C-61First Nations Clean Water Act
An Act respecting water, source water, drinking water, wastewater and related infrastructure on First Nation lands
Government bill, introduced in the House of Commons on December 11, 2023
- Status
- At report stage in the House of Commons since December 2, 2024
What it does
Bill C-61 affirms First Nations jurisdiction over water and wastewater on their lands and sets out standards and principles for safe water services.
What it does
- Affirms that the inherent right to self-government includes First Nations jurisdiction over water, source water, drinking water, wastewater and related infrastructure on, in and under First Nation lands.
- Sets out principles, including substantive equality, to guide clean and safe drinking water and the effective treatment and disposal of wastewater on First Nation lands.
- Provides minimum standards for water quality and quantity, and for wastewater effluent.
- Provides pathways to help protect source water.
Who it affects
- First Nations
- First Nation governments
- People living on First Nation lands
- Water and wastewater service providers
Background
Bill C-61 was introduced in the House of Commons on 11 December 2023 and was given first reading. It is titled the First Nations Clean Water Act.
Where it is
House of Commons
First reading
Completed.
Second reading
Completed.
Committee
Completed.
Report stage
Current stage. Now here
Third reading
Not reached.
Senate
First reading
Not reached.
Second reading
Not reached.
Committee
Not reached.
Third reading
Not reached.
Royal assent
Royal assent
Not reached.
Introduced by a cabinet minister on behalf of the government. Government bills get set time for debate, so they are the most likely to become law. How a bill becomes law
How the House voted
No recorded votes yet
What MPs said
Each party’s first speech on this bill in the House, from Hansard. Excerpts are the speaker’s opening sentences, unedited.
LiberalPatty Hajdu· February 5, 2024
“It is with great privilege that I rise today to speak to Bill C-61, the first nations clean water act, at second reading.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caConservativeJamie Schmale· February 5, 2024
“Today I rise to speak to Bill C-61, an act respecting water, source water, drinking water, waste water and related infrastructure on first nation lands, which I will hereafter refer to as the first nations clean water act. I want to first comment on what the minister just spoke about.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caBlocSébastien Lemire· February 5, 2024
“Before turning to the bill at hand, I also want to give a shout-out to the participants of the second edition of the First Nations Expedition, who are, as we speak, about to set off from Témiscaming or Kebaowek.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caNDPLori Idlout· February 5, 2024
“Bill C-61, an act respecting water, source water, drinking water, waste water and related infrastructure on first nation lands is a particularly important one to remind us of the existence of indigenous peoples before colonialism. Before colonialism, indigenous peoples protected water and the land, and they used the environment for sustenance, acknowledging the limits.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.ca
Read the source
LEGISinfo status: At report stage in the House of Commons. Bill data from LEGISinfo, votes from openparliament.ca and the House of Commons. Last updated October 13, 2026.