Clean Water Act & Funding
Minister Gull-Masty Introduces First Nations Clean Water Act, Commits $4.6 Billion
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Canada's Minister of Indigenous Services, Mandy Gull-Masty, introduced Bill C-37 — the proposed First Nations Clean Water Act — in the House of Commons on June 16, 2026. The bill comes with a $4.6 billion funding commitment, on top of the $9.4 billion spent since 2015, to help build, maintain, and upgrade water systems in First Nations communities. National Post reported that 37 long-term drinking water advisories remain active across 36 communities as of June 2026.
The move follows years of legal and political pressure. A 2021 class-action settlement worth $8 billion legally obligated Canada to provide clean water and co-develop new legislation. The new bill replaces Bill C-61, a similar law that died when Parliament was prorogued in January 2025.
What Bill C-37 Would Actually Do
Bill C-37 aims to close a long-standing gap: First Nations communities have not had the same drinking water protections as non-Indigenous communities. The bill would affirm that First Nations' inherent right to self-government includes control over water on, in, and under their lands, according to Ontario Farmer. It sets a clear standard — water must meet the federal Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality, or match provincial and territorial standards.
The legislation would also require Canada to co-develop a long-term funding plan with First Nations. That framework would cover building, operating, maintaining, and upgrading water systems. Minister Gull-Masty said the bill "will affirm that the inherent right of First Nations to self-government includes jurisdiction over water," according to National Post.
A Decade of Failed Promises Led to This Moment
Canada has struggled with First Nations water access for over a decade. The 2013 Safe Drinking Water for First Nations Act was repealed in June 2022 after widespread criticism. Indigenous leaders said it gave Ottawa too much power without providing the money to meet its own rules. Since November 2015, 93 long-term drinking water advisories have been lifted — but 37 remain, according to The Observer.
Bill C-37 is the second attempt at replacement legislation. The first, Bill C-61, was introduced in December 2023 under then-minister Patty Hajdu. It died when Parliament was prorogued in January 2025, triggering a federal election. Prime Minister Mark Carney promised at an Assembly of First Nations meeting in December 2025 that new legislation would arrive by spring 2026 — a deadline his government just met, according to Edmonton Examiner.
Critics Say the Bill Falls Short on Rights and Consultation
Not everyone is satisfied. Lawyer Michael Rosenberg, who represented 260+ First Nations in the 2021 class action, threatened to return to court as recently as May 31, 2026. He said his clients were "shut out" of drafting and had not seen a draft until the bill was introduced. "It's just completely unacceptable to our clients that they're left in this vacuum," he said, according to Pembroke Observer.
A key sticking point is the "human right" to water. Bill C-61 in 2023 explicitly named it. Critics say Bill C-37 softens that language, moving it to the preamble rather than the body of the law — reportedly to ease tensions with Alberta and Ontario over resource jurisdiction. Conservative Indigenous Services critic Billy Morin, a former Enoch Cree Nation Chief, dismissed the bill as "watered down" and said it "only expands government jobs and doesn't actually get results," according to County Market.
What Happens Next — and the Legal Risk if It Fails
Bill C-37 was introduced just three days before Parliament's scheduled summer recess on June 19. That means full debate will not begin until the fall 2026 session. The bill must pass before it becomes law, and First Nations leaders say they are waiting to read the full text before deciding whether to support it, according to National Post.
The stakes are high. If First Nations determine the bill does not meet the terms of the 2021 settlement — especially around "adequate and sustainable funding" — the federal government could face a return to Federal Court. Rosenberg made that threat explicit: "If the legislation falls short, they are going back to the courts." The $4.6 billion announced today is meant to signal the government is serious, but critics say the money alone is not enough without strong legal guarantees.
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