Drinking water litigation
Learn about drinking water litigation and news regarding legal settlements affecting First Nations.
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Everyone in Canada should have access to clean drinking water and trust the water they use every day. The Government of Canada acknowledges the past harms caused to First Nations affected by a lack of safe drinking water. The government is committed to supporting these communities by addressing systemic barriers and developing sustainable solutions with First Nations partners to enable access to safe and clean drinking water for generations to come.
Shamattawa Class Action Lawsuit
You could be affected by a new class action litigation regarding the lack of access to clean drinking water on First Nations reserves since June 21, 2021.
Find out more:
To learn more, contact the administrator:
Name of administrator: CA2 Inc.
Contact Information: drinkingwater@classaction2.com or 1-800-538-0009
2021 Safe Drinking Water for First Nations Class Action Settlement Agreement
The 2021 Safe Drinking Water for First Nations Class Action Settlement Agreement recognizes that all First Nations deserve reliable access to safe drinking water, provides compensation to address past harms to First Nations and members affected by a lack of clean drinking water and gives First Nations confidence that future generations will not have to worry about whether or not their water is safe to drink. The implementation of the terms of this historic agreement is underway.
The settlement agreement includes the following:
- approximately $1.5 billion in compensation for individuals deprived of clean drinking water
- the creation of a $400 million First Nation Economic and Cultural Restoration Fund
- a renewed commitment to Canada's Action Plan for the lifting of all long-term drinking water advisories
- the creation of a First Nations Advisory Committee on Safe Drinking Water
- support for First Nations to develop their own safe drinking water by-laws and initiatives
- a commitment of at least $6 billion to support reliable access to safe drinking water on reserves
- the modernization of Canada's First Nations drinking water legislation.
The settlement agreement was approved by the Federal Court and the Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench, now the Manitoba Court of King's Bench, on December 22, 2021.
First Nations and individuals affected by long-term drinking water advisories that lasted for at least 1 year between November 20, 1995, and June 20, 2021, had until March 7, 2024, to submit their claim for compensation.
To learn more, visit First Nations Drinking Water Settlement.