*I consent and request that…

*I consent and request that comments below are made public*

We must allow municipalities to reject bottle water taking, prioritizing 100% access to clean drinking water to the public at all times. Water needs have and will continue to change, and so each municipality must be given the right to veto water takings. This is especially true for indigenous communities across the province where tragically, clean water access is yet to be prioritized by our government.

On top of all of this, environmental priorities must be upheld. As a commitment to fighting climate change, Ontario must consider how much energy output is required in plastic bottled water production vs the energy cost of producing clean tap water. Also, addressing the fact that most water bottling production uses water bottles produced overseas that are then shipped to Ontario, incurring additional environmental harm. And finally, plastic, micro plastic and the continued harm on our health and health of our Great Lakes, and those that inhabit our great waters.

Additionally, we must recognize publicly the need to include in a meaningful way, Indigenous people, interests, knowledge systems and values in planning for the protection and conservation of water for future generations.

For accountability, there needs to be a commitment to 100% transparency and so data must be made available to the public.

We can do this, and we must do this. There is no other way.