Parliament passes First Nations Clean Water Act, moving beyond grants to enforceable standards

Bill C-37, passed in June 2026, replaces departmental funding agreements with statutory obligations to provide safe drinking water in First Nations communities. The legislation shifts Indigenous Services Canada from grant administrator to compliance partner bound by law, giving communities enforceable rights rather than reliance on political pressure. Budget 2025 tied appropriated resources to these statutory duties, hardening commitments against future budget cycles.