Water is Life…

Water is Life.

I support the expansion of the Greenbelt into Simcoe County because I see that action is urgently needed to protect surface and groundwater, wetlands and farmland.

I support expansion of the study area to the remainder of the Lake Simcoe Basin. It also needs to include three highly significant recharge zones, in Severn Sound and the Carden Alvar; in Clearview Township; and in the Waverley Uplands.

I am lucky enough to have a well that taps into an aquifer recharged by the Waverley Uplands. This water has been identified by Dr. William Shotyk, Bocock chair of agriculture and the environment at the University of Alberta, as being the purest water to have been scientifically tested. It is a reference water in many laboratories around the world. Special protection is needed to preserve this natural heritage water.

Our friends at Beausoleil First Nation have engaged with us on this issue. The Greenbelt process should include First Nations.

The Waverley Uplands recharge area is threatened by aggregate extraction. It makes no sense to allow mineral extraction in areas where sensitive hydrological features have been identified as needing protection. No new or expanded aggregate operations should be allowed in the Greenbelt. Similarly, disposal of contaminated fill should be prohibited.

Finally, do not issue any new permits to take water for bottling. We protect our water to provide for the needs of the people and other species living here, now and in the future, not to provide quick profits to corporations.

[Original Comment ID: 213512]