Hope, B.C./Stó:lō Territory – The Council of Canadians gathered at Nestlé’s bottling plant in Hope, B.C. yesterday to challenge its sustainability certification and to call on Premier John Horgan to phase out bottled water takings across the province.
“We’re here to call out Nestlé on its ‘bluewashing.’ Its designation as ‘sustainable’ is a self-certification process that was created by Nestlé itself and other big water corporations,” says Emma Lui, water campaigner for the Council of Canadians. “We need to see strong leadership from the Horgan government to protect water sources not only for current generations, but for the generations that will come after us.”
On March 21, Nestlé issued a press release declaring its Hope plant had achieved the "First Canadian Alliance for Water Stewardship Certification.” Nestlé is not only a member, but also a founding partner of the Alliance for Water Stewardship.
“Communities like Merville on Vancouver Island and others across B.C. are challenging bottling plants that are putting local drinking water sources at risk,” says Suzy Coulter, a member of the Chilliwack chapter of the Council of Canadians. “These projects are going forward without the free, prior and informed consent of Indigenous peoples. But all around the world, communities are fighting back – and winning – to protect their water sources.”
The Council of Canadians also continues to draw attention to Nestlé pumping on expired permits in southern Ontario.
Eighty-three per cent of Canada’s bottled water exports come from B.C., which are being exported to the U.S., China and other countries. “Investment protection” provisions in trade agreements like the Canada-China Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPA) could make it difficult for the exports to be stopped.
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For more information please contact:
Emma Lui, Water Campaigner, The Council of Canadians, Ph: 613-617-6799, email: elui@canadians.org
Harjap Grewal, B.C.-Yukon Regional Organizer, The Council of Canadians, Ph: 778-552-2099, email: hgrewal@canadians.org
