Month: June 2026

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Bill C-37: First Nations Clean Water Act


June 16, 2026 — Ottawa, Unceded Algonquin Territory, Ontario — Indigenous Services Canada

Bill C-37, the proposed First Nations Clean Water Act, demonstrates the Government of Canada’s commitment to address the priorities and concerns raised by First Nations, now and in the future.

Bill C-37 aims to meet the needs of First Nations by making sure that First Nations have legally enforceable protections for safe drinking water, consistent with those provided to other communities in Canada. This legislation is guided by the principle of substantive equality, acknowledging that First Nations’ distinct needs must be addressed in ways that respect their rights and support access to water services that are comparable to services in non-Indigenous communities.

This legislation would also affirm the inherent right of First Nations to self-government, including control over decisions related to water, source water, drinking water, wastewater, and related infrastructure on, in, and under their lands. 

To support First Nations in exercising their jurisdiction, the Bill would provide pathways for First Nations to enter into agreements with the federal government, and, where there is shared interest, with provinces and territories to support the protection of water and source water adjacent to First Nation lands, strengthening shared efforts to protect water resources through voluntary and collaborative partnerships.

It would also commit the federal government to take concrete steps to provide adequate and sustainable funding for water services on First Nation lands, including the completion of a funding framework co-developed with First Nations.

Bill C-37 builds on the substantial progress made on previously introduced legislation, which was developed through direct engagement with First Nations rights-holders and their representative organizations, including Modern Treaty and Self-Governing First Nations, provinces, territories, and other federal partners. Ongoing discussion and participation in the parliamentary process will be essential in determining the Bill’s final form and implementation.

Key elements of the Bill include:

  • ensuring that First Nations have reliable access to clean and safe drinking water and effective treatment and disposal of wastewater on First Nation lands;
  • committing the Government to improve access to safe drinking water in First Nations communities by taking action to progressively realize the internationally recognized human right to safe drinking water, including by closing regulatory gaps, co‑developing a funding framework and supporting First Nations water governance through a First Nations‑led water commission; 
  • affirming First Nations’ inherent right to self-government, including jurisdiction over water, source water, drinking water, wastewater and related infrastructure on, in and under First Nation lands;
  • ensuring that the quantity of water available on First Nation lands meets the drinking, cooking, sanitation, hygiene, safety, firefighting, emergency management, cultural and spiritual needs of First Nations; 
  • establishing national principles and minimum standards on the delivery of water services on First Nation lands, and enabling the development of a federal regulatory regime respecting those services;
  • requiring that all decisions made under the Bill be guided by the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, including the principle of free, prior and informed consent; and 
  • facilitating collaboration between First Nations and federal, provincial, territorial and municipal governments on transboundary source water protection planning and entering into agreements to protect source water.
  • The development of this proposed legislation reflects several years of engagement, parliamentary study and legislative work. 

Timeline of key events:

June 2026

The Minister of Indigenous Services sent a letter to all First Nation rights-holders and First Nation organizations sharing the introduction of Bill C-37 and encouraging ongoing engagement through the Parliamentary process. Bill C-37 – An Act respecting water, source water, drinking water, wastewater and related infrastructure on First Nation lands was introduced in Parliament.

January 2025

Due to the prorogation of Parliament on January 6, 2025, all proposed legislation terminated, including Bill C-61.

December 2024

The Chair of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs presented the Committee’s report on Bill C-61 to the House of Commons.

June 2024

Second reading of Bill C-61 was completed in the House of Commons. The Bill was referred for study to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs (INAN).

The House of Commons Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs began its study of Bill C-61. Eighteen (18) study meetings were held from June 12 to November 26, 2024, and INAN heard from 94 witnesses of whom 27 were from First Nations and their representative organizations. INAN made over 40 amendments. 

February 2024

Second reading debate of Bill C-61 began in the House of Commons.

December 2023

The Minister of Indigenous Services sent a letter to all First Nation rights-holders and First Nation organizations sharing the introduction of Bill C-61 and encouraging ongoing engagement through the Parliamentary process. Bill C-61 – An Act respecting water, source water, drinking water, wastewater and related infrastructure on First Nation lands was introduced in the House of Commons.

