Worrying about water

IQALUIT — Senator Charlie Watt wants to clean up northern Canada’s drinking water.

Watt launched the First Peoples International Foundation, a registered charity, in Kuujjuaq on June 21, National Aboriginal Day.

“It is devoted to combating toxins in the drinking water of Arctic communities and assisting those affected by bad drinking water,” Watt said.

In a news release about the launch, Watt said Inuit have 10 times the level of persistent organic pollutants in their blood than do southerners.

Watt called on governments to immediately give more money to programs for cleaning Arctic waters.

“We can no longer wait and must take action now,” Watt said.

He said his foundation will support new technologies to treat and purify water.