Thank you, Chief Vicaire.
Good morning, committee members. I'm John Paul, the executive director of the Atlantic Policy Congress. I'm here today to speak on behalf of our chiefs regarding an approach to Bill S-8 and how our Atlantic chiefs are working to find proactive and innovative solutions to addressing the current state of water and wastewater systems in our region and in all our communities.
As you heard from Chief Vicaire, APC has been involved with this file since 2006, beginning with the presentation to the expert panel. Since that time, the APC have explored ways of addressing the current state of water systems in Atlantic Canada. With the release of the Neegan Burnside study on first nation water and wastewater systems in Atlantic Canada, it has given us a glimpse or a snapshot of current water issues.
To that end, the APC began to look at innovative options. The first thing we did was to have an asset condition assessment done. APC contracted Dalhousie University's Centre for Water Resource Studies to lead the water and wastewater asset condition assessment. The objective of that study was to perform asset condition assessments of water and wastewater systems in first nation communities in Atlantic Canada.
The study further entailed a site audit of water and wastewater treatment facilities and an assessment of the distribution and collection systems. The Neegan Burnside study identified that approximately $45 million was needed to address current shortfalls based on the safe drinking water protocols—although it was only a snapshot in time. It did not include distribution, collection, and other costs, which are critical elements in determining the actual cost.
The asset condition assessment study would also aid in identifying shortfalls in operation and maintenance for both water and wastewater systems through site visits to all Atlantic communities.
A second bit of work was a pilot for benchmark regulations. Bill S-8 states that the regulatory regime is required to ensure that residents of first nation communities have access to safe drinking water, and it commits to working with first nation communities directly to develop proposals for the regulations to be made under the bill. APC has contracted the Centre for Water Resource Studies to develop a regulatory benchmark for water and waste water in Atlantic first nation communities. Dr. Gagnon's report proposed benchmark regulations adopted from the most suitable elements existing in Atlantic provinces' regulations and all other regions in the country.
Testing of these benchmarks would be done to ensure that each first nation meets the requirements of benchmark regulations under Bill S-8, ensuring the availability of safe and reliable drinking water in each community and protecting the environment from wastewater effluent.
Four communities in Atlantic Canada, from each of the provinces, were selected as pilot communities for the proposed benchmark regulations. These pilot communities would determine whether first nations would meet the benchmark regulations, and if not, what type of resources would be required.
A third aspect of our work was a water authority. Our chiefs have also looked at developing a water authority entity to assist first nation communities in managing water and waste water. APC is currently working with the firm McInnes Cooper in Atlantic Canada to do further research to find out more.
Vital issues that will need to be addressed include the identification of required parties for the board of directors for such an organization; the organizational structure of the entity; the specific roles of a water authority; the responsibilities of each member; the financial arrangements that would result; a clear definition of the relationship with federal agencies; the defining of relationships with private companies or utilities, and the operating water and wastewater services; and the defining of the fundamental relationships between all communities and a water authority.
It is anticipated that a water authority structure will be owned and controlled by the first nations themselves. By having our first nations in control of this water authority, it would bring us closer to achieving greater independence and self-determination in terms of water and waste water.
We also wish to further develop the benchmark regulatory regime through our discussions with all of the provinces in Atlantic Canada to obtain their direct feedback regarding how they deal with such issues as implementing modifications to regulations, operator certification, emergency response plans, and drinking water safety plans.
It is also vital to gain feedback from the provinces regarding the proposed regime. Some of the questions we need answers to are these: Are the proposed benchmark regulations too stringent, or not stringent enough? Are there any lessons learned from the provinces about items in the benchmark regulatory reform that will not work in practice?
Communication is possibly, I feel, the most critical component of the work we're doing on this file and what we've undertaken to date. Key messaging is important to ensure that the Atlantic chiefs and all our first nation member communities understand the innovative approaches that APC has undertaken to ensure the health and safety of all first nation people in regard to drinking water.
The necessary support of our chiefs and all our communities and people in the future on this issue is critical. APC has discussed the process, the benefits, funding, challenges, changes in liability; ultimately, however, there is still an overwhelming need to address this health and safety priority issue in our communities.
With the approval and mandate of chiefs and our communities, APC has taken a very proactive and innovative approach to ensuring a viable option for the health and well-being of all our member communities now and for future generations to come. As the issue of safe drinking water has been an ongoing issue for many years, with no clear answer on addressing the current state, a solution had to be found before a Walkerton-type of outbreak happens in any one of our communities. The health and safety of our first nation communities, people, and drinking water have been key drivers of our search for innovative options. The future investment in any innovative option must be fully discussed. As there has been a significant amount of work undertaken, it is timely to discuss this opportunity for a long-term funding commitment for potential solutions, which we, as first nations, want to clearly pave a way forward. First nations are currently the fastest-growing population, and it is our collective responsibility that we ensure long-term sustainability, ensuring our life-giving resource as well as the health and safety of future generations to come.
Again, our member chiefs support the concept of Bill S-8, but like many other first nations and organizations, there needs to be a long-term commitment—a very long-term commitment—of adequate financial resources and capacity to properly implement Bill S-8 and any proposed regulations.
We want to thank the committee for giving us the opportunity to discuss the work we're doing and the ongoing initiatives we are conducting.
Thank you very much.