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Click here for more information and an earlier story about the Safe Water Commission.

From the Thunder Bay Chronicle Journal at  http://66.244.236.251/article_8317.php

Water situation ‘deplorable’ By JIM KELLY, Aug 24, 2006
 
Frank Beardy has a theory that the high rate of cancers among Nishnawbe Aski Nation communities is related to the water residents drink.

Beardy, former chief of Muskrat Dam First Nation, made a presentation Wednesday to the expert panel on safe drinking water for First Nations.

The panel, which held two days of hearings in Thunder Bay, is holding informal sessions across Canada and accepting written submissions until Aug. 31.

The panel will present an interim report to tIndian and Northern Affairs at that time. A final report will be released this fall which will analyse options for regulations.

“I know what I’m talking about,” said Beardy who lost his wife Lucy to cancer.

“It (cancer) was unheard of 20 to 30 years ago,” he said. “Now, we have the highest cancer rate per capita among Canadian society.”

Panel member Prof. Steve Hrudey of the University of Alberta, said from the evidence available to him, it’s unlikely the cancers in First Nations communities were caused by drinking water.

“For many years we’ve been plagued by many experts,” Beardy told Hrudey. “Despite the views of the experts, we know what we’re living with.”

He said NAN covers about two-thirds of Ontario and includes 49 First Nation communities, 19 of which are under boil-water advisories.

“It’s truly amazing that with the abundance of water in our territories, we cannot drink from the lakes and rivers,” Beardy told the panel.

“Ontario First Nation communities experience some of the poorest water quality in the province. This is deplorable,” Beardy said.

He said the communities do not benefit from federal and provincial guidelines. Health Canada tests some First Nation water supplies only once a year.

“We’re always on the outside. The federal government is responsible for safe drinking water.”

Beardy said most First Nation communities don’t have enough money to hire and train the best qualified water plant operators, who instead are scooped up by municipalities.

Beardy said he has a simple solution: “Once clear standards are set, it will be easier to determine what needs to be done to meet those standards. Let’s start working now to implement safe water standards,” he said.

Arnold Gardiner of Grand Council Treaty No. 3 said First Nation communities want to be accountable to themselves.

“We want to be self-sufficient,” he told the panel. “We want to take over the resources on our lands and we’ll look after our water.”

Panel chairman Harry Swain said it’s not within the panel’s mandate to deal with treaty rights.

© Copyright by Chronicle Journal.com

First Nation Site Liaison position posted Aug 19, 2006 at http://66.244.236.251/article_8180.php

Shaping the future

• AMEC is an international project management and services company that designs, delivers and supports client assets for customers worldwide across the public and private sectors.
• AMEC employs 44,000 people in more than 40 countries. AMEC has approximately 7,000 employees operating from over 150 offices in North America.
• AMEC was ranked by Engineering News Record Magazine as the #1 International Design Firm in Canada and the U.S.

De Beers Canada Inc. (DBC) has contracted AMEC Americas Limited to provide project management, construction management, engineering and procurement services for the development of the Victor Mine, to be located in the Western James Bay lowland area.

DBC and AMEC are committed to working with First Nations people, specifically the Attawapiskat First Nation, to help create business, employment and training opportunities.

This is where you come in.

First Nation Site Liaison

Based at the Victor Site, this position will involve working closely with First Nation workers, contractors, AMEC and DeBeers personnel, the project’s Community Relations Team and surrounding communities. You will have a unique opportunity to promote the project’s vision, provide cross-cultural training, and generally work to maximize First Nation benefits from the project.

This exciting mandate requires an individual with strong communication skills and a proven record in community relations within both cultures. Post-secondary education or equivalent background, experience in a construction setting and computer skills are required. The ability to speak Cree is an asset.

The rotation schedule is 3 weeks in, 1 week out. There are regular flights from Timmins and the James Bay coastal communities.

