Madam Speaker, I want to thank the member for his speech and his advocacy for freshwater.
We urgently need updates to our freshwater policies and legislation, but we also need to make sure our policies are based on a new nation-to-nation governance paradigm that is consistent with the principles of reconciliation and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
The member mentioned the tragedy of continued boil water advisories in indigenous communities. It is important to note that the Neskantaga First Nation has not had access to clean drinking water for 25 years. It had to be evacuated during the pandemic, because it does not have running water. The government is responsible, and must act now.
When it comes to this bill and the creation of a Canada water agency, its mandate and functions should be co-developed with indigenous nations. That work takes time and should start immediately.
Does the member agree that the water agency should be co-developed with indigenous nations, that it should start now, and that the committee study should complement but in no way slow down, pause or put the creation of the agency on hold?