Nova Scotia Chiefs in Atlantic Canada are expressing frustration and concern over Canada’s lack of action to address serious water conditions in Potlotek First Nation. It’s been one year since residents of the Cape Breton indigenous community raised serious concerns about the quality of their drinking water, the community has been advised by Health Canada not to drink the water, bathe in it or even wash clothes in it. To date, no clear action plan has been committed and no funding confirmed to address these repeated water issues.

“Our community has been working with Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) over the past decade to address the serious issues, to no avail,” noted Chief Wilbert Marshall of Potlotek. “In spite of promises for action, here we are a decade later and no action. What must happen to address this water crisis here in our community?”

“All First Nations in Canada must continue to call for real actions to address the water situation in all our communities,” said Chief Bob Gloade, Co-chair of Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nations Chiefs (APC).
“Prime Minister Trudeau committed to address this situation and still, we see no action in communities which makes this a real tragedy,” said APC Co-chair Chief Candice Paul. “I thought we were working to solve this problem but the reality is, nothing is happening and our concerns for the members of this community, and many other communities are growing.”

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