1. As someone from a…

1. As someone from a municipality that's water supply is at 'significant risk', I fully support a municipal voice and veto when it comes to commercial water bottling. I would be concerned for Northern, rural and small municipalities that do not have the resources to fully document their objections on the three grounds available. The grounds could expand and municipalities could be assured of necessary resources to understand their water systems in terms of population growth and climate change issues particularly. They need reliable data. Accessibility is also an issue where groundwater is the source! A fee paid by bottlers would create a bribery situation for cash strapped municipalities. This cannot be part of the new regulations at all!

2. A tiered water taking method is helpful indeed. Assessing environmental impacts, however, is a complex concern given cumulative effects, future uses and growth, climate change and effects on groundwater of each of these. We must be very careful with issuing long term and potentially dangerous permits.

3. I am in one of those vulnerable areas. The whole Grand River watershed is challenged. We are in a Level 1 drought now and have been repeatedly in Level 2 drought in the last few years. We are expected to grow in population and so these threats will continue to grow. We need to predict and anticipate issues while looking to the future. Ecological systems are complex and we have destroyed and compromised too much already. Conservation Authorities need support to do their important work.

4. A workable, usable data base is very important. It is a great idea to be transparent in who is taking what and where. We also need to be able to shut down lower tiered takings during water challenged times. Those applying for permits must know that they could be curtailed in times of shortages.

5. Indigenous consultation needs to happen Nation to Nation. Native groups could create Water Committees including various levels of leadership to deal with this. They must NOT just be a tick on a box but actually listened to, respected and have strong voice in decision making.

6. Social values come into the water picture as water is unique in that all life requires water, we have a finite supply, we have treated water so badly historically, and it is threatened world wide. This is an existential issue that faces all species.

Thank you for all the hard work and thoughtfulness that went into this document. Stick to your intentions and strengthen protections for water as it must not be a political game.