(Lheidli T’enneh Territory, Prince George, BC) – In recognition of World Water Day on March 22, 2026, the BC Assembly of First Nations (BCAFN) is calling on Prime Minister Mark Carney and Minister of Indigenous Services Canada, Mandy Gull-Masty, to follow through on their campaign promise to enshrine the right to safe drinking water for First Nations into law. Non-Indigenous communities across Canada enjoy the basic human right to safe, clean drinking water. First Nations are seeking the same rights as all other Canadians. The global water crisis affects everyone – but not equally. Where people lack the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation, inequalities flourish. History has demonstrated that basic legislation is not enough to ensure First Nations human rights to access safe drinking water are honoured by Canada. Many water sources across Canada are at risk of water shortages, restrictions or contamination and these risks continue to increase with the climate crisis. It’s time to end boil water advisories and protect water sources by enshrining the human right to safe drinking water into law.|
During Prime Minister Mark Carney's campaign, he made explicit commitments to "Enshrine First Nations’ right to water into law". To date, the federal government has failed to re-introduce First Nations Safe Drinking Water legislation in the House of Commons. BCAFN is calling on the Prime Minister and Minister Gull-Masty to enshrine the human right to safe drinking water into law as part of this legislation and re-introduce the bill in parliament without delay.
"As a result of colonization, First Nations were forcibly displaced from our lands and relocated in areas of British Columbia that have unsafe source water as a result from industrialization and the climate crisis. The average Canadian has never had to question the quality of their water. Other jurisdictions have always had access to long-term sustainable funding from the federal government to support their drinking water systems. Simply put: our access is inequitable. The time to change that is now by legislating the human right to water in the First Nations Clean Water Act and expediting the re-introduction of the legislation," stated Regional Chief Terry Teegee.
Many First Nations communities across Canada still do not have access to safe drinking water – in some communities, this lack of access has been in place for generations. As of August 31, 2025, there were 12 water quality advisories, 16 boil water advisories, and 9 do not consume advisories in effect for a total of 37 drinking water advisories in effect in First Nations communities across BC, and there are 39 remaining active long-term drinking water advisories in First Nations communities across Canada.
For more information, please contact:
Annette Schroeter, Communications Officer, cell phone (778) 281-1655.