QUESTION PERIOD — Crown-Indigenous Relations
Access to Safe Drinking Water
October 1, 2025
Senator Moreau, yesterday I honoured Truth and Reconciliation Day with friends from Akwesasne and Cornwall. But we know truth and reconciliation is not just about education, celebration and community; it’s also about action.
Ontario Ombudsman Paul Dubé was recently in Neskantaga First Nation. He said that children are growing up never having known safe tap water. Because of insufficient housing, families crowd into houses with basements with dangerous black mould. He described the reality as “heartbreaking.” What is the government doing to honour its commitments to Neskantaga and communities like it facing similar challenges?
The government’s commitments to Indigenous People are very important. I don’t have a specific answer to the question you raised today, but one thing is certain: When we work together with First Nations, with Indigenous People, we do so with open minds in order to provide those First Nations with what they need to have clean water and take care of their children.
The government is working very hard on that issue. Reconciliation is an ongoing process that should only proceed through discussion and by working with Indigenous families and their children.
Thank you. I plan to travel to northern Ontario soon. There are senators with connections and relationships to this massive part of our province, and they advocate for remote Indigenous communities as well.
Ontario’s large urban centres are well represented here, but there are voices missing. Senator Moreau, is this government committed to appointing a senator from Treaty 9, from James Bay Treaty territory, so that they can be better represented in this place?
I’m sorry. I can’t answer that question because the appointment of senators is the privilege of the Prime Minister. Certainly, if we have discussions concerning appointments to the Senate, I will raise the question with the Prime Minister.
