First Nations call for Ontario environment minister to resign for trying to stop clean water bill
The province gave cabinet the power to suspend provincial and municipal laws through the creation of so-called 'special economic zones' that First Nations say ignore their treaty rights. The province intends to name the mineral-rich Ring of Fire in northern Ontario as the first such zone.
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Debassige and several dozen First Nation chiefs met with Premier Doug Ford a few weeks ago to discuss Bill 5. Ford had said the day before that First Nations should stop coming to him 'hat in hand' if they don't get on board with Bill 5.
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He then apologized to Debassige and those chiefs in a private meeting before repeating it at a news conference on live television.
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Debassige and the chiefs accepted that apology and agreed to move forward with extensive consultations on the new law.
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Debassige said Ford told them that day he was in full support of clean drinking water for all Ontario First Nations and was going to figure out a way to help. That issue is a federal one, though Ford hinted on radio recently the province might step up if the federal government does not.
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'Everyone deserves fresh drinking water,' Ford said of First Nations on NewsTalk 1010.
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Debassige still takes the premier's word and believes McCarthy had gone 'rogue.'
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'To hear directly from the premier that he is in full support and then have one of his ministers turn around and ask the prime minister of Canada to essentially decommit in introducing C-61 is a complete show of disrespect, a show of incompetence and he's a loose cannon in my view,' said Debassige.
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Ontario passed the Clean Water Act in 2006, which ensures the protection of municipal drinking water systems. That came in response to the deadly E. coli outbreak in Walkerton, Ont., that killed seven people and made more than 2,000 people sick.
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But that Ontario bill does not extend to First Nations in the province because of jurisdictional issues.
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The federal clean water bill is part of a court-ordered settlement over a class-action lawsuit First Nations won against Ottawa over this very issue.
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Debassige helped draft that legislation, saying it was historic in many ways, including the fact the federal government worked with First Nations to write it.
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'The process we went through and we were able to negotiate was a testament to the government's commitment to reconciliation,' she said.
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'This is not reconciliation. I know the premier's office is very aware of our position and our response to these idiotic comments.'
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The Ford government has been taking pains to assuage First Nations' concerns over Bill 5 in the last month, pledging extensive consultations and a say in how related regulations are drafted.
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Neskantaga First Nation in northern Ontario has lived under a boil-water advisory for more than 30 years. The community says the water gives them lesions, eczema and a host of other skin issues if they shower or bathe in it. It leads to gastrointestinal issues if they drink from the taps and about half of the community has never lived at a time when the water was safe to drink.
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Flying Dust First Nation and Canada reach settlement agreement Français
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Flying Dust First Nation adhered to Treaty 6, which was signed by Crown representatives and Cree, Assiniboine, and Ojibwe leaders on August 23, 1876 at Fort Carleton, Saskatchewan, and on September 9, 1876 at Fort Pitt, Saskatchewan. The Treaty boundaries extend across central portions of present-day Albert and Saskatchewan. Railway construction began in 1930. The line was fully operational by 1932. Over time, the railway lands included a passenger station, up to eight grain elevators, two fuel depots, a stockyard, creamery, fish plant and planer mill. In the 1970s, CPR started to sell some of the commercial lots. In 1978, Canada purchased two of the lots to build an RCMP detachment. CN purchased the remaining lots in 2006. By 2009, all railway operations had stopped. The tracks were removed in 2014. Starting in 2011, Canada began working with Flying Dust and CN to remediate the land so that it could be transferred back to reserve status. Specific claims deal with past wrongs against First Nations. These claims (made by First Nations against the Government of Canada) relate to the administration of land and other First Nation assets and to the fulfilment of historic treaties and other agreements. Claims are addressed through an alternative dispute-resolution process under the Specific Claims Policy, and, since 2009, the Specific Claims Tribunal Act. Over the past five years (April 1, 2020 to May 31, 2025), 229 claims have been resolved for nearly $15.1 billion in compensation. Flying Dust First Nation Specific Claims Stay connected Join the conversation about Indigenous Peoples in Canada: SOURCE Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada
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