Slate Falls First Nation celebrates
opening of New Water Treatment Plant

#LSN_News      NAN photo

SLATE FALLS NATION, Ontario -  March 6, 2018  (LSN)  Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler joined Slate Falls Nation Chief Lorraine Crane and representatives of the federal and provincial governments to celebrate the opening of the community’s new water treatment plant today.  

 “Slate Falls has struggled for 12 years to secure this project that will finally provide safe, reliable supplies of drinking water and I acknowledge the determination of Chief and Council to make this project a reality,” said Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler. “This vital infrastructure investment has eliminated 11 drinking water advisories in NAN, and shows that the federal government is serious about fulfilling its commitment to end all water advisories in First Nation communities. We are pleased to celebrate this milestone and look for continued investments from the federal government for infrastructure projects to ensure that all First Nations in NAN territory have access to safe drinking water.” 

 Federal Minister of Indigenous Services Minister Jane Philpott and officials from the Ontario Ministry of Indigenous Relations attended the opening of the new water treatment plant and distribution system. 

 Federal funding for the $11.6 million-dollar project was announced in July 2016. The project will provide safe drinking water to all residences and buildings in the community. It also includes firefighting infrastructure such as water pumps and hydrants.  

 Until now, water in Slate Falls has been distributed by 11 pump houses, built in 1998. All of these pump houses have been under a drinking water advisory (DWA) since 2004. 

 Located approximately 550 kilometres north of Thunder Bay, Slate Falls represents about 30 per cent of DWAs in NAN First Nations, 14 per cent of DWAs in Ontario, and 8 percen of DWAs in First Nations across Canada