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In the late 1990s, huge water corporations were circling offshore, eager to profit from Canada’s public water and wastewater systems. But CUPE was on the lookout and ready to fight back. H2O: The Price of Privatization helped kick off the Water Watch campaign. Working in coalition with the Council of Canadians and environmental groups, CUPE members helped stop many high-profile attempts to privatize our water and wastewater. We fought and won on the ground, community by community.

Watch CUPE’s new Water is life video featuring Dawn Bellerose, CUPE National Indigenous Council member and CUPE 1880 member. It’s the fourth in a new series featuring members of CUPE’s National Indigenous Council talking about what water means to them, the significance of water in their communities, and the need to protect water resources and services.

Watch CUPE’s new Water is life video featuring Nathalie Claveau, CUPE National Indigenous Council member and CUPE 1500 member. It’s the third in a new series featuring members of CUPE’s National Indigenous Council talking about what water means to them, the significance of water in their communities, and the need to protect water resources and services.

Watch CUPE’s new Water is life video featuring Leo Cheverie, CUPE National Indigenous Council member and CUPE 1870 member. It’s the second in a new series featuring members of CUPE’s National Indigenous Council talking about what water means to them, the significance of water in their communities, and the need to protect water resources and services.

Watch CUPE’s new Water is life video featuring Lindsay (Loyer) Poll, CUPE National Indigenous Council member and CUPE 4070 member. It’s the first in a new series featuring members of CUPE’s National Indigenous Council talking about what water means to them, the significance of water in their communities, and the need to protect water resources and services.

For hundreds of years, many First Nation, Inuit and Métis communities have struggled with access to clean drinking water, as well as other necessities like quality food and safe housing. The current federal government has zeroed in on ending long-term boil water advisories in First Nation communities. But that’s just the start of what’s needed to end decades of water injustice and discrimination once and for all.

CUPE has long recognized that water is a basic human right for all people and our union is committed to taking action towards truth and reconciliation. CUPE’s Water is life campaign provides educational tools to learn about Indigenous water issues and mobilize all locals and members in support of Indigenous peoples and allies to protect and fix the water.

The vast majority of Canadian water and wastewater services are publicly provided by municipal governments. Most cities and towns have been delivering safe drinking water and high-quality sanitation services for decades. Municipalities have developed unprecedented experience and expertise providing these services.