Two groups representing more than 100 First Nations in the two provinces told CBC News they can’t support the bill because it’s too lax and could leave their people on the hook for problems with water treatment.
“Basically, Canada has given me a broken-down old vehicle,” said Chief Rupert Meneen of the Tallcree Tribal Government, based about 590 kilometres north of Edmonton.
“The bottom line is that this bill is not meeting the mark,” said Norma Large, a policy adviser to the Chiefs Steering Committee on Technical Services, which represents 47 First Nations in Alberta under treaties 6, 7 and 8.
The committee is urging Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu to sit down with Alberta treaty chiefs to address their concerns about jurisdiction and a lack of support.
The bill states First Nations can choose to follow either provincial or federal drinking water and wastewater regulatory codes — whichever is stronger.
“‘Best efforts’ is not strong enough,” said Chief Allan Adam of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation in northern Alberta, approximately 700 kilometres north of Edmonton.
The original article contains 883 words, the summary contains 175 words. Saved 80%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!
This is the best summary I could come up with:
Two groups representing more than 100 First Nations in the two provinces told CBC News they can’t support the bill because it’s too lax and could leave their people on the hook for problems with water treatment.
“Basically, Canada has given me a broken-down old vehicle,” said Chief Rupert Meneen of the Tallcree Tribal Government, based about 590 kilometres north of Edmonton.
“The bottom line is that this bill is not meeting the mark,” said Norma Large, a policy adviser to the Chiefs Steering Committee on Technical Services, which represents 47 First Nations in Alberta under treaties 6, 7 and 8.
The committee is urging Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu to sit down with Alberta treaty chiefs to address their concerns about jurisdiction and a lack of support.
The bill states First Nations can choose to follow either provincial or federal drinking water and wastewater regulatory codes — whichever is stronger.
“‘Best efforts’ is not strong enough,” said Chief Allan Adam of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation in northern Alberta, approximately 700 kilometres north of Edmonton.
The original article contains 883 words, the summary contains 175 words. Saved 80%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!