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Addressee: Member States
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The Forum recommends that Governments provide public water and sanitation systems to the villages and rural areas where indigenous people live, and control the pollution of rivers and streams affected by pollution from such toxic chemicals as pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers and industrial waste. The Forum also recommends Governments to create programmes to clean up the rivers and streams that have already been polluted and to ban further pollution by agribusiness and industries.
Responses
The Government of Canada has been proactive in addressing priority water needs in First Nation communities. In collaboration with Environment Canada and Health Canada, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada is implementing a seven-part First Nation Water Management Strategy, aimed at improving the provision and the safety of water in First Nation communities. The strategy addresses the urgent need for better water quality on reserves. New funding in the amount of $600 million has been targeted to that end. The strategy also provides for the coherent and structured management of water quality on reserves with a multi-barrier (source-to-tap) approach. The strategy addresses not only the building and upgrading of water and wastewater facilities but also includes effective water quality monitoring combined and sustainable operation and maintenance programmes.
Final Report of UNPFII Session 3 (2004)
Area of Work
