Neskantaga First Nation in northwestern Ontario has been under a boil-water advisory for over 30 years — the longest in effect in Canada — and now leaders of the remote Ojibway community are ramping up efforts to get the federal government to pay for a new water treatment plant.
“It’s been traumatic for a lot of my people. We shouldn’t be living like this,” said Chief Chris Moonias.
The community’s water treatment plant was built in 1993. The boil-water advisory was issued by the First Nation and federal government two years later because the facility was testing positive for high levels of chlorine and harmful disinfectant products.
Feb. 1 marked the three-decade anniversary of the advisory. Ottawa says it has spent nearly $30 million on upgrades to the facility since 2017.
Moonias said the plant is producing good, clean water now, but problems with the distribution system mean it’s not getting to people’s homes.
While water is still flowing through people’s taps, they’re urged …