THUNDER BAY — Reaching a consensus on Parliament Hill is difficult, Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu says.
“The water legislation is a great example,” she told Newswatch in a recent interview.
“I’ve got water legislation right now. The AFN (Assembly of First Nations) has a public letter out saying ‘stop obstructing this water legislation.’
“It’s transformational for communities and yet they won’t let it through.”
“They” in this case refers to the Conservative opposition in the House of Commons.
Hajdu, the member for Thunder Bay-Superior North, said the Pierre Poilievre-led Conservatives have been obstructionist on her First Nations Clean Water Act and other legislation put up by the Liberal government.
The First Nations Clean Water Act, also called Bill C-61, was introduced in December 2023 to replace the 2013 Safe Drinking Water for First Nations Act.
Among other things, the bill includes minimum national standards for drinking water and a commitment to support creating a First Nations Water Commission.
This past October, Hajdu and AFN National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak publicly urged MPs of all parties to see that the legislation passes.
This month, Woodhouse Nepinak urged MPs in an open letter to “prioritize the advancement of Bill C-61.”
The bill passed second reading in the House on June 5 but still hasn’t reached third reading there or been introduced in the Senate.
Hajdu’s riding lies south of Neskantaga First Nation, where a boil water advisory has been in place since 1995.
Hajdu said Neskantaga’s Conservative MP for Kenora, Eric Melillo, “should be ashamed of himself” for his part in obstructing Bill C-61’s progress.
Conservatives have persistently prevented the bill from getting passed, she said.
“So, you know, at this point, I don’t see much goodwill coming from the Conservatives – even on things that their own constituents want.
“I don’t see how even MPs with the issues that are relevant to them can vote against legislation that would help their constituents.”
Melillo’s office was reached for comment but did not respond.
Hajdu made her remarks while First Nations in northern Ontario grappled with drinking-water woes.
Kashechewan experienced a failure in its water treatment plant last week and made arrangements to send about 200 evacuees to Thunder Bay.
Evacuation was initially postponed and is now expected to begin on Friday.
In Marten Falls, a state of emergency was declared this week after trouble in the fly-in reserve’s wastewater system “created "immediate and high risk to the health of community members” according to a notice posted on Facebook by the First Nation.