Please forward your resume and covering letter by August 28, 2006 to: AMEC, Human Resources, 2020 Winston Park Drive, Suite 700, Oakville ON L6H 6X7. Fax: 905-829-9481.
E-mail: careers.ec.oak@amec.com.

We work worldwide, responsibly and for the long term.

AMEC is committed to the principle of equal opportunity in employment. We thank all applicants and advise that only those candidates selected for interviews will be contacted. No phone calls or agency solicitations will be accepted.
www.amec.com

© Copyright by Chronicle Journal.com

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From http://www.timminspress.com/webapp/sitepages/content.asp?contentID=159898&catname=Local+News

Victor project ahead of schedule - Arron Pickard
- Saturday, August 19, 2006

In a matter of only six months, De Beers Canada has transformed about four kilometres of mushkeg-laden territory located 90 kilometres west of Attawapiskat into the makings of a future diamond mine.

Since January, the company has managed to dig up a 30-metre-deep quarry, with the rock being used to build the foundation for a full-fledged mining camp.

De Beers has also constructed an airstrip, as well as state-of-the-art water filtration, waste management and incinerator plants and is well on its way to full production of the Victor project - Ontario's first diamond mine.

In fact, development of the $928-$982-million mine site is progressing so well, project vice-president Jeremy Wyeth said, the production date has been moved ahead six months. It is now estimated the mine will enter into its production phase by April, 2008.

"We've made tremendous progress, but there's still a lot of work to do," Wyeth told The Daily Press.

"It has taken a big team effort to get this far this fast and the next 18 months are going to be very, very busy."

De Beers is in the process of connecting about 400 kms of power line that stretches as far away as Moosonee and contractors are continuing to build on-site facilities such as a processing plant, workshops and a pit-dewatering system.
Furthermore, as the project nears production, De Beers will construct an additional accommodation complex to house the 400 employees it will take to mine the 0.6-million carats per year. As of right now, the mining camp can accommodate up to 270 people.

Then, once winter hits, De Beers can begin clearing the 15 hectares of mushkeg that cover the Victor kimberlite.

Wyeth described mushkeg as mainly wetland with few high points or rock outcroppings. As such, he said the land needs to be frozen because it would be impossible for workers to clear that amount of mushkeg during the summer.

The Victor kimberlite, which derives its name from the phonetic alphabet, measures about 250 metres in depth and at the end of production, will look something similar to Timmins's own Dome Super Pit, said Victor project communications co-ordinator Trish Buttineau. However, she said there are another 16 diamondiferous kimberlites within the immediate vicinity of the Victor project that could extend the mine's lifespan past 12 years.

"These are rather insignificant, smaller kimberlites and none of them would be able to sustain a mine on its own," Buttineau said. "But, they could very well add to the Victor project's own significance," should De Beers choose to mine them.

Because the Victor kimberlite is located on Native land, De Beers has included First Nation communities along the James Bay Coast in its plans. The majority of the workforce during both development and production will be made up of residents of those Aboriginal communities.

On June 21, 2005, the First Nation community of Attawapiskat and De Beers finalized an impact benefit agreement, ensuring residents along the James Bay Coast will reap their own rewards from the Victor project.

De Beers has built a $750,000 training centre in Attawapiskat and has also partnered with the coastal communities to secure federal funding to create 1,210 program seats in that centre. Training is being provided in environmental awareness, environmental monitoring, health and safety, heavy-equipment operation, food preparation, mechanical work and drill operation. The 400 jobs that will be created through the Victor project once it reaches production will first be made available to qualified people of Attawapiskat.

Thereafter, the positions will be filled by other residents of the James Bay Coast.

"The two phases (development and production) of the project are very different in terms of employment," Wyeth said. "The development phase is comprised of high intensity, short-term specific skills. These are jobs where employees come in, accomplish their task and leave. It's not a phase suited for training purposes.

"During the operational phase, jobs will be more routine. There will be the type of activities that are longer-term and better suited for training."

Wyeth said while it is mostly contractors tackling the development phase of the project, residents of Attawapiskat are currently completing their training at the centre and will be ready in time for the production phase.

