WC141 MarApr 2025 - Magazine - Page 12
POLICY
“For years, operators have shared their challenges, yet it
is this data-driven approach that has equipped them to
meet federal requirements for systemic change.”
Operators on Parliament Hill.
The results were groundbreaking—not only for their high
success rate, low margin of error, and strong confidence interval—
but also for providing the concrete data operators have long
needed to amplify their voices within colonial systems. For years,
operators have shared their challenges, yet it is this data-driven
approach that has equipped them to meet federal requirements for
systemic change.
Elevating operators’ voices
On Parliament Hill, operators met with Members of Parliament,
Federal Ministers, Senators, and Indigenous Services Canada
(ISC). During these meetings, they thoroughly reviewed the
survey findings, which underscored the issues operators have been
raising for years—such as insufficient training, inadequate funding
for operations and maintenance, and burnout caused by limited
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staffing. Armed with concrete data, operators had the tools to
advocate effectively for their needs, turning insights into action.
NIWOD has emerged as a powerful platform for these discussions, giving voice to operators who, for too long, have seen
decisions about their profession made by individuals unfamiliar
with the realities of water treatment facilities. Since March 2024,
the same group of operators has been invited to testify in the
House of Commons on Bill C-61, further cementing their role
in shaping policies that affect their communities.
The role of NIWOD
National Indigenous Water Operator Day, inaugurated by
the Water Movement in 2022, has become a vital space for
fostering dialogue and action. Observed on March 21st—the
day before World Water Day—it serves as a reminder that
WAT E R C A N A D A . N E T
