A State of Emergency has been declared in the remote northern community of Attawapiskat.
The notice is due to the condition of the drinking water, a problem that has plagued the First Nation for years.
Charlie Angus is the Federal NDP Critic for Indigenous and Northern Affairs and he says dangerous and problematic levels of acid and chemicals have been discovered in the water system.
He says some of the chemicals are linked to cancer.
Angus says “So far there has been no response from Minister O’Regan’s office to the very reasonable requests being put forward as an immediate action plan.”
He adds the government must start shipping bottled water into the community and adds there must be a full testing of all houses, noting very little samples have been taken so far.
Angus says “there needs to be a team of experts who can meet with the community and go through the health threats.”
He adds there must be an end to the band-aid responses to the seriously inadequate water system in the community, noting what is needed is a total overhaul and replacement of the faulty water infrastructure.
Angus says he spoke with two mothers who have children facing kidney failure and who have been told by medical authorities they must drink lots of water to keep their kidneys functioning.
He says “How can you do this when the water isn’t safe to drink.”
(Photo Credit: Raphael Wheesk and Rosie Kooslachin Twitter)
So I hear Ottawa’s real proud of having the cleanest drinking water in the world! Meanwhile in Attawapiskat the water is contaminated. #attawapiskat #contaminatedwater #northernproblems #indigenous #canada #cdnpoli @JustinTrudeau @thejagmeetsingh @andrewscheer @cathmckenna pic.twitter.com/QxcwUOZslk
— Sutherland (@ASutherland9) July 7, 2019
With permission to share, this is what my cousin Holly Nakogee has to say. Pictured is her son holding a Canadian flag days before the urgent meeting was held with the community. #firstwater #ThisIsCanada #Attawapiskat pic.twitter.com/24jLsV26PF
— Chelsea Jane Edwards ᒉᐪᓯ ᒉᐣ ᐁᑐᐤᐊᐟ (@chelseajaneed) July 9, 2019
