Environment committee  We're really anxiously looking forward to seeing the introduction of a new Safe Drinking Water for First Nations Act. We would like to see that come with a lot of flexibility about how first nations decide to exercise governance over their own water systems, and with adequate res

Environment committee  I can speak to that, and the answer is yes. There is testing at certain drinking water systems downstream from some of Canada's nuclear power plants, and there's been a long-standing debate about what the drinking water standard should be, but if it were reduced to the level advi

Environment committee  I'm sorry. What was the exact question?

Environment committee  I can speak with respect to that if the question was pertaining to the nuclear facilities. It's something that historically was very poor. There are more efforts by industry, but I think many indigenous communities are feeling that they're still not being heard in that sector.

Environment committee  Yes, I think so, and I think, as I mentioned, progress is being made. The further down that road we go, of course, there are more and more difficult situations to deal with. We also know that dealing with systems in the north and in rural communities is, by definition, more exp

Environment committee  Resourcing is key for nations to meet these challenges. That has been an issue in the past. It has been an issue addressed little by little over many years by many governments. We see the number of boil water and drinking water advisories decreasing, absolutely. Certainly, the ap

Environment committee  It depends on different nations. In one case, it's because of the issue concerning the intersection between disinfecting drinking water and organic material in the source of the fresh water. It's very difficult to find a different source. I can think of a couple of communities,

Environment committee  You're speaking, I presume, about the federal Safe Drinking Water for First Nations Act, which was repealed last year. We did support its repeal. We opposed its adoption in the first place. We felt it was extremely poorly framed. It took governance and leadership away from first

Environment committee  Do you need me to say anything again?

Environment committee  Yes, we did support the repeal of the Safe Drinking Water for First Nations Act. We opposed its adoption in the first place, because we felt it was very ill-suited to the needs of first nations communities. It took governance and leadership away from first nations and provided th

Environment committee  In terms of indigenous leadership and fresh water, as you heard from Ms. Tanguay earlier, that is a very strong submission by CELA in our work on fresh water not just with the hope for the Safe Drinking Water for First Nations Act, but also in source water management across the c