July-August 2023

In July 2023, Canada publicly shared an updated consultation draft of a legislative proposal with First Nation rights-holders, First Nation organizations, provinces and territories, and posted the updated draft online for further feedback by September 2023. This ongoing dialogue continued until mid-September 2023.

February 2023

In February 2023, Canada shared an initial consultation draft of a legislative proposal with First Nation rights-holders, First Nation organizations, provinces and territories, and posted the initial draft online for review and feedback by April 2023. This period was the first of two consultation periods on the consultation draft.

Summer 2022

Canada increased engagement and information sharing with First Nation rights-holders, including Modern Treaty and Self-Governing First Nations, through their own representative institutions and First Nation organizations to support the development of new proposed First Nations drinking water and wastewater legislation.

June 2022

The official repeal of the 2013 Safe Drinking Water for First Nations Act through the Budget Implementation Act, 2022, No. 1 received Royal Assent on June 23, 2022.

March 2022

Canada engaged key First Nation rights-holders and First Nation organizations on the proposed repeal of the 2013 Safe Drinking Water for First Nations Act through virtual engagement sessions. All participants supported the proposed repeal.

2021

The Safe Drinking Water for First Nations Class Action Settlement Agreement was approved by the Federal Court and the Manitoba Court of Queen’s Bench (now the Manitoba Court of King’s Bench) on December 22, 2021. Through the Settlement Agreement, Canada committed to making all reasonable efforts to:

  • introduce repeal of the 2013 Safe Drinking Water for First Nations Act by March 31, 2022; and
  • develop and introduce proposed replacement legislation, in consultation with First Nations, by December 31, 2022.

2019

Legal action began against Canada in two class actions on behalf of all members of First Nations resident on reserves with a drinking water advisory for at least one year since 1995.

2018

The Assembly of First Nations, with support from Canada, led an engagement to review the 2013 Safe Drinking Water for First Nations Act. First Nations shared several concerns, including:

  • lack of adequate, predictable and sustainable funding;
  • lack of recognition of Aboriginal rights;
  • potential infringement of Aboriginal and treaty rights;
  • lack of protection of source water; and
  • insufficient engagement on water issues that directly affect First Nations.

2015

Engagement on regulations came to a stop as First Nations called for the repeal and replacement of the 2013 Safe Drinking Water for First Nations Act.

2013

The Safe Drinking Water for First Nations Act came into effect to support Canada in developing federal regulations to provide access to safe, clean drinking water and the effective treatment of wastewater on First Nation land.



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Minister Gull-Masty introduces legislation to support access to clean drinking water in First Nations communities and announces historic funding commitment


June 16, 2026 — Ottawa, Unceded Algonquin Territory, Ontario — Indigenous Services Canada

Everyone in Canada should have access to clean and safe drinking water. First Nations have long called for legislation that affirms their inherent rights, sets minimum standards for water services, recognizes their stewardship in keeping water clean, and meets their needs. Effective legislation, a national regulatory regime, and First Nations-led institutions are essential to supporting sustainable access to clean, safe and reliable drinking water in First Nations communities.

Today, the Honourable Mandy Gull-Masty, Minister of Indigenous Services, introduced Bill C-37, the proposed First Nations Clean Water Act, in the House of Commons, alongside the largest single commitment ever made for First Nations water – $4.6 billion in targeted funding for water and wastewater in First Nation communities.

The Government of Canada worked directly with First Nation rights-holders, including Modern Treaty and Self-Governing First Nations, through their own representative organizations, to help ensure the Bill is responsive to First Nations’ needs and priorities. The proposed First Nations Clean Water Act builds on more than six years of consultations, engagement and parliamentary study of the former Bill C-61.

Currently, First Nations communities do not have legally enforceable safe drinking water protections – this legislative gap is unacceptable. Bill C-37 will help address this long-standing gap by making sure that the kinds of protections available in non-Indigenous communities are also available on First Nation lands.

