Minister of Indigenous Services
Ministre des Services aux Autochtones
Incumbent
Patty Hajdu
since October 26, 2021
Indigenous Services Canada
StyleThe Honourable
Member of
Reports to
AppointerMonarch (represented by the governor general)
on the advice of the prime minister
Term lengthAt His Majesty's pleasure
Inaugural holderJane Philpott
FormationAugust 28, 2017
SalaryCA$269,800 (2019)[4]
Websitesac-isc.gc.ca

The minister of Indigenous services (French: ministre des services aux autochtones) is a minister of the Crown in the Canadian Cabinet. The minister is responsible for Indigenous Services Canada (ISC), the department of the Government of Canada which delivers federal government services to Indigenous peoples.

The position was created in 2017 by the Trudeau government when the Indian Affairs and Northern Development portfolio was abolished, taking over the management of health, clean water and other services. Together with the minister of Crown–Indigenous relations, the minister of Indigenous services administers agreements between the Canadian Crown and Indigenous peoples.[5]

List of ministers

Key:

  Liberal Party of Canada
No. Portrait Name Term of office Political party Ministry
1 Jane Philpott August 28, 2017 January 14, 2019 Liberal 29 (J. Trudeau)
2 Seamus O'Regan January 14, 2019 November 20, 2019 Liberal
3 Marc Miller November 20, 2019 October 26, 2021 Liberal
4 Patty Hajdu October 26, 2021 Incumbent Liberal

Water infrastructure on reserves

Since 2016, more than $3.5 billion was allocated for water and wastewater infrastructure, which included funding for "more than 600 water and wastewater projects." Infrastructure has been repaired, expanded, or replaced, training has been strengthened across the country, and additional funding for operations and maintenance is being allocated to communities. [6]

On December 2, 2020 Marc Miller, the minister, announced additional investments of over $1.5 billion to "ensure clean drinking water in First Nations communities."[7]

Long-term Drinking Water Advisories

Main article: Long-term Drinking Water Advisories

The total number of drinking water advisories had decreased by 55% from 2015 to 2020—from a baseline number of 105 in November 2015 to 58 in 35 communities by September 2020.[7] Of these 58 advisories, 3% are being reviewed in a feasibility study, 10% are in design phase, 53% are under construction, and 33% cases the lifting of the advisory is pending.[8] A long-terms drinking water advisory refers to advisories that have been in place for over a year. These advisories occur "when a water system is not functioning well—"because of equipment malfunction and/or operational issues which prevent the system from treating water to the required quality".[7]

DWAs are put in place if a water line breaks, if there is equipment failure, or if there is "poor filtration or disinfection when water is treated."[9] A DWA may be issued if the community does not have "someone trained to run the water system", or "someone trained to test and ensure the quality of the drinking water."[9] There are three types of advisories—boil water, do not consume, and do not use.[9] irst Nations communities with water advisories

Of the 55 communities that were under a DWA as of March 1, 2021, the majority are in the province of Ontario.[10] where there are DWAs issued in Sandy Lake First Nation, Muskrat Dam Lake First Nation, Northwest Angle 33 First Nation, Gull Bay First Nation Kiashke Zaaging Anishinaabek, Shoal Lake 40 First Nation, Nibinamik Neskantaga First Nation, Anishinabe of Wauzhushk Onigum, Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte First Nation, Wabaseemoong, Mishkeegogamang First Nation, Sachigo Lake First Nation, Washagamis Bay, Eabametoong Oneida of the Thames First Nation, Bearskin Lake First Nation, Saugeen First Nation, North Spirit Lake First Nation, Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation, Deer Lake First Nation, Chippewas of Nawash First Nation, Anishnaabeg of Naongashiing, Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation, Wawakapewin First Nation, and Marten Falls First Nation.

According to the First Nations Health Authority, in British Columbia, there are DWAs in 18 First Nations in 18 Water Systems—ten "Boil Water Advisories" and eight "Do Not Consume" advisories, as of January 31, 2021.[11] This list "includes water systems with 5 or more connections (CWS) and smaller water systems that have public facilities (PWS)." Affected communities include the Semiahmoo First Nation, Xeni Gwet'in First Nation, with from 26 to 50 people affected, and Wetʼsuwetʼen First Nation, where some 51 to a 100 are affected.

In Manitoba, the Tataskweyak Cree Nation, Shamattawa First Nation, and Sapotaweyak Wahta are under a DWA.

In Saskatchewan, DWAs have been issued in White Bear First Nation, Little Saskatchewan First Nation, Ministikwan Lake Cree Nation, Peepeekisis Cree Nation, Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation, Little Pine First Nation, and Star Blanket Cree Nation.[10]

See also

References

  1. ^ Marleau, Robert; Montpetit, Camille, eds. (2000). "Parliamentary Institutions". House of Commons Procedure and Practice. Ottawa: Queen's Printer for Canada. ISBN 2-89461-378-4.
  2. ^ "The Canadian Parliamentary system - Our Procedure - House of Commons". www.ourcommons.ca. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
  3. ^ "Review of the Responsibilities and Accountabilities of Ministers and Senior Officials" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on December 5, 2019.
  4. ^ "Indemnities, Salaries and Allowances". Library of Parliament. April 11, 2018. Archived from the original on June 1, 2017. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
  5. ^ Fife, Robert (August 28, 2017). "Indigenous Affairs department to be restructured in cabinet shuffle". The Globe & Mail. Retrieved August 28, 2017.
  6. ^ "Canada and Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte announce funding to improve access to safe drinking water for the community" (news releases). Indigenous Services Canada (ISC). December 17, 2020. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
  7. ^ a b c "New investments in clean water on reserves" (backgrounders). Indigenous Services Canada. GCNWS. December 2, 2020. Retrieved March 2, 2021.
  8. ^ "Ending long-term drinking water advisories" (interactive resource; notice; promotional material; search interface). Indigenous and Northern Affairs. September 27, 2017. Retrieved March 2, 2021.
  9. ^ a b c "About drinking water advisories". Indigenous Services Canada. September 28, 2018. Retrieved March 2, 2021.
  10. ^ a b Kirkup, Kristy (March 1, 2021). "Ottawa pressed to make good on promise to end all long-term drinking-water advisories for First Nations". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
  11. ^ "Drinking Water Advisories". First Nations Health Authority (FNHA). January 31, 2021. Retrieved March 3, 2021.

External links

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