Ontario Lokpal Neskantaga is a ‘unacceptable’ situation in the First Nation ‘

Paul Dubey said that as soon as he landed in Neskantaga First Nation, the real Ozibwe community’s realities gave him a tough fight.

At the airport, the Ontario Lokpal described as “chronic feature”, he was met by children, who were calling for clean drinking water, an medical center, an ambulance and a new school with hand -made signs.

Dubey spoke to the members of the community in two days last week, many of which have to face challenges-especially, the longest boil-water advisory in the country 30 years,

The Lokpal is an independent office of the legislature that receives complaints about more than 1,000 government and public sector organizations. Its purpose is to keep the government accountable, to investigate concerns and make recommendations on improvement in public services.

After visiting Neskantaga First Nation at the invitation of Chief Gary Quis, Dubey has called the provincial and federal governments Take immediate action To address unacceptable and unsafe situations in the community.

“I am Very upset with this journey And we want to find ways to contribute to our services, “Dubey told CBC News.

Dubey described mold -filled houses, a water treatment plant does not fit for the purpose, a new police station that cannot open due to the lack of telecom service and a temporary nursing station that is not meeting the needs of the community.

He also noted the small, aging school of the First Nation that only goes to grade 8 – forcing students to go to SOX Lookout or Thunder Bay to complete the high school.

“We were told that 50 percent of the children in the school were on the autism spectrum, but they did not have proper resources.”

The community of less than 400 people is about 500 km north of Thunder Bay and has been waiting for a new young cultural center for almost a decade. Meanwhile, Dubey said, issues of mental health and drug addiction claim young life.

“The one who stood the most for me is the flexibility of the community,” said Dubey. “They come together, they support each other … but there is disappointment – and I don’t blame them.

“It is shocking for me that in Canada in 2025, people are living in those circumstances. It broke my heart.”

Ontario, Ottawa says they are working on it

A spokesperson of Ontario’s Ministry of Swadeshi Affairs and the First Nation Economic Coordination made an email statement to CBC News late Friday night to address Ombdsman’s concerns.

“Our government is working with Neskantaga First Nation and the federal government as to how long to support long -term drinking water advice and solution to community security and welfare,” wrote by Jena Depiva, director of the Ministry of Communications.

Dapiva said that the province works to provide assistance for clean drinking water initiative with nations and tribal councils first, but is also calling from the federal government to “ensure safe water on reserves and to fulfill its constitutional responsibility to ensure safe money for operations, maintenance and training.”

A spokesman for the indigenous service Canada (ISC) told CBC News that Minister Mandy Gul-Masti, head of Neskantaga and “in the coming weeks” with the council, although it is not clear whether it will happen in the person.

“We understand that not only does we need money to address the challenges of these long -standing infrastructure, but also a colleague, community -led approach.

“This is why we are committed to support the solutions that Neskantaga reflects the needs, priorities and self-determined goals,” ISC spokesman Pascal Lapantte said in an email on Friday.

According to Laplante, the ISC has spent more than $ 155 million since 2020 to support “community infrastructure, and health and welfare programming” in Neskantaga.

Main call for accountability

Quis told CBC News that he was counting how many premiere and Prime Minister have been in power since Neskantaga’s abscess and consultation.

“Where is accountability from both governments?” He asked. “We are ignoring and we are (alive) in the third world situations.”

While Neskantaga is located on a mineral-rich land, it is seen by countless prospectors, “Our community does not have a penny to fix our infrastructure,” Quis said.

He said that he is grateful to the Lokpal’s visit to the first nation, and also wants the members of the provincial and federal government to see, first hand, to see the issues faced by their community.

“I would like to track both governments fast that we have. Now, this (opposite), where both governments are tracking the development of land faster”.

Ontario Ombdsman’s office has continued to develop its first indigenous service plan – aimed at spreading awareness about challenges that are first passing through nations and create guidelines for culturally responsible services.

Meanwhile, Quis said, he will continue to talk about the face of struggle by people in Neskantaga.

“We will only keep sharing stories. Finally, we will see such stories (that) is sharing the Lokpal.”