P.E.I. chief touts new water plan for First Nations communities

Chief BrianFrancis says First Nations communities would stand to benefit fromaregional water authority.

The Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nations Chiefs recentlyapplied forfederal government funding to set up a regional water authority for 30 communities across the Maritimes.

Francis, chief ofAbegweitFirst Nation on P.E.I., saidthe new entity would train the communities' water technicians and take the economic pressure off of chiefs and councils.

• How a joint utility could help Indigenous communities struggling with clean water
• Canada's longest-standing First Nations boil water advisory will end in 2018, Liberals say

"The main thing for the Abegweit First Nation is currently chief and council assume all liability for water in our first nation, and with this new entity they would assume the liability, and the responsibility and the maintenance for our water system," Francis said.

The plan has been about twoyears in the making, he added, and he isn't sure when it could end up at the community level for a vote since Ottawa would first have to approve funding.

Francis believes it would be a morecost-effective way to manage water supplies in the communities.

• MORE P.E.I. NEWS |Pets perish in West Devon fire
• MORE P.E.I. NEWS |How newcomers celebrated Halloween on P.E.I.