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I'm submitting this comment to advise that I am opposed to the taking of Ontario groundwater for bottling and particularly for bottling in support of commercial sales.
Extending the current moratorium on the granting of new permits to take Ontario groundwater for commercial sale while additional studies are ongoing is an important step. The sources of our groundwater and their total extent including projected recharge rates must be clearly established by scientific studies paid for by our government ministries through tax dollars and not by studies funded, directly or indirectly, by commercial entities likely to be affected by the outcomes and conclusions of those studies.
The capacities of our groundwater systems including recharge rates, need to be critically examined against the current stresses caused by climate change and must address the needs of future populations located in jurisdictions where population growth will be directed by government policies and land use planning.
Before any moratorium is lifted and any increase to currently specified limits to water taking for bottling are discussed, the public needs to be consulted. Such consultation needs to be accessible to any and all interested citizens in a series of open public forums where the results of said surveys are presented for critical discussion.

thank you