Following their education, Wyeth said, it is De Beers's plan to get as many of them employed as possible, get them trained and into supervisory positions. That way, there is constantly room for new employment opportunities.

Quick Facts

Following is a breakdown of the Victor project, spearheaded by De Beers Canada:

• The Victor kimberlite is one of 18 pipes discovered on the property, 16 of which are diamondiferous
• The Victor kimberlite has a surface area of 15 hectares and consists of two pipes that come together at the surface
• The geology of the Victor kimberlite is complex, comprising pyroclastic crater facies and hypabyssal facies and has a highly-variable diamond grade
• The mine will be open pit with an expected life of 12 years and a total project life of 17 years

For more information about the Victor Project, visit http://www.debeerscanada.com/files_2/victor_project/factsheet.html

Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) Program

The application deadline for this new community-based program has been extended to September 30th. 

If you a Grade 12 graduate and interested in becoming a teacher or working with youth in your community, email Brian Hawker ( bhawker@nnec.on.ca ) or call him toll free at 1-877-636-0667, ext. 25. 

You must include your mailing address and telephone number in your email or voice mail message.

This program will be accredited by the Ontario College of Teachers and is sponsored by a Northern Nishnawbe Education Council and Brock University.

The Ipperwash Inquiry is hearing closing statements from a number of different parties. All the presentations from Aboriginal groups clearly point out how the government of the day (Mike Harris and the conservative party) influenced the atmosphere surrounding the occupation of the park and therefore influenced the police actions that lead to the death of Dudley George.

All the presentations can be seen online at http://www.ipperwashinquiry.ca. The web site contains a number of other resources (including teacher and student guides) that will hopefully help prevent a similar event from ever happening again.

For other stories about the Ipperwash Inquiry, check out ...

• Turtle Island News coverage of Ipperwash at http://www.turtleisland.org/discussion/viewtopic.php?t=1109
   
• 'Forcefulness' of Harris's opinions likely influenced police, probe told; Ipperwash inquiry continues" at http://www.timminspress.com/webapp/sitepages/content.asp?contentid=162465&catname=Ontario&classif=
   
• CBC Online's summary coverage of the Ipperwash experience at http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/ipperwash/

Six million dollars a year goes a long way to building and supporting the operation of telecommunication infrastructure across northern Ontario.

From http://www.timminspress.com/webapp/sitepages/content.asp?contentID=162447&catname=Local+News

FedNor funds get slashed - Michael Peeling, August 22, 2006

An economic program key to Northern Ontario's future has sustained a major budget cut of more than $6 million this year by the federal government, prompting concern from local business and politicians.

Funding for the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario (FedNor) has been reduced from $51.9 million to $45.5 million in its annual budget, which was announced by Minister of FedNor and Health Tony Clement (MP - Parry Sound-Muskoka) recently in Bracebridge.

FedNor's aim is to increase business opportunities, bolster economic development and ensure the sustainability of Northern and rural Ontario communities.

Although Clement has renewed the Northern Ontario Development Program, FedNor's chief source of funding, for five years, MP Charlie Angus (NDP - Timmins James Bay) isn't impressed.

"FedNor has always been the poor cousin of regional economic development structures," said Angus, pointing out that it's the only Canadian organization of its kind that isn't a standalone corporation, but an adjunct to Industry Canada.

Angus says that arrangement makes keeping track of the federal money spent on Northern Ontario even more difficult than it already is, which he believes allows cover for the party in power to play "shell games" with the money.

Timmins Chamber of Commerce president Tom Laughren can see far-reaching effects of the budget cut on the city's businesses.

"I think it will have a huge effect," Laughren said. "When we look at economic development locally, FedNor is always one of the key partners. A cut-back in money will effect business all over Timmins."

Laughren says the North has a big enough problem keeping young people in the region without a major cutback in money that often goes toward internship programs for students.

FedNor money was instrumental in the effort to keep the Monteith Correctional Facility open according to Laughren.

