Lesson Fourty-Eight: Water Scarcity — Narrative of Climate Change

Mar 28

Mar 28 Lesson Fourty-Eight: Water Scarcity

Canada is considered a water-rich country because it has an abundance of fresh water.

Only 2.5% of the entire world’s water supply is fresh water. Canada has 7% of it.

The amount of freshwater on the planet has roughly been the same since before dinosaurs roamed the earth. The only difference in the last century, is that the population has exploded from which our water has become contaminated.

FIRST NATIONS ARE HIT HARDEST

Despite all the sh*t First Nation communities have gone through/continue to go through, it is many of their communities that are also hit the hardest by this.

As of March 28th 2021, there are 56 communities that still have long-term drinking water advisories.

When water isn’t available, disposable water jugs become one of the only alternatives.

In Neskantaga (Ontario), a bathtub is filled with these jugs and are used to flush the toilet, sponge bath, brush teeth, and do dishes.

THE TRUDEAU GOVERNMENT

During the 2015 election campaign, Justin Trudeau promised to eliminate all long-term advisories on reserves by March 2021.

In December 2020, Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller announced that the target was out of reach. While 103 instances were solved over the last 5 years, due to 2020 there is a lot of work that still needs to be done.