QUESTION PERIOD — Indigenous Services
Neskantaga First Nation
October 28, 2025
Minister, yesterday, I met with an impressive delegation from Northern Ontario: the Neskantaga First Nation, including Chief Gary Quisess. I understand that you met with them, too. Former Chief of Neskantaga First Nation, Wayne Moonias, asked me to raise these needs with you: the closed nursing station, the future of high school education in the community, the need for a youth wellness and culture centre and the replacement of the water treatment plant.
This delegation suggested that the government has failed in its obligations to Neskantaga First Nation, and I agree. They have been dealing with Band-Aids when they need permanent solutions. They have been given promises when they need action. These crises — water, health, suicide and housing — impact the well-being of the community.
Did you make commitments to Neskantaga’s leadership yesterday? When can they expect their concerns to be addressed?
Thank you.
Yes, I did, in fact, also meet with the delegation that came from Neskantaga. It was my first opportunity to meet with them. They raised many of the items that you referenced. The majority of our time was really spent focusing on the issue of nursing. When a nursing station is not open, it forces the community, in their case, to have to declare a state of emergency and evacuate. It also requires them to seek alternative health care services.
It was an incredibly important discussion for me, because, as minister, the nursing station is a capital asset that my department invested in. They have asked for a long-term feasibility study for a new nursing station. For me to be able to move forward with the request, there is information that I need in order to do the analysis to determine the state of the capital asset that exists now.
My commitment to them was to work with them to ensure that we’re able to gather that information to determine what the portrait of the existing capital asset looks like and to understand what a long-term feasibility study can look like in health care service delivery.
Thank you, minister.
Community leaders advised me yesterday that they received a commitment from the previous government that they would start on a new water treatment plant design immediately. That was two years ago. The community has been working for years with water experts, trying to find a way to fix the system that simply doesn’t work. They need a new one.
We know that they will need years, maybe decades, to begin trusting in the safety of the new water treatment plant.
That work needs to start now, and they want to know: Have you instructed your staff to fund the design of the water treatment plant?
Thank you.
We did have a discussion at the end of our session directly with the individual who is responsible for the operations of the water plant. They brought to my attention the existing study that was put in place for design. Unfortunately, I did not have the information to respond to them at that time.
I am aware that Neskantaga is one of the boil-water advisories that has existed for almost three decades. I’m not going to speak to the commitment of my predecessor; I have a lot of respect for her, and I think she was trying to meet the community where they are. For me, I want to give the proper answer, and I will be coming back to the community. We have agreed to have a follow-up session in a very timely manner.
