The amount of money spent on First Nations’ drinking water is more than enough — it’s trying to find managers to run the plants that is the problem, say government reports..Blacklock’s Reporter says a Parliamentary Budget Office report followed an internal audit that complained federal agencies spent billions on new water plants but failed to ensure there were managers to run them..“The historical spending since 2017 and planned spending until 2026 on water and wastewater capital should be sufficient to meet infrastructure needs,” said the PBO..Ordinary operating and maintenance expenses averaged $429 million a year, said the report. Parliament pays 80% of the costs for 725 water plants and 450 sewage systems in First Nations across Canada..Analysts did not explain why the Liberals failed to meet its own deadline to ensure all First Nations met minimum health standards on water quality..“The government did not meet its March 31 deadline to eliminate all long-term drinking water advisories on First Nations reserves,” wrote the PBO..An earlier report blamed inadequate support for local managers. Parliament in paying 80% of costs “falsely supposed that communities possess available funds for the remaining 20%,” wrote auditors..Only 74% of First Nations water managers and 66% of sewage system operators were properly trained, said the audit..Auditors blamed a shortage of certified operators, low pay, high staff turnover, lack of “advanced education” and the remote location of many First Nations..“All people are entitled to basic public health provisions and most communities do not have the breadth of that expertise internally,” said the audit, adding: “There are not enough resources to address all vulnerable systems.”.The internal report said despite billions spent on infrastructure, “Too many water and wastewater systems are considered to be at medium or high risk for failure.”.The inability of local indigenous councils to pay their share of maintenance costs “poses immediate risks to infrastructure and undermines its longevity,” said the report..“What’s important is the homegrown solution, training of local folks, running the plants,” Crown-Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller said Wednesday..Requiring local First Nations councils to pay 20% of operating costs was unworkable, he added..Miller earlier said he was to blame for failing to meet the cabinet’s own target in ensuring all tap water at First Nations was fit to drink..“I bear the responsibility for this and I have the responsibility and the duty to get this done,” Miller told reporters December 2, 2020..“This needed to be fixed yesterday. It should have never happened in the first place.”
The amount of money spent on First Nations’ drinking water is more than enough — it’s trying to find managers to run the plants that is the problem, say government reports..Blacklock’s Reporter says a Parliamentary Budget Office report followed an internal audit that complained federal agencies spent billions on new water plants but failed to ensure there were managers to run them..“The historical spending since 2017 and planned spending until 2026 on water and wastewater capital should be sufficient to meet infrastructure needs,” said the PBO..Ordinary operating and maintenance expenses averaged $429 million a year, said the report. Parliament pays 80% of the costs for 725 water plants and 450 sewage systems in First Nations across Canada..Analysts did not explain why the Liberals failed to meet its own deadline to ensure all First Nations met minimum health standards on water quality..“The government did not meet its March 31 deadline to eliminate all long-term drinking water advisories on First Nations reserves,” wrote the PBO..An earlier report blamed inadequate support for local managers. Parliament in paying 80% of costs “falsely supposed that communities possess available funds for the remaining 20%,” wrote auditors..Only 74% of First Nations water managers and 66% of sewage system operators were properly trained, said the audit..Auditors blamed a shortage of certified operators, low pay, high staff turnover, lack of “advanced education” and the remote location of many First Nations..“All people are entitled to basic public health provisions and most communities do not have the breadth of that expertise internally,” said the audit, adding: “There are not enough resources to address all vulnerable systems.”.The internal report said despite billions spent on infrastructure, “Too many water and wastewater systems are considered to be at medium or high risk for failure.”.The inability of local indigenous councils to pay their share of maintenance costs “poses immediate risks to infrastructure and undermines its longevity,” said the report..“What’s important is the homegrown solution, training of local folks, running the plants,” Crown-Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller said Wednesday..Requiring local First Nations councils to pay 20% of operating costs was unworkable, he added..Miller earlier said he was to blame for failing to meet the cabinet’s own target in ensuring all tap water at First Nations was fit to drink..“I bear the responsibility for this and I have the responsibility and the duty to get this done,” Miller told reporters December 2, 2020..“This needed to be fixed yesterday. It should have never happened in the first place.”