"FedNor was set up to level the playing field for Northern Ontario," Angus said. "We're a resource-dependent region. We send out royalties on resources and we do not get the same level of support back, so FedNor was set up to address that inequity in Ontario."

The other problem now, according to Angus, is that starting under Jean Chretien's Liberal government, a lot of FedNor's resources, including staff, have been put into projects in southern and eastern Ontario.

"It makes us question the Conservatives' commitment to the North. This leaves FedNor open to the kind of cuts that Clement is playing with right now."

Angus said that if the diversion of resources is a sign that a new provincewide economic development organization will spring up soon, he is fine with that, but believes that Northern Ontario always gets short-changed when provincewide funding initiatives are announced.

"We have to say 'no' to funding cuts like the one to FedNor, stand up and push back," Angus said. "We need to get revenues back from the non-renewable resources we send out."

Laughren said that he can't speak for other areas, but in Timmins FedNor grants are very important because businesses apply for them all the time.

TBayTel Enters Into Agreement to Purchase Superior Wireless Inc. - August 21, 2006

TBayTel, Canada’s largest independent telecommunications company announced that it has signed a letter of agreement to purchase Superior Wireless Inc., a local and regional cellular and broadband Internet provider. This purchase significantly expands TBayTel’s regional services package across Northern Ontario. ... Click here to READ the entire press release ...

From Thunder Bay Chronicle Journal at

TBayTel rings up big deal
By WARD HOLLAND, THE CHRONICLE-JOURNAL - Aug 22, 2006

TBayTel’s acquisition of Superior Wireless will improve cellular telephone reception in Northwestern Ontario, but isn’t expected to generate additional revenue for the City of Thunder Bay.

Gary Armstrong, the chief financial officer of TBayTel, said Monday cellphone users won’t get coverage in areas where it wasn’t available before, but existing reception will be better.

“If you’re driving from Kenora to the Sault, you will get improved coverage along that corridor,” Armstrong said.

“It won’t be continual, but it will be greatly improved.”

TBayTel announced Monday that it has purchased Superior Wireless, a company owned by a group of eight business people for an undisclosed amount.

The deal makes TBayTel the primary cellphone provider in Northwestern Ontario and expands the company’s coverage by 11,000 customers.

TBayTel has continual cellphone coverage from Nipigon to Rainy River, and localized coverage in small towns like Marathon, Schreiber, Terrace Bay and Upsala.

The deal gives TBayTel access to towns like Wawa, White River and Manitouwadge, and First Nations communities.

“This fills in a lot of gaps,” Armstrong said.

Thunder Bay city council approved the deal after talking about it in a behind-closed-doors meeting Monday.

Mayor Lynn Peterson praised the deal.

“I’m pleased to represent the City of Thunder Bay as TBayTel takes a decisive step in evolving as a leading-edge local and regional telecommunications provider,” she said.

TBayTel generates a dividend of $16.5 million a year for the city, which is its sole shareholder.

TBayTel chairman Donald Paterson said the utility has committed to giving the city that amount annually for the next three years.

Paterson said city council will expect the board to look at increasing the dividend now. “We’ll be looking at that,” he said.

Ken Esau, acting president and chief executive of TBayTel, said the deal could provide savings for customers in the region who want “bundled” wireless packages.

Don Wing, president of Superior Wireless, said his company has provided cellular and Internet access across the region for five years.

“TBayTel’s telecommunications strength combined with Superior Wireless’s solid regional network significantly improves cellular and broadband services for residents for the Northwest as well as parts of the Northeast,” he said.

Esau said negotiations were held over the past few weeks while discussions began in November 2004.

Discussions continued last November when Wing indicated he was thinking about selling Superior Wireless.

“Don, being a person from Thunder Bay, thought that he would like to talk with TBayTel and we had a long discussion about it,” Esau said.

Wing said it was important to have one “strong, seamless network for everybody” in the region. “With us competing against each other, it wasn’t the best use of funds,” he said.

