Office of Ohkinniinaa ki Ninaaiks
Government of Siksika Nation
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 26, 2025
Carney Government Reaches New Low on First Nation Safe Drinking Water
Siksika Nation, AB – In December 2021 the Government of Canada entered into a legal binding agreement to settle a lawsuit over First Nations’ unsafe drinking water, with two key obligations: 1) $6 billion over 10 years for First Nation water treatment systems and 2) new legislation to confirm, finally – once and for all, that First Nations people have a right to safe drinking water. The Carney government has successfully undermined both of those legal binding commitments.
Bill C -61, the First Nations Clean Water Act, died when the election was called. The Bill confirmed that First Nations people have a human right to safe drinking water, specifically that there must be “substantive equality” between First Nation water systems with those enjoyed by all Canadians. Prime Minister Carney and Minister Gull-Masty, who is also a former Chief, committed to reintroduce the Bill in the current fall sitting of Parliament. With 12 days remaining in the fall sitting, there appears to be no intention by the Prime Minister or his government to honour that commitment.
The Carney governments’ budget cut Indigenous Services Canada budget by $2.3 billion reducing critical funding of First Nations’ health, education and housing and other programs to pay for Canada’s legally binding obligation under the First Nations Safe Drinking Water Settlement Agreement to fund $2.3 billion for First Nation water systems.
Speaking directly to the Prime Minister, Chief Ouray Crowfoot said: “Canada’s record on First Nations’ safe drinking water is a national shame and an on-going violation of the most basic of human rights. It’s hard to imagine how this could get worse, but Prime Minister Carney’s government seems to have achieved a new low by denying our human right to safe drinking water and taking money from First Nations’ essential services to pay for Canada’s own liabilities under the settlement agreement. Is this what you meant in the throne speech when you said your government will be reliable partner to First Nations and ensure our well-being and prosperity?”
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CONTACT Siksika Nation Communications – communications@siksikanation.com
