https://globalnews.ca/news/5994764/jagmeet-singh-grassy-narrows/

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says he would ensure every Indigenous community has clean drinking water, with a $1.8 billion price tag.

He says it is a firm commitment to remedy an injustice.

Asked by a reporter if he would be writing a “blank cheque” to solve all of the problems experienced in Indigenous communities if elected, Singh fired back.

“So, if Toronto had a drinking water problem, if Montreal had a drinking water problem, would you be asking the same question?”

There are currently 56 long-term boil water advisories on reserves across the country.

Singh points to an estimate from the parliamentary budget office that $1.8 billion is the minimum capital investment to meet First Nations’ drinking water needs.

The NDP leader was in Grassy Narrows, a northern Ontario First Nation that has been dealing for decades with mercury poisoning from contaminated water.

Singh said an NDP government would immediately spend $19 million to fund a mercury poisoning treatment centre in the community.

The Liberals have pledged to end all long-term drinking water advisories on reserves by 2021.

Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer said during a leadership debate last month that if elected, he would end long-term boil water advisories as well.

The Green platform also promises to eliminate drinking water and boil water advisories.