The federal government says it is working towards ensuring all First Nations communities have reliable access to clean water. Ottawa says it remains committed to lifting all long-term drinking water advisories on First Nations reserves.
Indigenous Services Canada says since November 2015, clean water access has been restored to approximately 5,850 homes and 430 community buildings in 73 First Nations communities. 58 long-term advisories remain in 38 communities. In that same time-frame, 175 short-term drinking water advisories (advisories lasting between two and 12 months) have been lifted before becoming long-term.

Since the pandemic began in March 2020, First Nations, with support from Indigenous Services Canada, have lifted 13 long-term drinking water advisories in the past 12 months, improving access to clean water for more than 1000 homes and 65 community buildings including schools, health facilities and band offices. During that same period, 24 short-term drinking water advisories were also lifted, preventing them from becoming long term issues, restoring reliable access to clean drinking water for hundreds more homes on reserves.

On January 23, 2021, Black Lake First Nation in Saskatchewan lifted a long-term drinking water advisory that had been in effect since April 2013. The feds say upgrades and expansion of the water treatment plant have improved access to clean drinking water for over 190 homes and 6 community buildings including the school, fire hall and band office.
Information on each community’s progress can be found on new and updated web pages here.