Water shut-off on Manitoba reserve an 'act of terrorism': chief

A move by a Manitoba water company to shut off water service to the Roseau River First Nation is "an act of terrorism against our community," the band's chief said Wednesday.

The Pembina Valley Water Co-operative shut off water service to the southeastern Manitoba community of 1,100 Tuesday morning, saying the band hadn't paid its bill for four months.

"The water has been shut off to our entire community, despite the fact that there is an ongoing agreement with Pembina Valley water supply," Chief Terry Nelson said Wednesday in a release.

"This is a safety issue that is affecting our citizens there are elderly people on dialysis and a new baby just born. This is an act of terrorism against our community."

Reserve owes $50,000

But Sam Schellenberg, CEO of the water co-op, said Nelsonknew thatthe water would be cut off if the outstanding bill was not paid.

"It's just about the last thing that we wanted to do," he said. "They were warned repeatedly that this was going to be the outcome, and I'll be quite happy to apologize to the individual residents on the reserve who are unfortunately without water. We had no other option."

The band owes about $50,000, which is a lot of money for the co-op, Schellenberg said.

"We're a small organization that works on a user-pay basis, and we sell them water at a wholesale rate. There is no markup," he said.

"This is a non-profit organization, so $50,000 although it may not be a lot in terms of buying a house or whatever it is a considerable amount of money here if we're going to be losing it."

Nelson said he would hold a press conference on the water shut-off Wednesday afternoon.He would also call for a public hearing of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada's funding, he said.

But somereserve residents launched a petition Wednesday to have Nelson and the band'scouncil removed,accusing them of failing to do their jobs.

Homes, fire departmentwithout water

The water shut-off affects most homes on the reserve, located about 80 kilometres southeast of Winnipeg, as well as businesses, community services, the school and a seniors home. The fire service also relies on water from the co-op.

Some water had remained in a reservoir Tuesday evening, providing sluggish tap service to some homes, allowing people in the community to stockpile some water.

The reservoir had run dry by Wednesday morning, reserve residents said.

"Nobody has been told of an emergency plan or a backup plan. Nothing," said resident Linda Roberts.

"It's don't pay the bills and, you know, kind of fly by the seat by our pants type of thing if you're talking leadership, you should be talking to your people."

Last week, Manitoba Hydro cut off power to the reserve's recreation centre and a building where the band council held its meetings, also citing non-payment.

Hydro officials sayother band accounts are also in arrears, including the school, the band office and a numberof accounts for social assistance recipientsthatthe band is responsible for.

A spokesperson for Hydro said residential and private business accounts in the community donot fall into the same category and most are paid to date.

Late Tuesday, officials with the federal Department of Indian Affairs said they were not aware the water had been cut off to the reserve, although they were aware of the situation with electrical power.

A departmentofficial said the band had placed itself in voluntary co-management, which means an accountant works with band officials on the finances.