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Treaty One Territory, Winnipeg, Manitoba (June 16, 2026) — The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC) acknowledges today’s introduction of Bill C-37, An Act respecting water, source water, drinking water, wastewater and related infrastructure on First Nation lands, and the federal government’s announcement of $4.6 billion in funding intended to support implementation of the proposed legislation.

Although progress has been made, Indigenous Services Canada currently reports that five long-term drinking water advisories and three short-term drinking water advisories remain in effect in First Nations in Manitoba. Access to safe and reliable drinking water remains an unfinished promise for too many First Nations families.

AMC Grand Chief Kyra Wilson welcomed the commitment to improving water and wastewater infrastructure in First Nations while emphasizing that Canada must continue to honour the commitments made through the 2021 Safe Drinking Water for First Nations Class Action Settlement Agreement.

“For First Nations, water is more than infrastructure. Water is life and carries responsibilities to future generations. Every First Nation child should be able to turn on a tap and know the water is safe to drink and safe to bathe in. That should never have been a political issue in Canada, and it should never have required a class action lawsuit to compel action,” said Grand Chief Wilson.

“For generations, many First Nations in Manitoba have lived under boil-water advisories and have faced unacceptable barriers to a basic human necessity. Investments in water and wastewater infrastructure are important and long overdue, but funding announcements alone cannot fulfill Canada’s obligations to First Nations.”

Grand Chief Wilson acknowledged the leadership of Tataskweyak Cree Nation, Curve Lake First Nation and Neskantaga First Nation, whose efforts on behalf of thousands of First Nations people resulted in the landmark 2021 settlement and brought national attention to the longstanding water crisis affecting First Nations.

“The settlement was about more than infrastructure funding,” said Wilson. “It was about accountability. It was about ensuring that First Nations would have a meaningful role in shaping the laws, policies and systems that affect our Nations. Canada committed itself to a process of engagement and co-development, and First Nations expect those commitments to be honoured.”

The 2021 settlement required Canada to repeal the former Safe Drinking Water for First Nations Act and work with First Nations in the development of replacement legislation. The settlement also included significant commitments relating to compensation, infrastructure investments and long-term reforms intended to help ensure sustainable access to safe drinking water in First Nations.

Bill C-61, the previous bill introduced in 2023, underwent years of engagement, parliamentary study and debate before Parliament was prorogued. Bill C-37 should build on that work, and First Nations expect that the progress achieved through those years of work will be maintained and strengthened.

Based on AMC’s initial review of Bill C-37, the proposed legislation contains important provisions respecting First Nations jurisdiction, source water, funding, comparable services, the First Nations Water Commission and Canada’s obligations under the 2021 settlement agreement. However, AMC will require time to conduct a full legal and policy review and to engage with Manitoba First Nations before determining whether the bill fully reflects Canada’s commitments, First Nations rights and jurisdiction, and the need for effective and enforceable protections for safe drinking water and source waters.

“Access to clean drinking water is a fundamental human right,” said Wilson. “First Nations expect that the progress achieved through years of engagement, parliamentary study and negotiations will be maintained and strengthened. Long-term, predictable and sustainable funding, effective source water protection and comparable water and wastewater services must remain central objectives of any legislative framework.”

Grand Chief Wilson also emphasized that legislation must respect First Nations rights and jurisdiction and support First Nations in protecting and stewarding their waters in accordance with their laws, responsibilities and relationships with the land.

“First Nations should be able to expect water and wastewater services that are comparable to those available elsewhere in Canada. This legislation will have significant implications for First Nations across the country. It is essential that First Nations have the opportunity to carefully review the bill, assess its impacts and determine whether it reflects the commitments made through the settlement agreement and Canada’s obligations under the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, including the principles of free, prior and informed consent.”

The AMC recognizes the important role of women, Knowledge Keepers and Elders, and youth as protectors and stewards of water and will continue engaging with Manitoba First Nations and conducting a thorough review of Bill C-37 in the weeks ahead.

“First Nations have waited far too long for safe drinking water and the infrastructure required to support healthy Nations,” said Wilson. “The measure of success will not be the introduction of legislation alone. Success will be measured by whether allFirst Nations families have safe drinking water, whether source waters are protected for future generations, whether long-term, predictable and sustainable funding is provided, whether comparable services are achieved, and whether First Nations rights, jurisdiction and voices are respected throughout this process. We look forward to working together with First Nations and Canada to ensure that this legislation delivers lasting improvements for present and future generations.”

For more information, please contact: 

Communications Team
Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs
Email:  media@manitobachiefs.com  

About The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs:

The AMC was formed in 1988 by the Chiefs in Manitoba to advocate on issues that commonly affect First Nations in Manitoba. AMC is an authorized representative of all 63 First Nations in Manitoba with a total of more than 172,000 First Nations citizens in the province, accounting for approximately 12 percent of the provincial population. AMC represents a diversity of Anishinaabe, Nehetho / Ininew, Anisininew, Denesuline, and Dakota Oyate peoples.