March 24, 2026. (Toronto, Ont. – March 23, 2026) For World Water Day, First Nations leaders in the Ontario region are calling on the federal government to fulfill its commitment to reintroduce Bill C-61, the First Nations Clean Water Act, and address ongoing drinking water advisories in First Nations communities.
A 2025 Auditor General report rated Indigenous Services Canada’s progress on First Nations drinking water as unsatisfactory, noting that 35 long-term advisories remained nationally as of April 2025, including nine that have persisted for more than a decade. Ontario bears a disproportionate share of the crisis, with dozens of ongoing long-term and short-term advisories affecting First Nations communities across the province.
Following the landmark $8 billion First Nations drinking water settlement in 2021, recent Federal Court decisions have reaffirmed Canada’s legal duty and ongoing obligations to ensure safe drinking water and affirmed that the crisis stems from decades of chronic under-funding.
“Without legislation, First Nations communities are left without enforceable standards for drinking water and wastewater,” said Ontario Regional Chief Abram Benedict. “Reintroducing Bill C-61 is essential to closing that gap and ensuring First Nations have jurisdiction over their own water governance.”
Bill C-61 was developed after years of advocacy and effort by First Nations. The bill would establish enforceable standards and a legislative framework for drinking water and wastewater services. The legislation died on the order paper after Parliament was prorogued in January 2025. Despite commitments from the current federal government to reintroduce the bill, no timeline has been announced.
“Healthy communities require clean drinking water,” said Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Linda Debassige. “Ensuring safe drinking water is about respecting First Nations rights and supporting our sacred obligation to protect these waters.”
Chiefs of Ontario (COO) continues to play a leading role in advancing First Nations-led water governance through policy advocacy, community engagement, and technical collaboration with First Nations leadership across Ontario.
Through the federal Great Lakes Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative, COO Environment signed a four-year contribution agreement in February 2025 that supports First Nations-led stewardship, science, and governance activities to restore and protect Great Lakes water quality and ecosystem health. COO continues to advocate for the urgent reintroduction of the First Nations Clean Water Act in its current form and is calling on Canada to reaffirm its commitment to ending long-term drinking water advisories in First Nations. COO has also urged the minister of Indigenous Services Canada to provide immediate resources to address ongoing water infrastructure challenges and to work directly with First Nations leadership to resolve existing advisories.
Guided by resolutions from First Nations leadership, COO Environment has hosted numerous engagements on water legislation and governance and continues to advocate for strong legislation that recognizes First Nations rights and jurisdiction over water, ensures Canada upholds its fiduciary responsibilities, and provides sufficient resources to meet and exceed drinking water standards.
Through this work, COO ensures the voices and priorities of Ontario First Nations are represented at regional, national and international levels.
