Ontario’s drinking water is…

Ontario’s drinking water is the envy of many jurisdictions worldwide, primarily as a result of the multi-barrier safety net that has been established to ensure the health and viability of this resource. The Clean Water Act, 2006 and the Drinking Water Source Protection Program is the necessary first step of Ontario’s multi-barrier safety net, without which drinking water protection is incomplete. Section 39 of the Clean Water Act, 2006 is vitally important to safeguard the public health of Ontario residents and should not be set aside at the unchecked discretion of one Minister. Therefore, the CTC Source Protection Committee recommends the following with regard to the proposed legislative and regulatory amendments:

1) That under section 34.1(6) of Schedule 10, Bill 66, “section 39 of the Clean Water Act, 2006” be
removed as a provision not subject to the Open-For-Business Planning By-Law, and

2) That a consultative process be established in the Planning Act to require the Minister to acquire
formal commentary from the general public and other stakeholders prior to any enactment of a
proposed Open-For-Business Planning By-Law coming into force.