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To: Indigenous Services Canada , Minister Marc Miller and Justin Trudeau the Prime Minister of Canada.

It's 2020. It's Canada. Neskantaga First Nation deserves clean water.

As citizens of Canada we call upon the federal government to IMMEDIATELY honour its promise to end 'boil water advisories across Canada and facilitate the necessary steps to have a full and functioning water treatment plant in the community of Neskantaga First Nation. They have been waiting for 25 years. Just recently the ENTIRE town had to be transported from their homes to Thunder Bay, 400 kms away because there was NO water AT ALL. It had been turned off for the safety of the community. Think about this for a moment in terms of what you personally have available. No water for drinking, bathing, boiling, flushing, washing. How is this even possible in Canada in 2020.

Why is this important?

October 25. All families, children, close to 400 people in all, were evacuated from their homes as Neskantaga First Nation faced yet another water crisis, just days after an oily sheen was discovered in the Neskantaga water reservoir. Neskantaga holds the country’s longest-running boil water advisory, which has been in place for 25 years. Right now, there are more than 60 long-term drinking water advisories in place across the country.

Safe, clean and reliable drinking water is an essential service for every Canadian and First Nations people.

The Liberals, under Trudeau's leadership, promised to end all First Nations boil-water advisories within five years of their election in 2015. Once elected, the clock on that pledge began ticking putting the deadline in March of 2021, a few short months away.

The Liberals' September throne speech made no mention of the 2021 deadline. When asked about the situation in Neskantaga, Trudeau said it is difficult to end boil-water advisories, "otherwise other governments would have done it." An appalling, disrespectful, dehumanizing response to Neskantaga First Nation.

Chief Chris Moonias said he still can't understand why it's taking so long.

"I don't think it's because of where we are situated," Moonias said. "I think it's because of the lack of will to finish this."

Please take a moment before you next turn on the tap in your home, and sign this petition.

Please take a moment before you next drink a glass of water and share this petition link with all your networks far and wide.

Please take a moment and read this:
https://www.nan.ca/news/canada-ignores-urgent-public-health-crisis-refuses-to-support-neskantaga-first-nation-evacuation-again/?fbclid=IwAR3fGi4cPBSLEholQ2RQXiKPLD3u7m_-395LfHUkgRbrYj4ThWWAQwl1e-M

We demand that the Federal Government move quickly and efficiently to provide fresh, clean water to the Neskantaga First Nation now.

Neskantaga Indian Reserve, Kenora, Unorganized, ON P0L, Canada

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2021-08-17 02:13:26 +0100

10 signatures reached