First steps

Jim Prentice's planned announcement of on-reserve water standards is an excellent start in trying to ensure that Canada's First Nations can be secure in their supply of basic goods. But the scope of Prentice's announcement gives some cause for concern:

The first-ever federal water standards for native reserves are set to be announced today by Indian Affairs Minister Jim Prentice.

Fifteen communities are expected to be identified as most at risk for waterborne health hazards...

In 2001, Indian Affairs found a significant risk to the quality or safety of drinking water for three-quarters of reserve systems.

It's certainly important to identify the worst of the worst situations and take immediate action to resolve them. But it should be clear that the communities to be identified today are only a small proportion of those in need of improved water supplies - and that if there's any lack of follow-up, either in the resources provided for the communities named or in extending the project to additional communities, then even this most pressing of issues facing First Nations won't have been dealt with to an acceptable extent.