The proposed First Nations Clean Water Act advances the progressive realization of the internationally recognized human right to safe drinking water on First Nation lands, with the legislation as a whole creating a practical pathway toward achieving that objective.

Bill C-37 will affirm that the inherent right of First Nations to self-government includes jurisdiction over water on, in and under their lands. It will require that drinking water standards at least meet the guidelines set out in the Guidelines for Canadian Drinking

Water Quality or at least meet provincial or territorial drinking water standards. Similarly, it will require that wastewater effluent standards at least meet the standards set out in the federal Wastewater Systems Effluent Regulations or at least meet provincial or territorial wastewater effluent standards.

In addition, we will support the development of regulations in consultation with First Nations governing bodies. This will allow First Nations to administer and enforce their own water laws on-reserve – which may go beyond the minimum standards if nations make that choice for their community.

The legislation will also create more ways to collaborate between First Nations, the federal government, and provinces and territories when it comes to water adjacent to First Nation lands, while respecting the authority of all jurisdictions.

It will also strengthen First Nations-led governance through the creation of a First Nations-led water commission, and the legislation would establish clear federal responsibilities and strengthen accountability.

Furthermore, the legislation would require Canada to work with First Nations to co-develop a long-term funding framework, helping ensure communities have the resources needed to build, operate, maintain and upgrade water systems over time, recognizing that sustainable access to safe drinking water requires long-term investment, not one-time funding.

To support the implementation of this new framework and help ensure communities have the resources needed to meet its objectives, the Government of Canada is committing a historic investment of an additional $4.6 billion in targeted funding, building on the over $9.4 billion committed since 2015.

These investments are making a real difference. The funding committed prior to today is helping bring clean water to approximately 483,000 people in 595 communities, including through improvements to more than 10,000 homes and 700 public buildings.

This new funding is critical to meeting community needs, supporting the lifting of remaining long-term drinking water advisories, and making sure that new standards are matched with the resources needed to implement them.

Together, this legislation and historic investment will advance the progressive realization of the human right to safe drinking water, help close long-standing regulatory and funding gaps, uphold First Nations rights and jurisdiction, strengthen First Nations-led water governance, and support reliable access to clean and safe drinking water for generations to come.



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Health

National overdose deaths decline and federal response expands


June 15, 2026 | Ottawa, ON | Health Canada

The toxic drug crisis continues to have devastating impacts on individuals, families, and communities across the country. While decreases in deaths and harms are encouraging, as highlighted in the latest national data on substance-related harms released earlier today, deaths remain higher than a decade ago and regional trends remain different across the country.

The progress we are seeing today reminds us that change is possible. But it also reminds us that there is more work to do. This crisis is complex. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to preventing or reducing its harms, and the drivers that surround it.

Our response must address all factors across health, social and public safety systems and must be a collective effort with all levels of government and Indigenous communities, health professionals, community organizations, and people with lived and living experience.

Today, the Honourable Marjorie Michel, Minister of Health, Dr. Joss Reimer, Chief Public Health Officer, the Honourable Mandy Gull-Masty, Minister of Indigenous Services, and Kevin Brosseau, Canada’s Fentanyl Czar, highlighted the cross-federal government’s actions over the past year to address this national public health crisis.

The illegal drug supply remains unpredictable, and communities need timely information to respond.

Initiatives like the National Wastewater Drug Surveillance dashboard, the Drug Analysis Service, and the Canadian Drug Analysis Centre, are improving our ability to identify and respond to new and emerging dangerous drugs being used in Canada. In addition, through Canada’s Border Plan, the Government of Canada supports law and border enforcement in detecting and disrupting the illegal drug trade by increasing testing and identifying substances seized by law enforcement agencies.

People also need support at every stage of their recovery journeys and support that reflect their realities. Communities need services that fit their cultures, languages, and local challenges.

Having access to treatment, harm reduction and recovery supports are crucial aspects of the government’s approach to this crisis. Over the last year, 180 organizations received 145 million dollars, through the Emergency Treatment Fund and the Substance Use and Addictions Program, to deliver urgent health services, social supports, and culturally grounded programs that save lives every day.

