clean water broken promises

A federal audit reveals shortcomings with the government’s strategy to eliminate long-term boil water advisories on reserves.

Communities say more needs to be done to help protect water infrastructure from floods, drought and other climate hazards.

A national survey finds First Nations water plant operators believe they are already feeling the impacts of climate change.

NDP MP Charlie Angus blasted the federal government, saying the results of an investigation by Global News, APTN News and the Institute for Investigative Journalism exposed serious concerns with how some construction firms with “bad track records” continue to receive lucrative federal contracts.

An investigation by a consortium of journalists including Global News, APTN News and the Institute for Investigative Journalism exposed complaints about the construction firm originally hired to upgrade the water treatment plant meant to end Neskantaga First Nation’s historic long-term boil water advisory.

In the struggle to provide clean drinking water to residents, many First Nations leaders say they face obstacles of funding, bureaucracy, lack of control and systemic racism.

Over several months, journalists from a consortium reviewed thousands of pages of court documents and internal records, while conducting dozens of interviews with First Nations leaders, members of communities, water operators, and former and current government officials across the country. A common complaint? "Shoddy work."