The deal comes into effect Sept. 8 at which point Superior Wireless will be absorbed by TBayTel.

© Copyright by Chronicle Journal.com

From INAC Press Release at http://www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/nr/prs/m-a2006/2-02783_e.html

INAC Supports First Ever First Nation Economic Development Officers Conference in Ontario
 
TORONTO (August 18, 2006) - The Honourable Jim Prentice, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians, today announced that the first annual Ontario Region First Nation Economic Development Officers Conference is scheduled to take place in London, Ontario, from August 22-24, 2006.

"Canada's new government is committed to supporting economic development in First Nation communities," said Minister Prentice. "Working with our aboriginal and non-aboriginal partners, our goal is to foster long-term, sustainable growth and to create self-reliant communities."

This year's conference is being hosted by Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) in partnership with the Southern First Nations Secretariat, and the Community Economic Advisory Team Ontario. INAC is working with the conference organizers to enable representatives from all of Ontario's 127 First Nation communities to take part in this event. Persons working in the field of First Nation economic development are also invited to participate.

The theme for this year's conference is Planning for Sustainable Community Economies. The conference is designed to provide First Nation Economic Development Officers with the tools, skills, and networking opportunities they need to effectively deliver economic development programs and services. This is a key commitment of INAC's Community Economic Development Program.

The Southern First Nations Secretariat is a service delivery organization addressing a wide variety of needs related to its seven member First Nation communities which include Caldwell, Chippewas of the Thames, Delaware, Kettle and Stony Point, Oneida Nation of the Thames, Chippewas of Sarnia, and Muncey Delaware.

The Community Economic Advisory Team Ontario is a committee of 10 First Nation Economic Development Officers from across Ontario who provide advice to the INAC Ontario Region regarding the management of the department's economic development programming and services.

For more information, please contact:

Peter Sero
Communications Officer
INAC Ontario Region
25 St. Clair Avenue E. 8th Floor
Toronto ON
(416) 973-6222

The 2006 gathering in Moose Factory that took place from August 14 to 18 successfully wrapped up with a strong sense of Cree pride and cultural awareness.

From http://www.nationalcreegathering.ca/indexnew.php

The 11th Annual National Cree Gathering 2006 - Moose Factory, August 14 - 18

The purpose of this gathering is to provide an opportunity for our people in our area, especially our youth to observe, learn and to gain a better understanding of their own distinct Cree heritage. In conjunction with other Cree Nations on a national level, it is our hope to promote and preserve our unique traditional ceremonial practices, language and ways of our people that was eroded and slowly phased out over the years.

It is imperative that we all make an effort to understand and help maintain our traditional knowledge, language and practices of our ancestors for the benefit of our children, grandchildren and future generations yet unborn. It is important and incumbent upon us today to ensure that they be provided with an opportunity to connect with who they are, where they come from and to be proud of who they are as Cree people. This is the cornerstone of how we may be able to heal and to regain our strength and unity as a proud and strong people, and to stand again as a strong Cree Nation.

"As Crees we have a very rich history. We have an abundance of ceremonies, customs, values and beliefs as a people. The Creator has blessed our people with many gifts- beautiful gifts of creation such as the land and animals to live together in harmony. Our people have been misunderstood, our history has been distorted, but we must come together to remind our people of our original instruction as a people- the original instruction we have from our creator. We must reflect on the past, the many hardships of our people have endured in order to survive as a people. Where we stand today and where we are going in the future."

Check out the stories about this gathering in the Timmins Daily Press:

•  Youth travel from Manitoba to see National Cree Gathering - Scott Paradis, August 21, 2006 - There's no destination too far for a group of Manitoba youths.
   
  The group of 10 arrived in Moose Factory from their Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation, Man., home after a more than a 30-hour drive, a four-hour train ride, a 20-minute boat taxi and a three-minute land cab. .... READ MORE ...
   
• Cree Gathering wraps up in Moose Factory - Scott Paradis, August 19, 2006 - Flames from the sacred fire began to fizzle shortly into the noon hour Friday.
   