Prevention and education are also important parts of the government’s overall strategy. The Youth Substance Use Prevention Program is supporting communities to develop a tailored approach to substance use prevention for youth. Also, through a combination of targeted public education activities, experiential outreach such as “Know More Opioids” and “Reduce Your Risk” of Substance Use marketing campaigns, the government continues to strengthen opioid awareness and overdose prevention efforts across Canada.

Addressing the toxic drug crisis means not only responding to harm, but also creating the conditions that help people heal, recover, and build healthier futures.



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Minister Gull-Masty to make historic announcement on First Nations drinking water


Ottawa, Ontario — The Honourable Mandy Gull-Masty, Minister of Indigenous Services, will hold a press conference and media availability on an Act respecting water, source water, drinking water, wastewater and related infrastructure on First Nation lands.

Media participation:

Media wishing to cover the event must be accredited with the Canadian Parliamentary Press Gallery.

Date: Tuesday, June 16 2026
Time: 10:15 a.m. (ET)

Where:
House of Commons
West Block, 2nd floor Foyer
111 Wellington Street,
Ottawa, Ontario



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Health

Targeted initiatives to respond to the illegal drug crisis


Backgrounder

June 15, 2026

Throughout 2025-26, the federal government took targeted action and continued to support individuals, families and communities. Alongside, the federal government works with all levels of government and key partners to respond to the illegal drug crisis through targeted measures in prevention, harm reduction, treatment, recovery initiatives, and combatting organized drug crime.

Community-focused funding

Health Canada’s Emergency Treatment Fund (ETF) supported municipalities and Indigenous communities in delivering rapid responses to urgent substance use challenges. During the 2025-26 fiscal year, the ETF provided over $70 million to more than 90 projects supporting municipalities and Indigenous communities across Canada. Furthermore, through the Substance and Addictions Program (SUAP), Health Canada provided funding to other levels of government and to community-led, Indigenous, and not-for-profit organizations for a wide range of projects across the continuum of care. During the 2025-26 fiscal year, SUAP provided over $75 million to more than 90 projects supporting municipalities and Indigenous communities across Canada.

In August 2025, $2.9 million was announced through the Youth Substance Use Prevention Program (YSUPP) to support four projects in Alberta and Ontario. In November 2025, an additional $6 million was announced through the YSUPP to support nine community projects across Canada, to expand their prevention efforts and strengthen local initiatives.

Support for Indigenous communities

On March 27, 2026, the Minister of Indigenous Services Canada announced a new federal investment of nearly $1.4 billion to enhance health, wellness, and community supports for Indigenous Peoples. As part of this investment, a total of $630 million over two years (2026-27 to 2027-28) will support the availability, accessibility, quality, and effectiveness of mental wellness services for Indigenous Peoples across the country, including wraparound supports at opioid agonist therapy sites, mental wellness teams and continued access to crisis lines. Maintaining its existing distinctions-based approach to the allocation of funding, the Department directs a portion of this investment to Modern Treaty and Self-Governing Indigenous Governments to support community-based, land-based, culturally relevant and trauma informed mental health services addressing – among other things – suicide and addictions crises.

Public education and awareness

Public education campaigns continued to raise awareness about opioids and overdose prevention across Canada through targeted initiatives, including through the “Know More Opioids” and “Reduce Your Risk” experiential marketing campaigns and the strategic partnerships that were paired with them. These initiatives focused on prevention, reducing stigma, and encouraging help-seeking behaviours and reached diverse audiences, including youth, young adults, men in trades, and other event participants. These efforts also increased public awareness and practical skills related to naloxone use and overdose response.

Knowledge mobilization

In April 2026, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research in collaboration with the Public Health Agency of Canada organized a Best Brain Exchange to understand individual, community and service adaptations as a driver of declining opioid-related deaths in Canada to inform policy action. The event brought together researchers, federal and provincial/territorial public health, policymakers, funders, and persons with lived and living experience to discuss how people who use drugs, service providers, and their communities have adapted to severe drug toxicity and shaped innovative overdose prevention services to better meet needs and save lives.

