INAC, Chiefs Discuss Drinking Water Guidelines

INAC, Chiefs Discuss Drinking Water Guidelines

Thursday, February 26, 2009 at 16:42

A closed-door session is taking place in Saskatoon today about the future of drinking water on reserves.

Chiefs and other First Nations officials are being consulted by Indian Affairs about the best way to impose a framework regulating on-reserve drinking water.

Ottawa has set aside $330 million in an effort to ensure on-reserve residents have access to the same quality of drinking water as those off-reserve.

There are currently no firm guidelines being used by on-reserve operators, who very often are forced to make do with antiquated equipment.

A spokesperson for the department, Patricia Valladao, says the government wants to use existing provincial standards as a benchmark — but is open to proposals.