Good News for the Tay River!

OTTAWA - The Council of Canadians welcomes Ontario’s Environment Minister’s surprise announcement of one-year moratorium on all new and expanding permits to take water in the province of Ontario, effective immediately.

The Eves government allowed OMYA (Canada) Inc., a calcium carbonate operation in Perth, Ontario, to triple its water-takings in the new year, subject only to the requirement that it convince Ministry officials of its need.

The moratorium will prevent OMYA from removing the additional water from the Tay River in the new year.

The Council of Canadians is a party in an application for judicial review of the Eve’s government decision. For the past two years, we have been working with Perth-area community members, who have been tireless in their efforts to protect the Tay Watershed and their community.

Although the Council of Canadians welcomes this first step in protecting Ontario’s waters, we do so acknowledging a long history of misuse and mismanagement of our precious waters.

We call on the province to ensure that the public has a voice in determining the future of water management practices in Ontario. Moreover, we advocate a comprehensive water strategy for the province, ensuring water as a public trust and a human right.

For more information on the moratorium, please see http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/envision/news/2003-1023/121801mb.htm

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