By nativepress_djwsb5 
(Native Press – Ottawa, ON – January 23, 2026) – A pipeline agreement with Alberta did not mention fresh water problems, prompting First Nations chiefs to query the Canadian government.
The memorandum of agreement promotes bitumen pipeline building but does not address water usage or oilsands tailings pond risks. Indigenous leaders worry about the agreement’s environmental consequences on their water sources, especially tailings pond breaches.
Water quality protections and Indigenous rights are also demanded in pipeline operations.
Critics say the government’s focus on energy growth ignores environmental safeguards, saying that excessive water use could harm Indigenous communities and farmers.
Federal water safety regulations have been criticized by First Nations leaders and environmentalists, who demand joint action for sustainable resource management.