Water is not a commodity,…

Water is not a commodity, but rather a sacred gift to be protected and shared equitably, not only among humans, but with all of life.

Bottling and selling water carries a very high ecological cost in terms of drawing down aquifers, using plastic bottles, and transporting bottles over long distances. This is neither sustainable nor desirable - nor is it necessary. Moreover, the province derives very little benefit from the sale of water permits - essentially gifting large companies with a license to profit from the exploitation of a valuable resource essential to all life.

I urge the Ontario government to issue no further permits - and not to expand existing permits - to those who bottle and sell water. As well, the rate paid for existing permits by such bottling companies should rise very significantly (I would suggest at least 5 cents per liter withdrawn) and curbs should be put in place wherever aquifers are being depleted more quickly than they can be regenerated.

Any permits for water use should be reserved for family, municipal, First Nations, or (with strict limits) agricultural and industrial use. At all times the priority should be to conserve clean waters and the aquifers they come from for future generations.