“Tataskweyak Cree Nation, Curve Lake First Nation and Neskantaga First Nation, together with the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Indigenous Services, announced that an historic Agreement in Principle has been reached through a successful negotiation process to resolve national class action litigation related to safe drinking water in First Nations communities.

This Agreement in Principle addresses important concerns identified by First Nations represented in the class action lawsuits.

The agreement includes the following:

• $1.5 billion in compensation for individuals deprived of clean drinking water;
• he creation of a $400 million First Nation Economic and Cultural Restoration Fund;
• a renewed commitment to Canada’s Action Plan for the lifting of all long-term drinking water advisories;
• the creation of a First Nations Advisory Committee on Safe Drinking Water;
• support for First Nations to develop their own safe drinking water by-laws and initiatives;
• a commitment of at least $6 billion to support reliable access to safe drinking water on reserve;
• planned modernization of Canada’s First Nations drinking water legislation.”