‘Agreement is coming’: Oneida Nation of the Thames to announce water deal with Government of Canada
Oneida Nation of the Thames First Nation (ONTFN) has been under a boil water advisory since 2019.
However, the first steps in the slow process of changing that are expected shortly.
“There is an agreement coming, it's just at the table now,” said ONTFN Chief Todd Cornelius. “We're expecting to inform our community soon of the agreement.”
Cornelius was tight lipped about the timeline, but CTV News has learned an announcement is imminent.
Local Members of Parliament (MP) have been working on bringing clean drinking water and adequate fire flow to the community.
“This has been a lead issue for me in the past few months,” said Peter Fragiskatos, London, Ont. North Centre MP. “I've joined with other MP’s like Karen Vecchio to advance the issue. They deserve clean water like any person does”.
Not only have residents had to boil their water for four years, but just months ago, they were under a conserve water advisory. They were told to only use bottled water.
“A lot of the times it's just having trouble just turning the taps to have a shower,” said Cornelius.
“It's a daily thing around here which we're used to having a bottle of water. Another thing is a lot of the youth in our community have not seen clean drinking water,” he added.
On world water day, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated, “The Government of Canada continues to work on ending all long-term drinking water advisories.”
“There's over 130 boil water advisories that have been lifted by this government since 2015,” said Fragiskatos. “There are 30-plus communities that unfortunately still have a boil water advisory in place, and the government is seized with reversing that entirely.”
In January of this year, ONTFN councillor Brandon Doxtator told CTV he hopes they'll ultimately land a 20-year deal with Indigenous Services Canada and the water tribunal. It would have ONTFN tap into the Lake Huron water supply system.
“This is a cost of $54 million dollars,” said Doxtator. “We're looking at how that's going to be funded through the government.”
Fragiskatos said he understands through his advocacy, what this means to the region.
“Certainly to Oneida but I also know what it means to Londoners who care very deeply about reconciliation,” said Fragiskatos. “I won't stop. We have to get this done.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NDP motion regarding Palestinian statehood passes after major Liberal alterations
A motion from the federal New Democrats initially calling on Canada to recognize the 'State of Palestine' passed amid widespread acrimony on Monday, after the Liberals drastically altered its wording to see the government simply work towards that aim as part of a two-state solution.
'He didn't want to die': Family of Calgary man killed in standoff speaks out
Family of a Calgary man killed after a 30-hour standoff with police last week are speaking out, sharing details of the tense and heart-wrenching experience.
Toronto family doctor who called patient's body 'perfect' suspended for 3 months: tribunal
A family doctor in Toronto has been suspended for three months after a disciplinary tribunal found that he failed to follow proper protocols while examining a patient's breasts and made inappropriate comments about her body.
Ohio mom who left toddler alone 10 days when she went on vacation pleads guilty to aggravated murder
An Ohio mother whose 16-month-old daughter died after being left home alone in a playpen for 10 days last summer while she went on vacation was sentenced Monday to life in prison with no chance of parole.
Retired teacher pleads guilty to paying for sex with 15-year-old in Collingwood, Ont.
In a Barrie courtroom on Monday, a retired high school teacher from the Niagara Region pleaded guilty to sexual touching and obtaining sexual services from a 15-year-old boy in Collingwood in 2021.
Hertz CEO out following electric car 'horror show'
The company, which announced in January it was selling 20,000 of the electric vehicles in its fleet, or about a third of the EVs it owned, is now replacing the CEO who helped build up that fleet, giving it the company’s fifth boss in just four years.
5 charged in Calgary kidnappings that targeted women
Calgary police have charged five men in a pair of kidnappings last year that targeted innocent victims.
Demand soars for solar eclipse glasses in Canada. Are they worth buying?
The demand for total solar eclipse glasses used to safely view the rare celestial event has been ramping up as sellers, along with astronomy and eye-care experts in Canada, warn that viewing the eclipse with the naked eye is dangerous.
Canadian commander of volunteer fighter group dies in Ukraine
A Canadian-born commander of the so-called Norman Brigade, a volunteer fighting group in Ukraine, has died.