Illegal drug trade monitoring and surveillance

As part of Canada’s Border Plan, Health Canada launched the Precursor Chemical Risk Management Unit (PCRMU) to provide enhanced oversight of precursor chemicals, and enhance monitoring and surveillance to support timely law enforcement action to help stop the flow of illegal synthetic drugs like fentanyl. Through this Unit, the department finalized amendments to further strengthen Canada’s controls for precursor chemicals and drug manufacturing equipment.

In addition, to address the ongoing threat of emerging substances to public health and safety, the Minister of Health made an Order in May 2026 to put in place temporary controls for two synthetic opioids, and one precursor chemical under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act for one year. These controls took effect on June 6, 2026. The substances being controlled are two synthetic opioids, spirobrorphine and spirochlorphine, as well as R 29676, a precursor chemical that could be used to produce synthetic opioids. These controls provide new tools to Canadian law and border enforcement to stop the illegal importation and distribution of synthetic opioids and precursors. Anyone caught conducting unauthorized activities with these substances may be subject to criminal charges.

Health Canada expanded the National Wastewater Drug Surveillance (NWDS) initiative to over 60 sites in 11 provinces and territories. In December 2025, the department also launched the NWDS dashboard to provide in-depth information about new and emerging drugs being used in Canada. The NWDS provides information about trends in synthetic drug use and supply in Canada by analyzing wastewater samples from participating communities to detect the presence of over 550 substances.

On May 27, 2026, Health Canada launched the Canadian Drug Analysis Centre (CDAC). The CDAC expands the department’s laboratory drug testing and analytical capabilities through new dedicated lab spaces in Toronto and Vancouver. The new labs analyze illicit substances seized by law enforcement partners to help identify how and where the substances are manufactured. 

Combatting organized crime and the illegal drug trade

The government is addressing the illicit financial systems that fund organized crime networks by following the money and targeting criminal profits. This includes strengthening legislation, investing in federal policing, establishing Canada’s first-ever Financial Crimes Agency, and enhancing law enforcement–financial sector collaboration through the Integrated Money Laundering Intelligence Partnership (IMLIP) and FINTRAC intelligence. Several transnational criminal organizations have also been listed as terrorist entities under the Criminal Code, providing additional tools to support investigations and disrupt criminal activity.

Law enforcement and border capacity have been reinforced. Budget 2025 announced a historic $1.7 billion investment to strengthen policing capacity, including the hiring of 1,000 new Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) personnel to support investigations into transnational organized crime, and 1,000 new Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officers to enhance frontline operations. Since November 2025, an additional $8 million over four years has supported the establishment of Regional Integrated Drug Enforcement Teams in British Columbia and Ontario, bringing together multi-agency resources to target organized drug crime. Investments in advanced detection and surveillance technologies are improving the ability to detect and intercept the cross-border movement of illegal drugs, precursor chemicals, and other contraband at and between ports of entry.

Under the leadership of the Fentanyl Czar, we are strengthening domestic and international cooperation to combat transnational drug trafficking. Canada is working closely with the United States, Mexico, and other partners through joint initiatives such as the Joint Operational Intelligence Cell and the North American Joint Strike Force, co-chaired by the RCMP and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, while additional RCMP liaison officers abroad help address threats before they reach Canada.

These efforts are supported by Canada’s Border Plan and key legislation, including Bill C-22, An Act to keep Canadians Safe, and the Strengthening Canada’s Immigration System and Borders Act (Bill C-12), which received Royal Assent in March 2026, providing stronger tools to secure borders and support enforcement.

Preventing youth involvement in gangs and organized crime remains a priority, supported by continued investments, including the planned renewal of the Building Safer Communities Fund (BSCF) with up to $157.5 million over three years. These efforts by helping to reduce entry into illegal drug markets in the first place, strengthen community and well-being, while also allowing law enforcement to focus on the most serious threats.

