NFA News

McGuinty backtracking on clean water?
Activists fear Ont. Liberals dragging feet on legislation


Canadian Press


Monday, May 23, 2005


TORONTO -- Fearful the Liberal government is dragging its feet when it comes to protecting Ontario's drinking-water sources, more than a dozen groups are urging Premier Dalton McGuinty to move forward with legislation promised this spring.

In letters obtained by The Canadian Press, conservation authorities, environmental and municipal groups tell McGuinty they fear the issue is slipping from the government's agenda.

"The apparent absence of clear movement on
source-water-protection legislation or appropriate funding in the
budget . . .sends a strong and troubling signal that the
government's commitment to protecting Ontario's drinking water
appears to have significantly diminished," says one of the letters.


It goes on to urge the government to "commit the financial resources necessary to ensure that source-water protection plans are developed and implemented."

Preventing drinking water from becoming contaminated in the first place underpinned the recommendations that flowed from the judicial inquiry into the E. coli tragedy in Walkerton, Ont., five years ago.

The aim is simple: to keep industrial, human and agricultural contaminants out of sources of drinking water. The implementation, however, promises to be a complex undertaking that's likely to be felt in almost every corner of society.

That complexity is part of the reason why the potentially groundbreaking legislation is taking so long, said Environment Minister Leona Dombrowsky.

"This hasn't happened before; other jurisdictions in Canada and North America are watching what we're doing," Dombrowsky said.

"That is why we're taking the time to get it right the first time."

Dombrowsky said she is committed to introducing the legislation, which she called a "defining" component of the government's environmental agenda, sometime in the fall.

Activists, however, want to see action now.

"Our fear is if it gets to the fall and gets further postponed, it eventually drops off the radar screen completely," said Dick Hunter, general manager of Conservation Ontario.

"We want to give the opportunity for the premier to reaffirm here and now his personal commitment to this."

In particular, advocates want McGuinty to promise publicly to introduce the bill as soon as the house reconvenes after the summer break.

They are also calling on the government to release a draft of the legislation right away so that the public can comment on it over the summer.

"It would be very useful for the public to be able to see the complete picture," said Theresa McClenaghan, a lawyer with the Canadian Environmental Law Association.

Recommendations from Justice Dennis O'Connor's inquiry, delivered to the province almost three years ago, called for legislation that, among other things, would require protection plans for all watersheds in Ontario.

"Until this critical first barrier is put in place, drinking water supplies remain vulnerable and the health of Ontario residents remains at risk," the letter says.

Others urging McGuinty to act include groups like Environmental Defence, Ducks Unlimited Canada, the Ontario Municipal Water Association and the Ontario Water Works Association.




© The Canadian Press 2005
by Canadian Press

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