Okay. That sounds good.
As articulated in UN sustainable development goal number 6, access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene is the most basic human need for health and well-being.
Now that we're over two decades into the 21st century, it's completely unacceptable for any community in Canada to have inadequate access to safe and affordable drinking water or to safely managed sanitation.
Effective management and ready access to safe water supply and sanitation is essential not only to health but also to poverty reduction, food security, peace and human rights, ecosystems and education, yet today, many first nations communities across Canada have lived under long-term boil water advisories for many decades.
This bill would recognize the first nations' stewardship over their own water resources and infrastructure and improve the potential to develop the most appropriate and effective infrastructure models and solutions for their communities.
While Canada has well-developed infrastructure across the country, the models and solutions that have been successfully deployed in Toronto or Vancouver or even in small towns throughout Alberta or Quebec may not be the best options for first nations communities in northern Manitoba or even those along the St. Lawrence. In fact, as Canada tries to accommodate major population growth in peri-urban or rural communities, the infrastructure models developed in the early part of the 20th century may no longer be the most appropriate solutions. Increasingly around the world, decentralized solutions that reflect the needs and capabilities of local communities are gaining traction.
It's positive to see the responsibility for the management of resources and services being localized to first nations communities. Local influence can enhance the adoption of the most appropriate solutions for that specific community and also accelerate the adoption of better and more advanced technologies and processes. Without question, as we try to embrace sustainability in a circular economy, decentralized solutions that reflect the unique nature of an application or community may offer the most effective options for managing this essential resource.
However, Bill C-61 doesn't come without its complexities. The management of water resources poses significant transboundary issues, both on the quality of water entering the community from an external source and on the effluent that may leave the community and migrate to adjacent sites. A strong consultative framework will be required to navigate through these issues and ensure that the health and safety of all Canadians are of paramount concern.
Many existing water and waste-water regulations, standards, operating practices and treatment processes have been developed over many decades, and often from the perspective of larger centralized utility models. These may not be the most effective or appropriate options for small communities that are often remote.
Solutions for many of these applications will have to recognize potential obstacles, from the lack of readily available expertise or spare parts to power supply issues and the need for location-specific training and maintenance resources. Encouraging the development of solutions that reflect and embrace the needs and interests of smaller localized populations, such as first nations communities, could contribute significantly to the goals of sustainability and circularity.
Thank you.