WINNIPEG — The campaign to help an isolated reserve that has been without clean water for almost two decades is intensifying.
A multi-faith group in Winnipeg is kicking off 10 days of action in support of Shoal Lake 40 First Nation.
The reserve — which straddles the Ontario-Manitoba boundary — was cut off from the mainland a century ago when an aqueduct was built to supply fresh water to Winnipeg.
The reserve has no all-weather road and has been under one of the longest boil-water advisories in Canada.
Lynda Trono, a Winnipeg community minister, says people are outraged the federal government has refused to help fund construction of a road and many feel compelled to do something.
Trono says the group is rolling out a letter as long as a city block for people to sign and which will be sent to the prime minister.
"We really are outraged by this refusal of the federal government to recognize a human right for an indigenous community," she said. "I'm still in disbelief about how you can apologize to First Nations, go through a truth and reconciliation process and then deny a community access to fresh water with a road."
A large thank-you card for the reserve is also being circulated for Winnipeg residents to sign. Trono said the group is encouraging others to come up with their own ways of supporting Shoal Lake 40.
At the same time, a crowdfunding campaign is attempting to raise Ottawa's estimated $10-million share of construction costs for an all-weather road. Canadian Christian musician Steve Bell has also added his voice is asking fans to sign a petition to correct "a shameful situation."
Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau and NDP Leader Tom Mulcair were highly critical of the federal Conservatives earlier this week for their failure to commit to building a road to connect the reserve with the outside world.
The city of Winnipeg, government of Manitoba and the federal government are sharing the cost of a $3-million design study for a road. While Winnipeg and Manitoba have committed to funding construction of the road, Ottawa has refused.
