We should all be ashamed that access to clean drinking water needs to be an election promise.
That nearly 100 communities across the country are under boil-water advisories, some like Neskantaga in our own backyard since 1995, is a dangerous embarrassment that should keep us awake as Canadians regardless of whose responsibility it is.
As a campaign promise, the issue is trivialized and lumped in with boutique tax credits and income-splitting. Turn on your tap and understand the issue is much more important than whether C-51 should be repealed.
That shame should turn to outrage when we realize that like many other promises made on the campaign trail, it will likely be forgotten by Oct. 20.
While Justin Trudeau deserves some credit for at least addressing the situation with his recent pledge to end boil-water advisories within five years, experts say that's just not realistic.
Politicians might as well promise the North a 400 series highway.
Kim Campbell famously said "an election is no time to discuss serious issues."
While it sunk her campaign, the country's first and only woman Prime Minister had a point. That a politician even has to promise clean drinking water is bad enough but when the issue is raised merely as a campaign talking point it makes it that much easier to dismiss.
It's not even clear who's responsible for clean drinking water in those communities.
Everyone from First Nations, federal and provincial ministries and public health agencies need to come together to sort that problem out for a start.
Even if they started today that would take us comfortably into the 2020s before a framework could be reached.
Meanwhile people, in Canada, in our own country continue to put themselves at risk just to have a glass of water.
It's enough to make you sick.
