NDP Leader Visits Neskantaga To Witness Water Crisis

Federal NDP leader Jagmeet Singh says it’s shameful Neskantaga First Nation has been without clean drinking water for 26 years now.

Singh was in the remote northern community Monday to witness first hand what residents are going through.

He was joined by Kiiwetinoong MPP Sol Mamakwa and Timmins-James Bay MP Charlie Angus.

Singh says for six years, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said a lot of nice things about reconciliation, but those words mean nothing without action.

“Some people have been living without clean water for decades. Some residents have lived their whole lives without it. How can Justin Trudeau speak about reconciliation while continuing to deny Indigenous people this basic human right?”

He adds, “How is it possible in a country as rich as Canada with the greatest water resources in the world that First Nation communities can be left without access to clean drinking water?”

There are currently 51 long term boil water advisories in place in Indigenous communities across the country.

Angus says, “What I saw in Neskantaga is the brutal indifference of the federal government to basic rights of families to live with safe water. The solution to the water crisis requires more than Liberal talk.”

He adds, “I challenge Justin Trudeau to come here see and see the injustice he is upholding first-hand and speak with community members. The answer to the water crisis is not rocket science. It just takes political will.”

Meantime, Jagmeet Singh will be in Thunder Bay Tuesday to meet with forest fire evacuees.

Some 400 people from Deer Lake and Poplar Hill are staying in the city.

In Neskantaga yesterday, we heard about experiences living with water boil advisory for 26+ years.

Brayden, 6, has been asking his grampa Lawrence, “why is the water always broken?”

Brayden was asked if he wanted to say something. He said 3 words.

“Fix the water.” pic.twitter.com/D6mQSVnv9E

— Sol Mamakwa MPP (@solmamakwa) July 27, 2021