For Immediate Release

(Kenténha/October 2026) The Iroquois Caucus stands united with First Nations across Canada to oppose Bill C-39, the Building Canada Strong Act, and calls on Canada to immediately withdraw the legislation. The bill is the latest in the federal government’s efforts to prioritize their economic agenda, while ignoring the rights and interests of First Nations Peoples. The bill proposes a fundamental restructuring of federal project reviews, including a one-year decision timeline, regions of national interest, and complete restructuring of assessment and regulatory processes. The Iroquois Caucus cannot support legislation that places accelerated timelines ahead of the inherent rights and jurisdiction of First Nations, the principles of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and principles of free, prior, and informed consent. Decisions affecting traditional territories, lands, waters, wildlife, and future generations must not be made without our meaningful participation. ...

OHSWEKEN, ON – In 2021, the Six Nations of the Grand River 58^th Elected Council (SNGREC) introduced a Water Connection Strategy for community members living on-reserve. This strategy would ensure that people had access to water and felt secure knowing their water quality and quantity needs were met. This led to the initiation of the first phase of funding to support water service connections for families with children under 18 years of age, living in the home 50% of the time. The same criteria apply, original wells and cisterns will be decommissioned, and the homes must have existing interior plumbing infrastructure. ...