Long-term water advisories have been lifted for three Saskatchewan First Nations.
The federal government says Poundmaker, Red Earth and Cowessess First Nation all lifted the long-term advisories in their communities last month.
With these latest steps, the current number of water advisories in place on reserve across the country now sits at 78. That’s down from nearly 100 this past December.
In 2016, the Liberal government invested $1.8 billion to “drastically” improve on reserve water infrastructure by 2021.
However, a recent report on the matter from a national spending watchdog claimed the government would have to spend over $3 billion to adequately fix the issue.
The government still remains confident with its vision.
“We remain on track in our commitment to lift all long-term drinking water advisories on public systems on reserve by March 2021,” said Indigenous Services Minister, Jane Philpott, in a media release.
A long-term advisory was also lifted recently on Pauingassi First Nation in Manitoba.
In addition to the long-term advisories, both Buffalo River Dene Nation and Ministikwan Lake Cree Nation saw short-term water advisories lifted. The government says these advisories were at-risk to become long-term.
Since November 2015, 57 long-term drinking water advisories, lasting more than one year, have been lifted from water systems on First Nations.
(PHOTO: Crooked Lake near Cowessess First Nation. Photo courtesy cowessessfn.com)