Hajdu, Woodhouse Nepinak urge MPs to drop politics, support First Nations water bill
Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu and Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak are urging MPs across party lines to support legislation to ensure First Nations have clean drinking water in their communities.
The government has put forward a bill that seeks to do just that, and also seeks to protect source-water on First Nations territories.
Hajdu had previously said the legislation she was working on was the closest the federal government had come to co-developing law with First Nations, though some chiefs have been disputing that assertion.
The bill has been before a House of Commons committee for months, where MPs have heard chiefs and experts raise concerns that the legislation does not go far enough to protect rights. They also question how robust it will be in ensuring their communities receive adequate funding to maintain and operate water treatment plants.
Hajdu pointed the finger at the Opposition for delaying the bill.
"If we continue to see the kinds of obstruction that we're seeing from the Conservative party, we will be in a place where we won't be able to finish the debate on this bill and send it to the Senate," Hajdu said after she appeared at the House committee studying the legislation.
"Ultimately, we have a race against time here."
In a statement, Conservative House Leader Andrew Scheer said that after nine years, "the NDP-Liberals have broken their promise to ensure that Indigenous Canadians have access to clean drinking water."
"The minister knows that the Indigenous water bill is at committee, which isn't affected by what is going on in the House. All members of the committee, including the Liberals, have agreed to the committee timetable to address the bill. It appears that the minister is unaware of the status of her own bill, which not entirely surprising given this minister's track record," he said.
Scheer added that the House can resume its work once the Liberals comply with a Conservative motion related to a demand for the government to provide unredacted documents about misspending at a now-defunct green technology fund. That debate is on its tenth day.
Speaker Greg Fergus ruled on Sept. 26 that there was a case for privilege but that the matter is complicated because the motion calls for the documents to be handed over to the RCMP.
He also said the matter should all be referred to a parliamentary committee for further discussion.
"Parliament is frozen because the Liberal government refuses to come clean about their $400 million conflict of interest scandal. The only ones holding things up are the Liberals who can end it all today if they just produced the documents they were lawfully ordered to," Scheer said.
Then-minister of health Patty Hadju listens during a news conference in West Block on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, on Monday, June 1, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
Woodhouse Nepinak said Canada and First Nations must work together to ensure the legislation passes before the next election, calling it the top priority for First Nations.
The next federal election must be held by October 2025, but the minority Parliament is in a precarious state with the Conservatives promising more non-confidence votes to try and bring down the Liberal government this fall.
"We're hearing the crisis out there loud and clear from First Nations and it's important that we work together, that First Nations work together and that all members of Parliament are turning the dial on this issue," Woodhouse Nepinak said.
Canada was in court this week defending itself in a class-action lawsuit launched in 2022 by Shamattawa First Nation in northern Manitoba.
That community has been under a boil water advisory since 2018, and is hoping the case will lead to the recognition that the federal government is legally obligated to ensure First Nations have clean drinking water.
A statement of defence from the Attorney General of Canada argues that Canada provides safe drinking water to First Nations on reserve as "a matter of good governance rather than as a result of a legal duty."
It goes on to say that while Hajdu has said Canada has a commitment to provide safe drinking water to all First Nations members on reserves, it was made "in a particular context" and "did not provide a legal opinion."
The acting grand chief of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs slammed the government's defence in a news release this week.
"Pointing fingers at First Nations for the entirely predictable consequences of Canada's failure to provide adequate support is not only shameful but also a violation of the trust our people are trying to develop with the government," Betsy Kennedy said.
"The federal government has acknowledged its role in this crisis publicly, yet in court, they deny any responsibility. This is a clear act of hypocrisy that is unacceptable."
Asked whether she directed Canada's lawyers to take certain positions in court, Hajdu said she cannot comment on legal matters. But under the proposed legislation, government lawyers would not be able to take those positions in court, she said.
Woodhouse Nepinak told the House of Commons committee Thursday morning distrust that First Nations people have toward the federal government is heightened when government lawyers go to court and say "stupid things."
Speaking to reporters afterward, she quoted Shamattawa First Nation Chief Jordna Hill, calling the water crisis "a national embarrassment."
"It's time that Canada makes this right for First Nations people," she said.
"We urge you to have all-party support for this as we work through the amendments. Time is crucial."
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 10, 2024.
IN DEPTH
Jagmeet Singh pulls NDP out of deal with Trudeau Liberals, takes aim at Poilievre Conservatives
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh has pulled his party out of the supply-and-confidence agreement that had been helping keep Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's minority Liberals in power.
'Not the result we wanted': Trudeau responds after surprise Conservative byelection win in Liberal stronghold
Conservative candidate Don Stewart winning the closely-watched Toronto-St. Paul's federal byelection, and delivering a stunning upset to Justin Trudeau's candidate Leslie Church in the long-time Liberal riding, has sent political shockwaves through both parties.
'We will go with the majority': Liberals slammed by opposition over proposal to delay next election
The federal Liberal government learned Friday it might have to retreat on a proposal within its electoral reform legislation to delay the next vote by one week, after all opposition parties came out to say they can't support it.
Budget 2024 prioritizes housing while taxing highest earners, deficit projected at $39.8B
In an effort to level the playing field for young people, in the 2024 federal budget, the government is targeting Canada's highest earners with new taxes in order to help offset billions in new spending to enhance the country's housing supply and social supports.
