KENORA – The ongoing emergency in Neskantaga First Nation as the water pump is gaining political legs.
NDP candidate Rudy Turtle (Kenora), has issued the following statement:
“My thoughts are with Chief Chris Moonias and the people of Neskantaga who are in a water crisis because of the breaking of the main pump in the community.
“The community has been forced to self-evacuate because Indigenous Services Canada refused to unlock emergency funding to help Neskantaga First Nation in this time of need. This is wrong.
“We call on Justin Trudeau to respect the wishes of the community and to immediately provide funding to cover the cost of evacuation and the repair or replacement of the water pump.
“Neskantaga First Nation has been under a boil-water advisory for more than 25 years. This is appalling, and a clear affront to the human rights and dignity of Neskantaga’s people.
“Indigenous communities in Northern Ontario and across this country are all too familiar with this reality. Too many families are still waiting for safe, clean, drinkable water in their communities. This demonstrates that the Liberal and Conservative governments’ priorities are not and have never been in the right place. Access to clean drinkable water is a fundamental human right. Indigenous communities have been denied that right for far too long.
“New Democrats believe that investments are required to ensure clean water and lift all drinking water advisories for good by 2021 and supporting Indigenous-led water management training programs and water system operations as an immediate priority.”
