Mr. Speaker, New Democrats strongly believe that access to clean water is a human right. In 2010, the United Nations General Assembly recognized that clean drinking water and sanitation are essential to the realization of human rights.
Today is an opportunity to recognize and learn more about water-related issues, to be inspired to tell others, and to take action to make a difference.
This has been happening in my riding, where the people of Shawnigan Lake have been fighting a noble battle to protect their watershed from contamination.
Furthermore, 73% of first nations communities in Canada are living with water systems that are medium to high risk, which is an absolute national shame for a country that boasts 20% of the world's fresh water.
On this World Water Day, I call on the government to enact meaningful environmental protections so that every person in Canada has access to clean water.