Ontario, CA -- (ReleaseWire) -- 07/17/2014 --After a seven year hiatus, during which Health Canada only published the number of First Nation water advisories across Canada, the Department recently released the names of each First Nation community under drinking water advisory (DWA).

Having openly deplored this lack of transparency, the Water Chronicles can only applaud this new policy. The updated information has now been input on our maps, replacing the previous information which was taken from a 2010 Access to Information (ATIP) request.

While the new information released by Health Canada is more detailed as to which specific systems are under advisory and how many people are affected, the department no longer lists the reasons for issuing the advisories. Where they were listed in the same community and at the same date, we left the reason that was provided by Health Canada under the ATIP request.

As of May 31st, 2014 there were 130 Drinking Water Advisories in 91 First Nation communities across Canada, excluding British Columbia.

As part of the British Columbia Tripartite Framework Agreement on First Nation Health Governance, on October 1st 2013, Health Canada transferred its role in the design, management, and delivery of First Nations health programming in British Columbia to the new First Nations Health Authority (FNHA). As a result, Health Canada no longer reports drinking water advisories in BC First Nations.

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The Water Chronicles is an independent for profit media dedicated to all things water. Alongside daily news bytes, articles, reports and interviews, the site features interactive maps pinpointing all water advisories across the country, and a comprehensive sector directory. Visit us at: http://www.water.ca or contact us at: info.water.ca@gmail.com /

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