These proposed changes to…

These proposed changes to the water permitting process will:

-Strip municipalities of their power to determine what is best for their community;
-Violate Indigenous Rights by eliminating consultation with Indigenous Nations;
-Allow corporations to buy access to groundwater like real estate;
-Eliminate an opportunity to reassess environmental impacts; and
-Prioritize private convenience over public and environmental safety.

I urge the ministry to:

-Reject the proposed changes to permits to take water regulations;
-Require new owners to apply for a new permit through a public, scientific, and Indigenous-informed review process;
-Uphold the duty to consult Indigenous Nations as required by provincial and constitutional law; and
-Treat water as a public trust, not a private asset.

Water is necessary for life and is finite. Thereby, water taking by corporations must be placed under the strictest scrutiny and care.