This proposal for…

This proposal for transferrable water-taking (WT) permits is not consistent with the reality of a limited supply of clean, safe water nor the critical role of water in our communities. Thanks to rain from the skies and water springing from the ground, our society has come to believe that water is both renewable and unlimited. This was a misconception one-hundred years ago when our water laws were written and is even more of a misconception today when dealing with climate changes, population changes, water use changes, corporate changes and changes to our environmental water retention structure.
These ongoing changes are a critical reason why reviews of water-taking must be done on a regular basis, and the reason expiration dates were built into the original water-taking permit structure. This is especially true when the WT permit allows for "consumptive" water-taking, a form that removes water from the watershed of origin and a form of water use that was not considered when these laws were conceived. These changes were the reason why WT permits with expiration dates associated with years of duration and company changes were built into the original water-taking permit structure.
Applicant (company) changes were a particularly important aspect of water-taking permit reviews since changes such as global corporation buyouts, financial difficulties, resource monopolization, environmental infringements and increased potential for consumptive water use all play a critical role in assessing water risks associated with a permit approval.
Finally we can't stress too much the additional threat this proposal incurs to Municipal input, especially Council input into local community decision-making, a threat already cascading thanks to recent Provincial Planning Policy changes, Conservation Act changes, changes to financial support for Education Boards and Universities and Colleges, the enactment of Ministerial Zoning Orders, Endangered Species Act Changes, Special Economic Zones, Strong Mayor Powers and the list goes on. These are threats to democracy and nothing is more emblematic of democracy than an individual's right to free, safe, clean drinking water.
This proposal starts our province down the slippery slope towards water privatization, a corporate dream and a community nightmare. Please deny this proposal. Many thanks.