Intertribal Life Newspaper -

Shoal Lake 40, Ontario-Recently Dan Vandal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indigenous Services, and Shoal Lake 40 Chief Erwin Redsky participated in a ground breaking ceremony to celebrate the awarding of the contract for construction of a water treatment and distribution system. The new system will end seven long-term drinking water advisories that have been in place since February 1997, and bring a reliable supply of safe, clean drinking water to 292 residents.

"Building on the success of Freedom Road, the awarding of the construction contract for our new water treatment system continues our work with willing partners to correct past wrongs in the spirit of reconciliation," said Chief Erwin Redsky of Shoal Lake 40 First Nation. "After decades of denial, our people can finally look forward to the day when we, like the citizens of Winnipeg, can turn on our taps and access clean, safe Shoal Lake water."

Shoal Lake 40 straddles the Ontario-Manitoba border 55 kilometres west of Kenora and a short distance south of the TransCanada Highway. Freedom Road, which opened June 3, 2019, provides residents with year-round access to the TransCanada Highway.

Shoal Lake is the water supply source for the City of Winnipeg. Until the recent completion of Freedom Road, Shoal Lake 40's access to the mainland was cut off for 100 years by Winnipeg's water infrastructure located on their reserve.

The community's water system currently consists of a network of 12 pump houses, which do not adequately treat water to applicable standards. The First Nation has never had one centralized water treatment system that services the entire community.

Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) is contributing up to $33 million for the project, which includes construction of a water treatment plant, reservoir, raw water intake structure and lift station, as well as the installation of water main connections and some fire hydrants. Construction of the new water treatment system is anticipated to be completed by December 2020.

Parliamentary Secretary Vandal also highlighted that ISC will invest $605.6 million over four years, starting in 2020-2021, to support the operations and maintenance of water and wastewater infrastructure in First Nations communities. The investment includes an additional $184.9 million each year thereafter for operations and maintenance of First Nations' community water and wastewater assets funded by the Government of Canada.

Since November 2015, 87 long-term drinking water advisories on public systems on reserves have been lifted, with 56 still in effect. During the same time, 133 short-term drinking water advisories (lasting between two and 12 months) have been lifted.

This investment, made through Budget 2019, will help ensure that First Nations infrastructure is better supported throughout its lifespan and will better aid First Nations in maintaining their water and wastewater infrastructure. Funding allocations will be determined in partnership with First Nations.

The new water treatment plant will end a series of advisories and bring clean water to this First Nations community.