Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I wish to comment on MACA’s 2010 GNWT Report on Drinking Water which was released in September 2011. Fundamentally, water quality and its management primarily remains a territorial jurisdiction. Arguably, both federal and territorial governments are responsible to work together under the terms and guidelines for Canadian drinking water quality which has been maintained by Health Canada since 1968. Responsibility for the creation and updating of these guidelines falls to four territorial departments – Health and Social Services, ENR, MACA, Public Works and Services – and by three federal departments – Environment Canada, Fisheries and Oceans, and Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development.
For a quick recap, and according to our set guidelines, source water – referred to as raw water – and regular drinking water are to be tested daily for turbidity. As well, raw water is to be tested for bacteria at least monthly. Drinking water is to be tested at least four times per month. On top of that, at least one sample per year is to be tested for 28 criteria, including colour, metals, chemicals and other compounds.
Although the treatment of drinking water in the 33 NWT communities has evolved considerably in the last five years with new treatment plants and increased training of its operators, it is clear, according to this report, that testing is not rigorously being done in all communities. In fact, according to MACA’s water quality website there has been no chemical testing in Hay River or Nahanni Butte since 2009. No chemical tests were done in Yellowknife, Jean Marie River or Trout Lake in 2011. Water in Wrigley was only tested for bacteria on one date in 2011. Bacterial testing in Lutselk’e and Trout Lake was incomplete in 2011. It is notable that many of the missing tests are in the communities in the Deh Cho administrative region.
Clearly, the GNWT knows that these water testing guidelines are meant to be a set standard aimed at assuring the protection of human health over a lifetime of consumption. That said, I’ll be asking the MACA Minister later today about these missing testing results and whether certain communities are at risk due to our lack of rigorous water testing.
Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.