'One of the greatest': Former prime minister Brian Mulroney commemorated at state funeral
Prominent Canadians, political leaders, and family members remembered former prime minister and Progressive Conservative titan Brian Mulroney as an ambitious and compassionate nation-builder at his state funeral on Saturday.
Opinion
opinion Don Martin: Gusher of Liberal spending won't put out the fire in this dumpster
A Hail Mary rehash of the greatest hits from the Trudeau government’s three-week travelling pony-show, the 2024 federal budget takes aim at reversing the party’s popularity plunge in the under-40 set, writes political columnist Don Martin. But will it work before the next election?
opinion Don Martin: The doctor Trudeau dumped has a prescription for better health care
Political columnist Don Martin sat down with former federal health minister Jane Philpott, who's on a crusade to help fix Canada's broken health care system, and who declined to take any shots at the prime minister who dumped her from caucus.
opinion Don Martin: Trudeau's seeking shelter from the housing storm he helped create
While Justin Trudeau's recent housing announcements are generally drawing praise from experts, political columnist Don Martin argues there shouldn’t be any standing ovations for a prime minister who helped caused the problem in the first place.
opinion Don Martin: Poilievre has the field to himself as he races across the country to big crowds
It came to pass on Thursday evening that the confidentially predictable failure of the Official Opposition non-confidence motion went down with 204 Liberal, BQ and NDP nays to 116 Conservative yeas. But forcing Canada into a federal election campaign was never the point.
opinion Don Martin: How a beer break may have doomed the carbon tax hike
When the Liberal government chopped a planned beer excise tax hike to two per cent from 4.5 per cent and froze future increases until after the next election, says political columnist Don Martin, it almost guaranteed a similar carbon tax move in the offing.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Canadian former Olympic snowboarder wanted in Ontario double homicide: DOJ
A Canadian former Olympic snowboarder is wanted and another suspect is in custody in connection with a double homicide in Ontario last year, United States law enforcement say.
4 more Trudeau cabinet ministers not running for re-election, shuffle expected soon: sources
Federal cabinet minister Filomena Tassi announced Thursday she will not run for re-election, and sources tell CTV News at least three other cabinet ministers don't plan to run again.
Smashed hotel room, narcotics found as Liam Payne death probe unfolds
One Direction pop star Liam Payne died of multiple traumas and internal bleeding after plunging from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, prosecutors said on Thursday, adding an initial search suggested the fall came after substance abuse.
BREAKING Israel's foreign minister confirms that Hamas' top leader Yahya Sinwar was killed in Gaza
Israel’s foreign minister has confirmed that Israeli troops in Gaza have killed Hamas’ top leader Yahya Sinwar, a chief architect of last year's attack on Israel that sparked the war.
OHL responds to CTV W5 investigation into alleged sexual assault by former junior hockey players
The Ontario Hockey League (OHL) has released a statement in response to a recent CTV W5 investigation into an alleged sexual assault in 2014.
A conversation with the Natural History Museum's photographer of the year
Shane Gross, a Canadian marine conservation photojournalist, has won the title of Wildlife Photographer of the Year.
Montrealer ordered to pay $35,000 fine for not declaring luxury watch at border
A Montreal business owner will have to pay a hefty fine after he imported a luxury watch without declaring it to customs.
Meta lays off staff at WhatsApp and Instagram to align with 'strategic goals'
Meta says it has laid off some employees, including staff at WhatsApp And Instagram, to realign its resources with its “strategic goals.”
India denies Canadian allegation that it uses mobsters to target Sikh separatists in Canada
India’s External Affairs Ministry has denied that India was in cahoots with India-based mobsters in Canada and even suggested that Canadian authorities had been resisting India's extradition attempts.
Local Spotlight
$5 waffles, $7 eggs benny: Victoria diner revives menu from 1989
John Cantin vividly remembers opening day for his Victoria diner. Stress levels were high, tables were full, and one of the most popular menu items couldn’t be freed from the unyielding grip of the waffle maker.
'The risk is real': Book on Manitoba mushrooms suspected to be written by AI
A Manitoba professor is warning the public after a book on regional mushrooms that he suspects is AI-generated was delisted from Amazon.
'Vindictive and malicious': B.C. court weighs in on long-running neighbour dispute
A B.C. judge has issued a decision in a years-long dispute between neighbours that began with a noise complaint over barking dogs, crowing roosters and quacking ducks – awarding $15,000 in damages to the plaintiffs in the case.
Friend's house turns out to be stranger's house, showering man learns as police arrive
An Ottawa man was arrested after taking a shower in a stranger's house, Ottawa police say.
B.C. Indigenous chef takes portable cooking school on the road
Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) Chef Paul Natrall, the man behind Indigenous food truck Mr. Bannock, is bringing cooking classes on First Nations fare to schools and offices throughout Metro Vancouver.
Cape Breton welcomes Celtic Colours Festival to Nova Scotia for 28th year
The Celtic Colours Festival is taking place at venues around Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia from Oct. 11 to 19.
A love story written in the northern lights
Sometimes love is written in the stars, but for one couple, it’s written in the aurora borealis.
'I didn't do this to just run': Canadian hip hop artist runs 100 marathons in 100 days for men's mental health
Canadian hip hop artist Dillan King says running 100 marathons in 100 days was not only the hardest thing he has ever done, but the 'proudest accomplishment' of his entire life.
'It's beautiful': B.C. man invites strangers into his home for Thanksgiving dinner
James Taylor never expected to be walking home with a bag full of groceries he didn't buy.