Minister of Indigenous Services facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Minister of Indigenous Services |
|
|---|---|
.jpg) Patty Hajdu since October 26, 2021 |
|
| Indigenous Services Canada | |
| Style | The Honourable |
| Member of | |
| Reports to |
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| Appointer | Monarch (represented by the governor general)
on the advice of the prime minister
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| Term length | At His Majesty's pleasure |
| Inaugural holder | Jane Philpott |
| Formation | August 28, 2017 |
| Salary | CA$269,800 (2019) |
The Minister of Indigenous Services is an important job in the Canadian government. This person is in charge of Indigenous Services Canada (ISC). This is a government department that provides services to Indigenous peoples across Canada.
This role was created in 2017 by the government led by Justin Trudeau. Before that, there was a different department. The new role took over important tasks like managing health services, ensuring clean water, and providing other support to Indigenous communities. The Minister of Indigenous Services also works with the Minister of Crown–Indigenous Relations to manage agreements between the Canadian government and Indigenous peoples.
Contents
Who are the Ministers of Indigenous Services?
This section lists the people who have held the position of Minister of Indigenous Services since it was created.
| No. | Portrait | Name | Time in Office | Political party | Ministry | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | .jpg) |
Jane Philpott | August 28, 2017 | January 14, 2019 | Liberal | 29 (J. Trudeau) |
| 2 | .jpg) |
Seamus O'Regan | January 14, 2019 | November 20, 2019 | Liberal | |
| 3 | .jpg) |
Marc Miller | November 20, 2019 | October 26, 2021 | Liberal | |
| 4 | |
Patty Hajdu | October 26, 2021 | Still in office | Liberal | |
Clean Water for Indigenous Communities
A big part of the Minister's job is making sure Indigenous communities have access to clean water. Since 2016, the government has spent over $3.5 billion to improve water and wastewater systems. This money has helped fund more than 600 projects. These projects include fixing, expanding, or replacing old water systems. They also help train people to manage these systems and provide ongoing money for their upkeep.
In December 2020, Marc Miller, who was the Minister at the time, announced another $1.5 billion investment. This money was specifically to help ensure clean drinking water in First Nations communities.
What are Drinking Water Advisories?
Sometimes, a community might have a "Drinking Water Advisory" (DWA). This means that the water system is not working properly. It could be due to broken equipment or problems with how the system is run. A DWA tells people that their water might not be safe to drink.
There are different reasons for a DWA. For example, a water pipe might break, or the equipment that cleans the water might fail. Sometimes, a DWA is issued if there isn't someone trained to operate the water system. It can also happen if there isn't someone trained to test the water quality.
There are three main types of DWAs:
- Boil Water Advisory: You must boil your water before using it for drinking or cooking.
- Do Not Consume Advisory: You should not drink the water, even if boiled.
- Do Not Use Advisory: You should not use the water for anything, including bathing.
Long-term Drinking Water Advisories
A "long-term drinking water advisory" means the advisory has been in place for over a year. The government has been working to reduce these. From November 2015 to September 2020, the total number of drinking water advisories dropped by 55%. This means many communities now have safe drinking water.
As of March 2021, there were still some communities under long-term DWAs. Most of these were in Ontario. The government continues to work on lifting these advisories.
See also
