Environmental Registry # 019…

Environmental Registry # 019-2319

Proposal to extend the current moratorium on water bottling permits until April 1, 2021.

I support this extension to give the Ministry time to review and consider the feedback from the previous public consultation on the proposed enhancements to Ontario’s water taking program, as well as to consult further with the public, stakeholders and indigenous communities.

I support the proposed legislative amendment to the Ontario Water Resources Act that would implement the proposed requirement for water-bottling companies to have the full support of their host municipality as a condition in applying for a new or expanded Permit to Take Water for water bottling purposes.

I would support the wording “municipal veto” in this amendment.

This legislative amendment is critical for the Township of Centre Wellington, which in 2016 was mandated to double in population in 25 years and faces many challenges to be able to develop a water system to service this growth. In this situation it makes no sense to permit competition with a water bottling company that proposes to extract a volume equivalent to the daily pumping of one third of the community’s water, when that community is already struggling to supply water. The community must have a voice and a municipal veto.

I support implementation of the proposal for prioritization of water use in guiding water-taking decisions. I agree that the highest priority uses should be Environment and Drinking Water, with Agricultural needs as most important in areas where there is the potential for insufficient water for this use.

I support regulation to manage water on an area basis rather than a permit-by- permit basis, focusing attention on water-quantity stressed areas. This strategy worked well for BluMetric’s study of areas with stresses related to population growth and land use, and recurring low water conditions.

At the same time, I support continued Provincial funding for Conservation Authorities to carry on with managing Tier 3 Studies and their other significant water management work. It is important that this work be done at the watershed level.

I support regulation that would make data available online to the public with an accessible database platform to increase the transparency of how Ontario manages water resources.

Thank you.