenous Services

Indigenous and Northern Affairs Committee, on Oct. 31, 2024

Clerk of the Committee, Ms. Geneviève Dubois-Richard

Indigenous and Northern Affairs Committee, on Nov. 4, 2024

Douglas Fairbairn, Senior Counsel, Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs, Department of Indigenous Services
Marc-Olivier Girard, Committee Researcher
Nelson Barbosa, Director General, Community Infrastructure Branch, Department of Indigenous Services
Rebecca Blake, Acting Director, Legislation, Engagement and Regulations, Department of Indigenous Services

Indigenous and Northern Affairs Committee, on Nov. 6, 2024

Rebecca Blake, Acting Director, Legislation, Engagement and Regulations, Department of Indigenous Services
Douglas Fairbairn, Senior Counsel, Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs, Department of Indigenous Services
Nelson Barbosa, Director General, Community Infrastructure Branch, Department of Indigenous Services
Clerk of the Committee, Ms. Michelle Legault

Indigenous and Northern Affairs Committee, on Nov. 7, 2024

Rebecca Blake, Acting Director, Legislation, Engagement and Regulations, Department of Indigenous Services
Nelson Barbosa, Director General, Community Infrastructure Branch, Department of Indigenous Services
Douglas Fairbairn, Senior Counsel, Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs, Department of Indigenous Services

Indigenous and Northern Affairs Committee, on Nov. 18, 2024

Nelson Barbosa, Director General, Community Infrastructure Branch, Department of Indigenous Services
Rebecca Blake, Acting Director, Legislation, Engagement and Regulations, Department of Indigenous Services
Douglas Fairbairn, Senior Counsel, Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs, Department of Indigenous Services
Clerk of the Committee, Mr. Malachie Azémar

Indigenous and Northern Affairs Committee, on Nov. 21, 2024

Rebecca Blake, Acting Director, Legislation, Engagement and Regulations, Department of Indigenous Services
Douglas Fairbairn, Senior Counsel, Legal Services, Department of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs and Department of Indigenous Services, Department of Justice
Nelson Barbosa, Director General, Community Infrastructure Branch, Department of Indigenous Services

Indigenous and Northern Affairs Committee, on Nov. 25, 2024

Nelson Barbosa, Director General, Community Infrastructure Branch, Department of Indigenous Services
Douglas Fairbairn, Senior Counsel, Legal Services, Department of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs and Department of Indigenous Services, Department of Justice
Rebecca Blake, Acting Director, Legislation, Engagement and Regulations, Department of Indigenous Services

Indigenous and Northern Affairs Committee, on Nov. 26, 2024

Nelson Barbosa, Director General, Community Infrastructure Branch, Department of Indigenous Services
Rebecca Blake, Acting Director, Legislation, Engagement and Regulations, Department of Indigenous Services
Douglas Fairbairn, Senior Counsel, Legal Services, Department of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs and Department of Indigenous Services, Department of Justice
Michelle Legault, Legislative Clerk