尽管资源丰富，加拿大仍努力确保原住民获得清洁水

由于加拿大拥有世界上最大的可用淡水供应，原住民因长期存在的清洁饮用水问题而卷入针对加拿大政府的诉讼，这构成了一个矛盾的局面。

Canada, despite having one of the world's largest renewable freshwater supplies, is facing a class-action lawsuit over its failure to provide safe drinking water to First Nations communities.

尽管加拿大拥有世界上最大的可再生淡水供应之一，但因其未能向原住民社区提供安全饮用水而面临集体诉讼。

This month, the country appeared in court to defend itself against the third class-action lawsuit filed over unsafe drinking water on First Nations, following two settlements totaling $8 billion. The latest lawsuit, which pertains to boil-water advisories that continued beyond June 2021 or were issued after that date, could cost the government an additional $1 billion.

本月，在两起总金额达 80 亿美元的和解之后，该国出庭为自己针对原住民不安全饮用水提起的第三起集体诉讼进行辩护。最新的诉讼涉及 2021 年 6 月之后持续存在或该日期之后发布的沸水建议，可能会导致政府额外损失 10 亿美元。

This time, over 50 First Nations have joined the class-action lawsuit, seeking $1.1 billion in damages. Among those involved is the Shamattawa First Nation, which has been under a boil-water advisory for the past six years.

此次，超过 50 个原住民加入了集体诉讼，寻求 11 亿美元的损失赔偿。沙玛塔瓦原住民（Shamattawa First Nation）就是其中之一，该原住民在过去六年里一直受到沸水警告。

According to the claim filed by the community, which is located 750 kilometers northeast of Winnipeg, the treated water in the community is causing boils, rashes, and sores. Community Chief Jordna Hill stated in a press release:

该社区位于温尼伯东北 750 公里处，根据其提出的索赔，该社区经过处理的水导致了疖子、皮疹和疮口。社区负责人乔德娜·希尔 (Jordna Hill) 在新闻稿中表示：

“Time and again the federal government has promised to do better, and yet here we are, fighting in court for a basic human right. It is appalling that Canada has decided to battle First Nations on this issue rather than come to the table as nation-to-nation partners.”

“联邦政府一次又一次承诺会做得更好，但我们却在法庭上为基本人权而战。令人震惊的是，加拿大决定在这个问题上与原住民作斗争，而不是作为国家间的合作伙伴参与谈判。”

If the lawsuit is successful, it would establish safe drinking water on reserves as a right rather than a matter of political will, said lawyer Michael Rosenberg, who's representing Shamattawa and worked on the settled cases as well.

沙马塔瓦的代表律师迈克尔·罗森伯格(Michael Rosenberg)表示，如果诉讼成功，保护区内的安全饮用水将成为一项权利，而不是政治意愿问题。他也参与了和解案件的工作。

The lawsuit, filed by the remote northern Manitoba First Nation in 2022, alleges that Canada breached its fiduciary duties. By failing to provide safe drinking water to the Shamattawa community, the government violated its duty of care and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the suit claims.

这起诉讼由偏远的曼尼托巴省北部原住民于 2022 年提起，指控加拿大违反了其信托义务。诉讼称，政府未能向沙马塔瓦社区提供安全饮用水，违反了其注意义务和《权利与自由宪章》。

It was certified as a class action last year by Federal Court Justice Paul Favel, who grew up in poverty on Poundmaker Cree Nation in Saskatchewan and spent part of his childhood without running water. He previously served as deputy chief commissioner of the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission and general counsel for the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations.

去年，联邦法院法官保罗·法维尔 (Paul Favel) 认定这是一起集体诉讼，他在萨斯喀彻温省庞德梅克克里族 (Poundmaker Cree Nation) 的贫困中长大，童年的一部分时间没有自来水。他曾担任萨斯喀彻温省人权委员会副首席专员和原住民主权国家联盟总顾问。

In related news, the federal government proposed a new bill about a year ago to set drinking water standards in First Nations. The First Nations Clean Water Act (Bill C-61), which aims to establish minimum national drinking water standards, protect freshwater sources, and provide sustainable funding for maintaining water quality, received mixed reactions.

