Sludge Watch ==> Boiling Point - Profiles of Water Crisis in First Nations in Canada

[Maureen Reilly]

>From :  Andi Harden andi at polarisinstitute.org
Sent :  May 22, 2008 1:34:45 PM




Today Phil Fontaine, the National Chief of the AFN, Tony Clarke, the 
Executive Director of Polaris Institute and the Canadian Labour Congress 
released a publication on the water crisis facing First Nation communities 
in Canada.  Boiling Point, written by the Polaris Institute, showcases 6 
First Nation communities that have and continue to face water crises 
including contaminated source, well and tap water and long-standing boil 
water advisories.



To view a copy of Boiling Point: Six community profiles of the water crisis 
facing First Nations within Canada, please follow this link: 
http://www.polarisinstitute.org/files/Boiling%20Point.pdf



“The crisis in our communities is untenable,” the National Chief Phil 
Fontaine noted.  “In a country like Canada -- that has the most fresh water 
in the world -- to have First Nation communities struggle on a daily basis 
to provide their citizens with healthy water for drinking and clean water 
for bathing is completely unacceptable.”



"The shocking and deplorable conditions of First Nation communities being 
denied access to safe, clean drinking water is similar to what I have 
witnessed myself in Mexico, India, South Africa and other Third World 
countries,"  said Tony Clarke of the Polaris Institute and author of several 
books on water. "Water is a basic human right and Boiling Point should be a 
wake-up call for people across Canada to demand concerted action from our 
governments now."



Hassan Yussuff, Secretary Treasurer for the Canadian Labour Congress 
commented, “Canadians expect a swift response anytime they face a boil water 
advisory of the public water system, yet nearly 100 First Nation communities 
live with these advisories on a daily basis, and in some cases endure 
tainted, polluted and utterly undrinkable water for years--- this is nothing 
less than a fundamental violation of what should be a basic human right.”



Boiling Point provides a critical review of the ongoing lack of progress and 
action on the part of government in providing safe drinking water to First 
Nation communities. The six profiles are only a small sample of the ongoing 
struggles many First Nation communities face in Canada.  The Polaris 
Institute and the Canadian Labour Congress join the Assembly of First 
Nations in challenging the federal government to implement long-term 
solutions based on equality and respect to ensure access to safe drinking 
water, source water and sanitation.



Andrea Harden-Donahue

Polaris Institute

Water Campaigner

180 Metcalfe St., Suite 500

Ottawa ON, K2P 1P5

www.insidethebottle.org

www.polarisinstitute.org