Canada: Drinking Water Must be Addressed Despite Cancelled Meeting Says Beardy

THUNDER BAY, Ont. (CP)

Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Stand Beardy says he's disappointed Ottawa isn't addressing the issue of safe drinking water after a cancelled meeting with Ontario's aboriginal affairs minister.

Federal Indian Affairs Minister Jim Prentice drew criticism from both sides of the land dispute in Caledonia, Ont., when he cancelled a meeting with David Ramsay over "political grandstanding" from the Ontario government.

Ramsay had planned to raise the issue of safe drinking water on reserves with his federal counterpart.

Beardy said in a statement it's a shame strong support from the provincial level isn't being recognized by Ottawa.

He said the drinking water issue is critical, with First Nations communities suffering from poor water treatment plants, contaminated intakes, and traces of carcinogens in water.

Beardy said 19 of Nishnawbe Aski Nation's 49 communities are under boil-water advisories.