  The fire, prepared for the 2006 National Cree Gathering in Moose Factory, kept burning throughout the entire celebration, which began Monday. Nighttime showers, high winds and events diverting attention elsewhere did little to threaten the symbolic flames. READ MORE ...
    
• Cree Gathering underway in Moose Factory - Scott Paradis, August 16, 2006 - Cree people of the James Bay Coast should take a cultural lesson from the West, a First Nation Chief said.
   
  Moosonee First Nation Chief Patricia Faries-Akiwenzie said she hopes the 2006 National Cree Gathering will be the first portion of that lesson. .... READ MORE ...
   
• Gathering participants remember tougher times - http://www.timminspress.com/webapp/sitepages/content.asp?contentID=158270&catname=Local+News

From http://www.timminspress.com/webapp/sitepages/content.asp?contentID=159899&catname=Local+News

Docs vacating the North, study reveals

James Wallace  /  Osprey News Network
Saturday, August 19, 2006

A third of all doctors living in Northwestern Ontario expect to leave their practices by 2009, shows an Ontario Medical Association study obtained by Osprey News.

The study not only confirms that doctor retention continues to be a chronic problem in the North but it also found current doctor-retention initiatives for underserviced areas are not working.

Almost nine out of 10 doctors believe there is a "serious physician retention problem in Northwestern Ontario" and 41 per cent believe that "regardless of physician-retention initiatives, more and more physicians will leave Northwestern Ontario to practise elsewhere."

Dr. David Bach, president of the Ontario Medical Association, said although the study focused on doctors in Northwestern Ontario, it likely reflects physician sentiments across the North and in rural, underserviced communities.

"I suspect it is broadly applicable because the issues that are identified here are common issues in semi-rural and northern places," Bach said.

The study found doctors decide to leave for a combination of professional and personal reasons but significantly concludes personal and family issues are the "most significant" factor influencing doctor intentions.

"Most physicians who expect to leave practice in Northwestern Ontario within five years state that they are leaving for personal/family reasons (54 per cent) as opposed to retirement (37 per cent), professional (25 per cent) or community (eight per cent) reasons," the study found.

Younger and female physicians are most likely to leave for personal and family reason and the more "rural" the community is, the higher the risk it will lose a physician.

While 18 per cent of Thunder Bay physicians intend to leave their practice within five years, 44 per cent of regional physicians outside of the city of Thunder Bay plan to move elsewhere.

Meanwhile, doctors who came to the North for "good income" were also more likely to leave within five years.

The study surveyed 200 doctors in Northwestern Ontario, almost two-thirds of all doctors in the region, and 100 spouses.

Specific personal concerns affecting doctor decisions to leave communities included a lack of time for family life, lack of access to relatives and friends and uninterrupted free time away from work, the study found. Other concerns included:

• Ease of travel in and out of community;
• Quality of education for children;
• Availability of cultural events;
• Spouses/partners' contentment in the community;
• Availability of recreation;
• Compatibility with the medical community.

Spousal satisfaction was found to be very influential in family decisions to stay or leave the North.

Professionally, physicians were most strongly dissatisfied with workloads, their relationship with hospitals and health care organizations and access to medical services including hospital and long-term care beds, home care services, social and psychological counseling for patients and technology.

Any of these personal or professional concerns could represent a "tipping point" for doctors who plan to leave their northern practice, and should be addressed in future retention strategies, the study found.

Strategies need to be developed that involve the provincial government, local health care systems and communities with more emphasis on a "personal," highly individualized approach to retaining physicians.

"Physicians are not commodities that can be supplied according to demand; communities must compete for physicians in an environment of physician shortages," the study concluded. "Because physician satisfaction and intention to stay is so individualized, planning and implementing retention strategies is a challenge."

Measures could be taken to address both personal and professional concerns.

The study suggests innovative measures are needed to improve personal and community satisfaction including lobbying airlines to facilitate easier access in and out of town and free family fares for doctors to visit relatives every six months.

