OTTAWA — NDP Indigenous Affairs Critic Leah Gazan joined First Nations Chiefs at the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) Annual General Assembly today, demanding the Liberal government rectify ongoing human rights violations in the recently tabled First Nations Clean Water Act (Bill C-37).

Addressing the General Assembly on a panel of Chiefs and parliamentarians, Gazan said it was unacceptable that the Liberals have backtracked on recognizing the human right to clean water, replacing this commitment with an ambiguous gesture towards “progressively realizing” this right.

“I wonder whether the Liberals would be so bold as to say to the City of Winnipeg or Calgary or Ottawa that the government would ‘progressively realize’ the human right to clean drinking water in these cities?” she asked Chiefs in attendance. “We must not accept this blatant racism and discrimination as normal.”

Gazan also highlighted the hypocrisy of the Liberal government claiming it is advancing clean water rights while actively fighting First Nations in courts over previous rulings confirming the validity of these rights.

“Let us not forget that Bill C-37 exists because First Nations had to sue the federal government into action. It is no coincidence that, at this very moment, the Carney government is continuing to fight First Nations in courts to dispute a ruling that the government must uphold the right to clean, safe drinking water. They have launched a full-fledged effort to undermine this decision.”

Echoing Gazan, NDP Leader Avi Lewis called the Liberal government to account for its ongoing failure to ensure First Nations have access to clean drinking water.

“In a country as wealthy as Canada, it’s unconscionable that this government cannot uphold something as basic as the right to clean water,” said Lewis. “For folks across the country, it’s simply shameful that our leaders ignore ongoing boil water advisories and continue to shovel public money into fighting First Nations in court. It’s well past time that we do what’s right and uphold everyone’s right to clean drinking water, once and for all.”