Oneida Nation of the Thames signs $43M clean water deal with federal government
Clean and sustainable drinking water is one step closer for Oneida Nation of the Thames.
The community has struck a deal with the federal government to tap into Lake Huron’s water supply system via a pipeline from the nearby municipality of Strathroy via the Lake Huron Primary Water Supply System.
Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) investing over $43 million to support the design and construction phases of this project.
Oneida held a water ceremony before making the official announcement.
Chief Todd Cornelius donned a ceremonial feather head-dress, and clutched an eagle feather to signify the importance of the occasion.
“This is a day that we identify ourself as a Haudenosaunee person, as a Oneida person working to better our nation and our territory,” said Cornelius.Chief Todd Cornelius and Brandon Doxtator World Water Day at Oneida Nation of the Thames on March 22, 2023. (Source: Oneida Nation of the Thames)
A news release from the Oneida Nation said, “The new connection to the Lake Huron Primary Water Supply System will provide reliable and sustainable access to safe drinking water to approximately 528 homes and all the existing community buildings in Oneida Nation of the Thames.”
The capacity of the First Nation’s existing piped distribution system will also be upgraded and expanded to deliver potable water and water for fire protection to the existing core community and homes planned for future development.
A boil water advisory has been in effect in the community since September of 2019. Oneida resident Sandra Doxtator told CTV News it’s been much longer since she’s dared to drink it.
“I’ve never drank the water for a lot of years, you know, over 15, 20 years,” she explained. “It just has a… it has a certain taste to it.”
According to Oneida, the water infrastructure project will take 18 to 24 months. “Once completed, there will be clean drinking water directly into the homes of the Oneida community.”
Sandra Doxtator said it can’t come soon enough. “I think that will be good for our community, to drink clean water, you don’t have to worry.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'They needed people inside Air Canada:' Police announce arrests in Pearson gold heist
Police say one former and one current employee of Air Canada are among the nine suspects that are facing charges in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.
Why drivers in Eastern Canada could see big gas price spikes, and other Canadians won't
Drivers in Eastern Canada face a big increase in gas prices because of various factors, especially the higher cost of the summer blend, industry analysts say.
Customers disappointed after email listing $60K Tim Hortons prize sent in error
Several Tim Horton’s customers are feeling great disappointment after being told by the company that an email stating they won a boat worth nearly $60,000 was sent in error.
Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter banned from NBA
Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter has been handed a lifetime ban from The National Basketball Association (NBA) following an investigation which found he disclosed confidential information to sports bettors, the league says.
House admonishes ArriveCan contractor in rare parliamentary show of power
MPs enacted an extraordinary, rarely used parliamentary power on Wednesday, summonsing an ArriveCan contractor to appear before the House of Commons where he was admonished publicly and forced to provide answers to the questions MPs said he'd previously evaded.
Woman who pressured boyfriend to kill his ex in 2000s granted absences from prison
A woman who pressured her boyfriend into killing his teenage ex more than a decade ago will be allowed to leave prison for weeks at a time.
Attempt to have murder charge quashed against alleged serial killer dismissed by judge
A motion filed by the man accused of killing four Indigenous women in Winnipeg to have one of those murder charges quashed has been dismissed by the judge – weeks before the start of his trial.
Government proposes new policy for federally regulated employees to disconnect from work
In their 2024 budget, the federal government wants to amend the Canada Labour Code, so employers in federally regulated sectors will eliminate work-related communication with employees outside of scheduled hours. If implemented, this would affect roughly 500,000 employees across the country.
Earthquake jolts southern Japan
An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.4 hit southern Japan late on Wednesday, said the Japan Meteorological Agency, without issuing a tsunami warning.