Some of Nunavut's water treatment plants don't meet federal standards, minister says

Nunavut MLAs have been pressing one of the territory's ministers over the quality of drinking water in the communities they represent.

Several MLAs questioned Community and Government Services Minister David Joanasie in the Legislative Assembly for nearly a week.

On Wednesday, Joanasie said some of the water treatment plants in the territory don't meet guidelines.

"Despite some of our water treatment plants not meeting the current Canadian guidelines for Canadian drinking water quality treatment objectives, we do treat drinking water," he said.

The issue was initially brought up on Thursday last week, the first day of the current sitting, by Uqqummiut MLA Mary Killiktee. She asked Joanasie how the water treatment plants in the communities of Clyde River and Qikiqtarjuaq will be kept up to date and make sure the water is tested regularly.

Uqqummiut MLA Mary Killiktee was the first Nunavut politician to ask about the water quality in their riding. (Travis Burke/CBC)

Joanasie said in Inuktitut that the water is always tested and that they work closely with the Department of Health. He also mentioned that $125 million has been set aside by the government of Nunavut to ensure each community's infrastructure will be up to date.

Later in the session, Aivilik MLA Solomon Malliki said CGS issued a request for proposals regarding the water treatment plant in Coral Harbour.

When he asked Joanasie if the plant in Coral Harbour was up to date, Joanasie said that drinking water regulations have evolved with time, and that the GN is working on upgrading water treatment infrastructure.

The federal government recently announced $2 million to improve water treatment facilities in Clyde River, Coral Harbour and Igloolik and for design and building upgrades to the facilities in Arctic Bay, Grise Fiord, Pond Inlet, Rankin Inlet and Sanikiluaq can begin.

Aivilik MLA Solomon Malliki was the second politician to ask about the water quality in their riding. (Matisse Harvey/Radio-Canada)

8 of 25 facilities passed health and safety tests 

An NDP MP brought up Nunavut's water issues in the House of Commons last Friday.

"Water is life and access to safe drinking water is a human right," said Peter Julian. "But in Nunavut, only eight out of 25 water treatment facilities passed their health and safety tests.

Jenica Atwin, the parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Indigenous Services, said it's unacceptable for any communities in Canada not to have access to clean drinking water.

"We're going to make sure to work with them for an Indigenous-led, Inuit-led solution to this problem," Atwin said.

Water pours out of a tap in CBC Nunavut's kitchen in Iqaluit. The quality of water in Nunavut has been brought up by four Nunavut MLAs in the territorial legislature and a federal NDP MP in the House of Commons. (Steve Silva/CBC)

When Julian's numbers were brought up in the Nunavut assembly by Iqaluit-Sinaa MLA Janet Brewster, Joanasie said he agreed with those findings.

MLAs seek 'yes' or 'no' answers 

On Monday, Joanasie told the assembly that CGS will be "advancing a series of water and wastewater treatment projects to ensure Nunavummiut have ongoing access to safe drinking water and that our wastewater is managed effectively."

He also mentioned that Resolute Bay's water treatment expansion project would be substantially complete by the end of the year.

Malliki asked for a "yes" or "no" answer from Joanasie about whether Coral Harbour's plant met federal standards.

Joanasie said that it isn't up to code.

David Joanasie, Nunavut's minister of Community and Government Services, says the water in each community is tested every day and that the government is working on upgrading its water treatment infrastructure. (Matisse Harvey/Radio-Canada)

"But we are working hard to ensure that we are improving the quality to ensure that we have the highest quality water," Joanasie concluded.

Malliki asked if the water in Coral Harbour and Naujaat was tested regularly and safe to drink. Joanasie didn't answer, saying once again that standards have been increasing.

Aggu MLA Joanna Quassa also questioned Joanasie about the drinking water quality in Igloolik.

Later in the week, Joanasie said every community's water is safe to drink and that the GN would issue boil water advisories if necessary. He also confirmed on Thursday that the water treatment plant in Igloolik does not meet Canadian water quality treatment guidelines, but that the water quality is up to par.