Doctors who responded to the survey stated that "the community could be more welcoming and accepting toward physician families as newcomers, and that local medical colleagues and healthcare administrators could be more supportive."

Regarding their professional lives, physicians suggested a number of retention incentives including disability and dental benefits, pension plans, reduced workloads, premiums for doctors who stay in the North, paid sabbaticals, more medical education opportunities, higher income to reflect workloads and increased availability of visiting doctor locums.

"It was not the purpose of this study to recommend models for physician retention, however, the findings do suggest that new models are required," the researchers found.

"Retention strategies that target only professional factors and offer only monetary incentives are not supported by this research." The study was sponsored by the Thunder Bay Medical Society, funded by the Ontario Medical Association and conducted by a team of researchers at Lakehead University School of Social Work led by Professor Mary Lou Kelley.

Bach said the erosion of doctors from the North is also exacerbated by the number of doctors approaching retirement, approximately 20 per cent all the doctors in the province.

"This is a problem in the North but it is also a problem elsewhere," he said. "We could lose a fair number of doctors fairly quickly if things don't change."

"The physician shortage is an issue that's been with us for a while," Bach said. "It's an issue that's worrisome across the province and it's going to be with us for a while.

"So we all have to work on this together," he said.

From http://www.canada.com/topics/news/national/story.html?id=18988c28-3b64-422d-ac38-4f534dc96ec7&k=84650&p=1

First Nations say regulations, resources needed to protect drinking water

by Melanie Patten, Canadian Press
Published: Tuesday, August 15, 2006

HALIFAX (CP) - Native groups say the quality of water on First Nations reserves will continue to deteriorate unless more resources are given to band councils.

Representatives from First Nations communities in Atlantic Canada also told members of a federal panel Monday that regulatory standards should be set for drinking water on reserves.

There is concern, however, that communities will not be given the funding to match the extra responsibility.

"There's a ton of liability that could potentially fall to bands with no resources to legitimately do that work," Michael Cox of the Confederacy of Mainland Mi'kmaq said after a presentation to the panel.

"To go about creating protocols that are attached to funding agreements and holding bands hostage for that is not a good process."

The three-member independent panel of experts has been travelling across the country holding public hearings since June.

It will submit a report to Indian Affairs Minister Jim Prentice by September as part of a plan announced in March to improve water quality in First Nations communities.

There were 83 First Nations communities under boil-water orders as of Aug. 4. The Health Department also has a priority list of 21 communities with what it calls "high risk water systems."

There are three reserves with boil-water advisories in effect in Atlantic Canada.

Hundreds of people were evacuated in October from the Kashechewan First Nation in northern Ontario after E. coli was found in water samples.

Water quality on reserves is largely a shared responsibility between First Nations communities and the federal government.

Band councils are responsible for providing communities with clean drinking water, including sampling and testing it.

Indian and Northern Affairs Canada provides funding for construction and maintenance of water treatment facilities, as well as training and certifying operators. Health Canada ensures monitoring programs are in effect.

But Cox said he's concerned about who will be responsible for water quality if new regulations are enacted.

"In my experience, every time I see the Department of Indian Affairs or anybody else doing this it's to limit liability or to get themselves out of liability's path," said Cox, whose organization represents six First Nations communities in Nova Scotia.

The panel said First Nations communities they have heard from across Canada all agree they need more resources.

But panel chairman Harry Swain, director of the Canadian Institute for Climate Studies, said the communities disagree over what regulations should be in effect and how they would be enforced.

"Opinions are all over the block," he said during a break in the hearings. "Some say national, some say absolutely local, some say provincial, regional. Some say we don't need regulations at all."

Andy Nicholas of New Brunswick's Mawiw Council - which represents three First Nations in New Brunswick - said the same regulations should be set across Canada.

"We're talking quality of water here," he said.

"You're not going to have 600 different standards. I think water, air - this is common ground for all of us."

© The Canadian Press 2006