Given the tragic history of…

Given the tragic history of the Walkerton water contamination event in 2000 — which resulted in multiple deaths and thousands of illnesses — the proposed transfer of water and wastewater jurisdiction and creation of a new public corporation must be accompanied by rigorous safeguards.

Specifically:

- Governance must ensure publicly-accountable oversight, technical competency, and transparent reporting.

- The transition must maintain and improve monitoring, operator training, emergency response and asset condition management.

- Rate-setting and service delivery must prioritise safety and infrastructure renewal over cost-cutting or profit pressures.

- Public disclosure of costs, governance structures and performance metrics must be mandatory.

- Mechanisms must exist for swift intervention or remedial action if the new corporation fails to meet safety or service standards.

I therefore encourage the Ministry to publish detailed oversight and accountability frameworks before proceeding, and to build into the legislation clear performance-, safety- and transparency-based requirements that will ensure the public’s trust.