Cost of bringing First Nations water systems up to snuff could total $3.2B: PBO
OTTAWA — Jane Philpott says the federal government will spend as much money as it takes to end long-term, boil-water advisories in First Nations communities by March 2021.
The Indigenous services minister made that vow Thursday after Parliament’s budget watchdog warned that the federal government hasn’t devoted anywhere near enough money to fulfil Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s promise to end boil-water advisories within five years.
It will cost at least $3.2 billion in capital investment to bring First Nations drinking water and wastewater systems up to standards comparable to non-Indigenous communities by 2020, according to a report released by the parliamentary budget office.
That includes $1.8 billion to upgrade drinking water systems and another $1.4 billion to upgrade wastewater treatment, along with $361 million in maintenance costs.