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ACTION ALERT: WATER IS A HUMAN RIGHT From the Wellington Water Watchers:
In January of this year, BlueTriton (formerly Nestlé) closed their doors for good here in Ontario. As we celebrated that win, we knew we must remain vigilant, watching for who would purchase these troubled operations next. At a Town of Erin Council meeting in February, we learned that White Wolf Property Management, a company of Ice River, purchased both the Aberfoyle and the Hillsburgh sites. We have now learned that they have applied for a permit to take water with the intent for water bottling.
Water is for Life, Not Profit.
As we prepared to respond to a new application by this company, we noticed that on Wednesday July 2, the Ford government quietly posted a proposal to the Environmental Registry to change a hard won regulation that would ensure that water taking permits are not a transferable asset. The current requirement that new owners must apply for a new Permit to Take Water (PTTW) is essential to maintaining public trust and environmental integrity.
Please take a moment now to submit your comment of opposition through the Environmental Registry of Ontario and let the Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks, and the Premier know that the people of Ontario say Water permits are not transferable assets. Link is here
KEY BILLS WE NEED TO ADDRESS:
There are three provincial and federal bills that challenge and dismantle environmental protections, the Ontario government’s Bill 5 and 17, and the Canadian government’s Bill C5. Please see below for information, actions, and media coverage on these three bills.
Bill 5 (Provincial)
The Problem:
The Ford government has rammed through Bill 5 the “Protect Ontario By Unleashing Our Economy Act” proposed on the eve of the Good Friday holiday. It will not only create very concerning lawless Economic Zones at the government’s whim where no provincial rules will apply, it will also fully repeal Ontario’s Endangered Species Act (ESA) for the entire province that was once heralded as world-leading. The entire ESA will be replaced with far weaker regulations, gutting protections and allowing development to destroy habitat and restoration efforts.
Media are warning that Bill 5 will lead to an environmental “slaughterfest”, while First Nations are stating that their rights can’t simply be eliminated by the provincial government. Proposed changes to the Electricity Act would allow the government to direct Ontario’s energy agencies, like the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) and Ontario Power Generation (OPG), to stop buying goods and services from certain countries, regions or territories (e.g. China). Energy advocates are warning that by arbitrarily banning Chinese components in energy projects this bill could effectively ban new solar and wind energy in Ontario.
Groups and organizations across the province are realizing the horrors and are coming together to fight this outrageous bill that overrides environmental laws, democratic processes, municipal planning, provincial laws, and personal rights to prioritize private company profits and give “Trusted Proponents” carte blanche to do and destroy whatever they want with no recourse. This is not in the best public interest to see so much power given to so few with no oversight or rules.
Whether a Bill has passed or not, we can still fight them. We have seen the Ford government make similar efforts to override existing environmental protections in this province with the Greenbelt scandal. Thankfully, the collective action of people in this province compelled them to reverse course on the Greenbelt legislation, and we intend to do the same with this bill. This fight is far from over.
Actions:
Submit a One-Click Letter to the Government:
• David Suzuki Foundation
• NDP Repeal Bill 5 Campaign
• Green Party Campaign To Repeal Bill 5
• New! WaterWatchers – Tell The Senate – No Bill C-5
• New! Greenpeace – Carney’s Fast-Track Bill C-5 Needs To Go Back To The Drawing Board
• New! Council Of Canadians – Call Your Senator: Stop Bill C-5
Additional Info:
David Suzuki Foundation — Reckless and chilling: Bill 5 is Doug Ford’s most dangerous legislation yet
David Suzuki Foundation — Environmental laws at risk as government moves to rush Bill C-5 through Parliament
Mike Schreiner, Green Party Leader has made a great explainer video on Bill 5:
Bill 17 (Provincial)
The Problem:
The Building Faster and Smarter Act was so rushed by the government it skipped all consultation and committee hearings. Most municipalities haven’t even had time to submit comments and Staff Reports are coming forward in Council Chambers across Ontario expressing serious concerns with this Bill that will gut Green Development Standards, expand undemocratic MZO powers, and negatively impacts almost every stage of development, planning, and once again cuts essential development charges municipalities depend on to provision growth.
The province released a very troubling directive to all municipalities claiming they have sole authority over municipal building laws and regulations in Ontario – contravening decades of actions and previous decisions/statements.
Actions:
Local Waterloo NDP MPP Catherine Fife is planning on presenting a petition in the Legislature against Bill 17. You can download the petition here, and get people to sign it so that it can be presented to the Premier
Call and email your MPP, or even visit them in person:
Current MPPs | Legislative Assembly of Ontario
(Put your postal code into this link and press search. Click on their name, and you will see their email address, phone number and constituency office address.)
Call the Premier’s Office: 416-325-1941
Additional Info:
Bill 17 Resource Hub – The Ontario Climate Caucus has created an outstanding website of Bill 17 resources learn everything that you need to know here
Bill C-5 (Federal)
The Problem:
Very similar to Ontario’s very concerning Bill 5, this federal Bill C-5, Building Canada Act (BCA) gives sweeping power to the Prime Minister and Cabinet to exempt major projects from Canada’s most important federal health, safety, and environmental laws as well as Indigenous rights. Organizations across Canada are raising serious concerns.
According to the Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA), Bill C-5 would fast track projects and give the federal cabinet unfettered discretion to:
• Designate any major facility, resource-based activity, or infrastructure (i.e. nuclear facilities, pipelines, mines, etc.) as “national interest” projects,
• Automatically pre-approve these projects under federal environmental laws (i.e. Impact Assessment Act, Fisheries Act, Species at Risk Act, Canadian Navigable Waters Act, Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, etc.) and could sidestep long-standing review and assessment requirements under these laws, and
• Make regulations which could exempt these projects from any applicable federal laws.
This Bill was just introduced for First Reading last week but could quickly be passed in the coming days, overriding democratic process, transparency, equity, and meaningful public and indigenous participation in decision-making.
Actions:
Call and email your MP, or even visit them in person:
Find Members of Parliament – Members of Parliament – House of Commons of Canada
(Put your postal code into the search bar in this link and press search. Click on their name, click ‘contact,’ and you will see their email address, phone number and constituency office address.)
Send one-click letters via the following campaigns:
Additional Info: