As an engineer I strongly…

As an engineer I strongly oppose the transfer of water and wastewater services from a municipal government (Peel Region) to a corporate entity. Water and wastewater systems are essential public services that must remain under direct municipal ownership and control to ensure transparency, accountability, and affordability for residents.

Municipal management prioritizes public health, environmental protection, and long-term infrastructure sustainability, rather than profit. Corporatization risks higher user fees, reduced public oversight, and decisions driven by financial returns rather than community needs.

Ontario’s experience since the Walkerton tragedy has shown the importance of strong, transparent, and accountable public oversight in protecting drinking water safety. Transferring control to a corporation undermines these principles.

Public utilities operate on a cost-recovery basis, whereas corporations are driven by profit. The proposal to transfer water and wastewater services under the stated goal of “building more homes faster” lacks transparency and raises serious concerns about potential conflicts of interest. Recent events, such as the Greenbelt controversy, have shown the very same goal being used as a result of influence by private development interests. Ontarians deserve full accountability and assurance that essential water services remain under public, not profit-driven, control. I urge the province to maintain municipal responsibility for water and wastewater services to preserve public trust, affordability, and environmental stewardship for future generations.