Peace Arch News reports, “The City of White Rock will enter into negotiations to take over its water utility, the mayor announced Monday evening. Following a lengthy closed meeting, Wayne Baldwin confirmed council had voted unanimously to provide notice to Edmonton-based Epcor of the city’s intention to assume ownership of its water utility, and to commence negotiations with Epcor for the necessary purchase.”
White Rock is located within the Metro Vancouver regional district.
Significantly, the mayor said the city could explore expropriation given Epcor “probably won’t” be interested in selling. That said, the campaign is far from over in that the mayor also praised the company and suggested the possibility that it may be hired to run the by-then publicly-owned utility.
The news article adds, “Supporters who turned out for the announcement said they were happy with the news but still have questions”.
On June 3, Council of Canadians organizing assistant Ava Waxman spoke at a public event in White Rock with about 100 people in attendance in favour of remunicipalization. That event also included Chief Joanne Charles of the Semiahmoo First Nation, Margaret Woods from the White Rock Accountable Water Committee, Dr. Mildred Warner from Cornell University, and community representative Phil LeGood.
On June 18, the White Rock Accountable Water Committee – supported by the Council of Canadians Surrey-Langley-White Rock chapter, CUPE Local 402-01, and Water Watch – will screen the film Water Makes Money: How Private Corporations Make Money With Water. This film includes clips of Blue Planet Project founder/ Council of Canadians chairperson Maude Barlow.
For more, please read:
White Rock aims to take over city’s water works
NEWS: White Rock to debate water remunicipalization, June 10
NEWS: White Rock, BC may remunicipalize its water utility
White Rock Water Matters webpage
UPDATE: ‘Water Makes Money’ premieres in Europe
