Thank you.
[Witness speaks in Mi'kmaq]
Good morning everyone. My name is Dean Vicaire and I am Chief of the Listuguj community.
Good morning, honourable members.
I would like to thank you for giving the Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nation Chiefs this opportunity to testify before you.
My name is Chief Dean Vicaire, and I am the co-chair of the APC and the chief of Listuguj Mi'kmaq First Nation. My fellow co-chair, Chief Deborah Robinson, the chief of Acadia First Nation, sends her regrets. I'm here today to speak on behalf of the Atlantic chiefs regarding Bill S-8. I am also here with our executive director, John Paul.
We are a research organization that analyzes and develops culturally relevant alternatives to federal policies that impact on the Mi'kmaq, Maliseet, Innu, and Passamaquoddy communities and peoples. The Atlantic chiefs have always had the position that all Atlantic first nation communities deserve healthy safe drinking water now and for future generations to come. APC has taken the steps to look at innovative ways of addressing the current situation for Atlantic first nation communities, which Mr. Paul will expand on in more detail.
With the release of the Neegan Burnside study in 2010 that identified issues and concerns with first nation systems, and more recently Dr. Graham Gagnon's continued work based on the Neegan Burnside study, the true complexity of the situation in first nations communities became apparent. With no regulations in place to ensure the health and safety of first nations' drinking water, the current state of first nations' systems has escalated the issue even further. Regulations give requirements to determine how a system must function and what needs to be done to provide healthy and safe drinking water. Without proper oversight of any protocols or regulations, no one can really say if they are meeting any standard.
The APC chiefs also have other concerns about the legislation, such as the lack of resources to properly develop, test, and implement any proposed regulations, as well as the lack of resources for capacity not only for operators, but also for the maintenance of these systems.
The APC chiefs have taken steps to find innovative ways to address water and wastewater issues in first nation communities. In 2006, the APC presented to the independent Expert Panel for Safe Drinking Water for First Nations. The panel provided recommendations to INAC on water treatment and management for first nation communities. In 2009, APC contracted Dr. Graham Gagnon with the Centre for Water Resources Studies at Dalhousie University. He reviewed the 16 elements for safe water and developed a detailed document and approach for addressing these elements in first nation communities in Atlantic Canada.
In 2012, APC, with the support of Dr. Gagnon, conducted a regulatory review of the Atlantic provinces' current water and wastewater regulations. From that review, Dr. Gagnon developed a draft of regional benchmark regulations to give the APC chiefs an idea of what these benchmark regulations would look like and to identify the issues. As part of an innovative approach to addressing water issues, APC is also exploring the feasibility of a regional first nation water authority.
APC has undertaken three valuable research projects to strengthen the case for further resources and capacity for Atlantic first nations' water and wastewater systems. Mr. Paul will now expand on those studies.
I'd like to thank each and every one of you for listening.
[Witness speaks in Mi'kmaq]
Thank you.