Although unable to commit to a specific dollar amount, Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu this week said the federal government will pay to hook up Oneida Nation of the Thames to clean drinking water.
The project would entail an 18-kilometre pipeline to the Lake Huron water system near Mt. Brydges.
myFM asked Oneida Coun. Brandon Doxtator how the community might deal with a funding shortfall.
Doxtator indicated cost of the pipeline and infrastructure within the community would run at about $54 million.
However, a critical factor has yet to be resolved. Doxtator talks about the potential deal-breaker.
Doxtator pointed out a household fire killed a father and his four children, including an infant son, on December 14, 2017.
A key factor is, when can the project begin?
A boil water advisory has been in effect at Oneida since September, 2019 and became long-term in September 2020.
Doxtator says a feasibility study has been completed and so the hope is to quickly begin work to hook up to the Lake Huron water system.
The existing boil water advisory impacts 546 homes and 22 community buildings.
Written by Ian McCallum
