Chris Savard

Chris Savard
Seaway News

September 22, 2006:

In late August, the Ontario Standing Committee on Social Policy met in Cornwall to hear comments on Bill 43, commonly known as the Clean Water Act 2006. The Bill is designed “to protect existing sources of drinking water and to make complementary and other amendments to other Acts.”

As in other communities, the Committee heard a great deal of concern from landowners, farmers, municipalities and environmental groups about a number of components of Bill 43. While most, if not all, presenters would agree that they support the principle of protecting drinking water sources, concern was raised over many issues including the cost of the act, broad expropriation rights without compensation and increased bureaucracy.

Mr. Gordon Garlough of the Dundas County Federation of Agriculture stated at the hearing, “In its present form, Bill 43 sees farmers as an enemy of water protection issues, especially in the permits, inspection and enforcement sections. As a result, the Bill fails to recognize the real, positive role that farmlands and farm people have in water resource conservation.”

Ms. Wendy Beswick of the Glengarry Cattlemen’s Association was also concerned about the Bill stating, “There is a better way. We believe that it’s possible to meet source water protection goals without the legalistic or confrontational methods proposed in Bill 43.”

Mr. Randy Hillier, President of Ontario Landowners Association said “I can tell you, if the bill passes the way it is right now or without significant modifications to respect justice and respect private property owners, there will be trouble in rural Ontario, and not just trouble as far as another nail in the economy of rural Ontario, which has suffered enough nails.”

In a recent media release, Laurie Scott, Haliburton-Victoria-Brock MPP and PC Environment Critic said over 240 proposed Amendments show that the McGuinty Liberals’ source water protection bill is severely flawed.

“This is clearly a case of the McGuinty Liberals realizing they have been caught abdicating their responsibilities and downloading costs and services to Ontario’s municipalities and rural landowners,” Scott stated. “Over 100 of the proposed amendments were from the Liberals. This is an admission by the Liberal government that their own legislation was flawed, which the PC Caucus has acknowledged from the start.”

The Liberal government announced a $7 million support program in an attempt to offset the many criticisms of the bill. “This is not nearly enough to implement source water protection in Ontario,” Scott suggested. “What is needed, and what has been called for by the PC Caucus is sustainable, long term funding.”