Bill C-37 Bill C-37, First Nations Clean Water Act
On June 16, 2026, the Honourable Mandy Gull-Masty, Minister of Indigenous Services Canada, tabled Bill C-37, The First Nations Clean Water Act. The legislation aims to ensure provisions for First Nations clean drinking water, wastewater treatment and source water protection. Bill C-37 is similar to Bill C-61, An Act respecting water, source water, drinking water, wastewater, and related infrastructure on First Nations lands, which was co-developed with the AFN. The AFN Executive Committee previously voted unanimously to support Bill C-61 in 2024, but the Bill died on the order paper and was not passed.
AFN technicians and legal staff conducted an analysis of the Bill. The analysis finds that the Bill includes key provisions in line with the AFN-mandated critical requirements from AFN resolution 47/2023, Proposed Federal First Nations Drinking Water and Wastewater Legislation. The Bill has some key weaknesses, including it being developed by the Government with no consultation or input from First Nations or the AFN, although the AFN did co-develop Bill C-61.