Looking forward

Health Canada’s plans to address the illegal drug crisis in 2026-27 include:

  • Continuing to provide support through the SUAP and ETF for a wide range of innovative and evidence-informed projects aimed at reducing substance-related harms and deaths in communities across Canada.
  • Raising awareness about opioid risks, promoting ways to reduce the risk of overdose, reducing stigma, and encouraging help-seeking through public education initiatives in school-based settings, targeted advertising, and strategic partnerships.
  • Continuing to support Canada’s Border Plan, including by monitoring for the emergence of new substances in the illegal drug supply and expanding the NWDS and taking regulatory action as needed to support law enforcement efforts to disrupt organized drug crime.
  • Through the establishment of the Canadian Drug Analysis Centre, analyzing synthetic illegal drugs and related substances submitted by law enforcement partners will help identify distribution and manufacturing patterns and sources. This information helps law enforcement and public safety partners better address the synthetic drug threat.

The Public Health Agency of Canada will continue to advance upstream prevention, national surveillance and applied research of public health outcomes related to opioids by:

  • Continuing the implementation of the Youth Substance Use Prevention Program (YSUPP), including ongoing evaluation of the implementation and adaptation of the Icelandic Prevention Model (IPM) within the Canadian context, to inform evidence-based programming and support continuous improvement across participating communities.
  • Advancing pan-Canadian surveillance and research infrastructures in collaboration with the provincial and territorial Chief Coroners, Chief Medical Examiners, and Statistics Canada to:
    • Report on all substances contributing to deaths and analyze multi-drug toxicity deaths.
    • Facilitate data linkages for disaggregated data analyses that advance knowledge of risk and protective factors related to social determinants of health and health equity.
  • Advancing simulation modelling activities to explore the impact of prevention, harm reduction, and treatment factors on opioid related deaths over time.

The Government of Canada holds a strong commitment to working with partners to save lives, support recovery, and address the underlying drivers of the illegal drug crisis.



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Economic

Government of Canada brings Canadians together through major international sport events


GATINEAU, June 15, 2026

Sport is central to our national identity, a key driver of economic growth, a force for nation-building, and an endless source of pride and inspiration. It has a unique ability to bring Canadians together through shared moments of pride and excellence.

Today, the Honourable Adam van Koeverden, Secretary of State (Sport), announced funding to support a series of international sport events taking place this summer in Canada, including:

  • $50,000 to Cycling Canada for the UCI Mountain Bike Continental Series in Canmore, Alberta, from June 9 to 13;
  • $50,000 to Cycling Canada for the Tour de Beauce, taking place in the Beauce region of Quebec, from June 10 to 14;
  • $150 000 to Volleyball Canada for the 2026 Men’s Volleyball Nations League, taking place in Ottawa from June 10 to 14;
  • $120,000 to Canada Artistic Swimming for the World Aquatics Artistic Swimming World Cup 2026 – Super Final in Toronto from June 19 to 21;
  • $250,000 to Canoe Kayak Canada for the 2026 ICF Junior & U23 Canoe Sprint World Championships in Halifax, Nova Scotia, from July 1 to 5; and
  • $150,000 to Canoe Kayak Canada for the ICF Sprint and Paracanoe World Cup/Pan American Championships in Montréal from July 9 to 12.
  • These investments, and more to come over the summer, will help National Sport Organizations deliver world-class competitions and provide Canadian athletes with valuable opportunities to compete against top international talent on home soil, in front of their fans. Beyond supporting high-performance sport, these events contribute to local economies, attract visitors, unite communities and highlight Canada as a premier destination.

These investments are part of a broader national effort to strengthen Canada’s sport system and bring Canadians together through shared experiences. They complement a $13-million investment by the Government of Canada to support the hosting of the 2026 UCI Road World Championships in Montréal this September, and Canada’s co-hosting of the largest sporting event in the world with this summer’s FIFA World Cup 2026™ matches in Toronto and Vancouver.

By hosting world-class events in communities across the country, Canada continues to demonstrate its leadership in sport and its commitment to creating opportunities that unite people, celebrate diversity and inspire the next generation.



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