Insights and Opportunities

Challenges of Canadian First Nations Drinking Water Operators

Bibliographic Data

ID19005680
AuthorsHeather Murphy (0000-0002-0435-8515, University of Guelph, corresponding author), Elliott Corston-Pine (University of Guelph), Yvonne Post (University of Guelph), Edward A Mcbean (0000-0002-4701-5467, University of Guelph)
Year2015
Volume6
Issue3
Publication date2015-06-18
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Indigenous Policy Journal (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1916-5781 • E-ISSN: 1916-5781
PublisherUniversity of Western Ontario, Western Libraries (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.18584/iipj.2015.6.3.7
OpenAlexW1425153071
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited3

Providing safe drinking water continues to be a challenge in Canadian First Nations communities. In 2011, in Ontario and British Columbia, only 45 percent and 51 percent of 143 and 160 First Nations had water systems with a fully trained certified operator, respectively. The objective of this research was to investigate the issues of operator training, retention, and job satisfaction through semi-structured interviews and surveys of water system operators in Ontario and British Columbia. Operators reported the lack of funding for operation and maintenance, and a lack of support from band council as challenges in performing their jobs. Of those who reported being unsatisfied with their position, wages, hours of work, and lack of funding or support were cited as primary reasons

Business · Certification · Indigenous · Political science · Water infrastructure · Water supply · Engineering · Indigenous Health, Education, and Rights · Law · Public Administration · Environmental Engineering · Finance

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Open DOIOpen Access