Bill Detail
An Act respecting water, source water, drinking water, wastewater and related infrastructure on First Nation lands
This enactment affirms that the inherent right to self-government, recognized and affirmed by section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982, includes the jurisdiction of First Nations in relation to water, source water, drinking water, wastewater and related infrastructure on, in and under First Nation lands. It sets out principles, such as substantive equality, to guide the provision for First Nations of clean and safe drinking water and the effective treatment and disposal of wastewater on First Nation lands. It provides for minimum standards for water quality and quantity and wastewater effluent. It also provides pathways to facilitate source water protection.
This bill, the First Nations Clean Water Act, affirms the inherent right of First Nations to govern water, source water, drinking water, wastewater, and related infrastructure on their lands. It establishes principles like substantive equality to ensure First Nations have access to clean drinking water and effective wastewater treatment. The bill sets minimum standards for water quality, quantity, and wastewater effluent, and provides ways to protect water sources, aiming to address historical gaps in infrastructure and funding.