The End to 11 Boil Water Advisories in Slate Falls First Nation

Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler, joined Slate Falls First Nation Chief Lorraine Crane and representatives of the federal and provincial governments to celebrate the opening of the community’s new water treatment plant today. Legal counsel to NAN and Grand Chief Fiddler, Julian Falconer also attended the opening, piloting Falconair to Slate Falls First Nation.

In NAN’s new release Grand Chief Fiddler stated, “Slate Falls has struggled for 12 years to secure this project that will finally provide safe, reliable supplies of drinking water and I acknowledge the determination of Chief and Council to make this project a reality. This vital infrastructure investment has eliminated 11 drinking water advisories in NAN, and shows that the federal government is serious about fulfilling its commitment to end all water advisories in First Nation communities. We are pleased to celebrate this milestone and look for continued investments from the federal government for infrastructure projects to ensure that all First Nations in NAN territory have access to safe drinking water.”

Federal Minister of Indigenous Services Minister Jane Philpott and officials from the Ontario Ministry of Indigenous Relations attended the opening of the new water treatment plant and distribution system.

Until now, water in Slate Falls First Nation has been distributed by 11 pump houses, built in 1998. All of these pump houses have been under a drinking water advisory (DWA) since 2004. Located approximately 550 kilometres north of Thunder Bay, Slate Falls First Nation represents about 30 per cent of DWAs in NAN First Nations, 14 per cent of DWAs in Ontario, and 8 per cent of DWAs in First Nations across Canada.


The end to 11 boil water advisories in Slate Falls First Nation: March 6, 2018

In the News

New water plant for Slate Falls    March 7, 2018, Chronicle Journal

Northern Ontario First Nation now has clean drinking water after 14 years    March 7, 2018, CBC

Slate Falls Nation Celebrates Opening of New Water Treatment Plant    March 6, 2018, NAN

Minister Philpott and Chief Crane to Celebrate the Lifting of 11 Long-Term Drinking Water Advisories in Slate Falls Nation   March 6, 2018, Government of Canada

Slate Falls Celebrates Grand Opening of Water Treatment Plant    March 6, 2018, NetNewsLedger

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