Premier Doug Ford continues to face criticism over proposed legislative changes that some argue move Ontario closer to water privatization.
On Oct. 20, Ford’s Progressive Conservative government introduced Bill 56, the Building a More Competitive Economy Act. The bill proposes several amendments to the Clean Water Act of 2006, legislation enacted to protect existing and future water sources. Though the province reports that alterations are intended to “accelerate critical mineral development in Ontario, boost the province’s economy and support job creation.” Ontarians remain skeptical.
Ontario’s government is moving towards a decision to change its water-taking permit rules, allowing companies to assume existing permits without any public review or consultation.
In the past, any company taking more than 50,000 litres of water per day, be it from lakes, rivers, streams, or groundwater, was required to apply, undergo public review, complete an environmental assessment, and consult with First Nations for approval. The proposed amendments would allow companies to assume existing water-taking permits without triggering the same public review and consultation process.
In the Waterloo Region, roughly 80 per cent of drinking tap water comes from groundwater drawn from over 100 wells and 20 per cent from the Grand River, with about one-quarter of the region’s total water supply being used for commercial and industrial purposes.
Despite this, the region asserts that it does not track how many companies hold permits to take water locally, or even how much they’re allowed to withdraw each year; that responsibility lies with the provincial Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks.
Ontario also does not maintain a public record of how many companies hold water-taking permits, how many new or transfer applications are in process, or how much water is withdrawn each day, keeping it private despite public concerns.
Groundwater is a limited supply and cannot be treated as an endless resource. Approximately 30 per cent of the world’s freshwater is stored underground in aquifers, where water has accumulated over extended periods. Aquifers are recharged naturally by rainwater and surface-water infiltration into the ground, a process that can take hundreds or thousands of years to refill. In many places, these underground reserves are being pumped faster than they can replenish.
An increase in unrestricted permit transfers could harm the environment. Water systems are interconnected, meaning damage in one area can affect ecosystems elsewhere. Any water extraction carries risks, including groundwater depletion, ecosystem disruption and habitat degradation.
The proposed changes will remove the established checks and balances, benefit the industry and limit the ability of local communities to comment on or challenge any of the potential impacts to their water sources. Without the reviewing of permit transfers, there is no prior assessment or additional monitoring, leaving our communities unaware of the potential harm in their neighbourhoods.
Water is critical to the environment, it creates life, it sustains ecosystems and helps to regulate our climate. Water is vital to human survival, composing up to 60 per cent of the human body and supporting major biological systems. Water shortages are becoming an increasing global issue, and the Ford government’s fast-tracked approvals for water development is negatively impacting the problem. Stay informed, protect your local water sources and communities and keep our water safe.
Contributed Photo/Angus Turney