相关新闻中，联邦政府大约一年前提出了一项新法案，旨在制定原住民的饮用水标准。 《原住民清洁水法案》（Bill C-61）旨在制定最低国家饮用水标准、保护淡水源并为维持水质提供可持续资金，但收到了不同的反应。

Is Safe Drinking Water a Government Obligation for First Nations?

安全饮用水是政府对原住民的义务吗？

This month, the two sides of the lawsuit argued over the fundamental issue at its core: whether Canada is legally responsible for providing safe drinking water to First Nations.

本月，诉讼双方就其核心根本问题展开了争论：加拿大是否负有为原住民提供安全饮用水的法律责任。

According to Rosenberg, the government's obligation arises from “Canada's long and continuing involvement, not just in funding, but really managing and exercising de facto control over water reserves.”

罗森伯格表示，政府的义务源于“加拿大长期持续的参与，不仅是提供资金，而且是对水资源储备的真正管理和事实上的控制。”

The government, on the other hand, argues that it has no “legal obligation or duty” to support First Nations and that any assistance it has provided, including support for the delivery of potable water, has been in the realm of “good governance” rather than legal duty.

另一方面，政府辩称，它没有支持原住民的“法律义务或义务”，并且它提供的任何援助，包括对提供饮用水的支持，都属于“善治”范围而不是法律义务。

Over the past decade, the government has spent $4.29 billion on water and wastewater projects in First Nations, which has lifted 145 long-term drinking water advisories. However, 33 still remain.

过去十年，政府在原住民的供水和废水处理项目上投入了 42.9 亿美元，取消了 145 项长期饮用水警告。然而，仍然有33个。

Back in 2015, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pledged to lift all long-term boil water advisories on reserves by 2021. But, of course, that's not the case yet.

早在 2015 年，总理贾斯汀·特鲁多 (Justin Trudeau) 就承诺到 2021 年取消所有关于储备的长期煮水建议。但当然，现在情况还不是这样。

The government claims to have recently spent $25.6 million to improve Shamattawa's water system. However, the advisory, which affects about 160 homes and 14 community buildings, has been delayed due to factors such as climate, siltation, and methane in the groundwater.

政府声称最近花费了 2560 万美元来改善 Shamattawa 的供水系统。然而，由于气候、淤积和地下水中的甲烷等因素，影响到约 160 户家庭和 14 栋社区建筑的该建议已被推迟。

Speaking out against the government's approach, New Democrat MP Niki Ashton said, “On one side of their mouths, they're saying we're committed to clean drinking water for First Nations, and, on the other, directing their lawyers to fight First Nations who are only seeking this basic right.”

新民主党议员尼基·阿什顿 (Niki Ashton) 公开反对政府的做法，她说：“他们一方面说我们致力于为原住民提供清洁饮用水，另一方面却指示他们的律师与原住民作斗争。”只追求这一基本权利的国家。”

Ashton finds it shocking that a country as wealthy as Canada, which is seen as a leader in human rights on the world stage, is telling First Nations that they don't have a right to clean water.

阿什顿感到震惊的是，像加拿大这样富裕的国家，被视为世界舞台上人权领域的领导者，却告诉原住民他们没有获得清洁水的权利。

“We're really seeing the dark underbelly of Canada, and I would say the hypocrisy of the Liberals.”

“我们确实看到了加拿大的黑暗弱点，我想说的是自由党的虚伪。”

– Ashton

——阿什顿

Shamattawa is a community of 1,500 people that declared a state of emergency last year due to suicides, which Hill has linked to the water issues. According to him, the country's treatment of Shamattawa creates a sense of hopelessness.

沙马塔瓦 (Shamattawa) 是一个拥有 1,500 人的社区，去年因自杀事件而宣布进入紧急状态，希尔将自杀事件与水问题联系起来。据他说，该国对待 Shamattawa 的方式让人产生一种绝望感。

Calling the government's approach “profoundly disappointing,” plaintiffs' counsel Rosenberg pointed out how, in Canada, it is illegal to subject its own employees to the conditions that

原告律师罗森伯格称政府的做法“非常令人失望”，并指出，在加拿大，让自己的雇员受到以下条件的限制是违法的：