Thank you for sharing that.
Building on that, I want to read some of the things that Canada's lawyers are arguing when they are in court fighting first nations' access to clean drinking water.
They've said, “Canada does not owe any legal obligations or duties to operate and maintain the plaintiffs' water”, referring here to first nations' water systems. Moreover, “Canada has provided First Nations with extensive funding and support to operate and maintain community water systems.”
They say that Canada is doing what it should because “the great majority of First Nations have water that is safe to drink and meets the Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality”, knowing full well that so many communities are under long-term boil water advisories.
They've said that “Canada denies it has any legal obligations or duty to the plaintiffs", meaning first nations, when it comes to a responsibility to provide or fund water infrastructure on reserve.
They deny there is a legal obligation to clean drinking water to first nations.
I find those statements absolutely chilling. It's particularly disgusting that they are being argued by our federal government as it actively fights first nations on the very basic issue of clean drinking water.
To other witnesses on the panel, I'm wondering how you feel about these statements.
Do you agree with any of them? Do you find issue with any of them?