NDP MPP introduces solutions to protect Ontario’s water for World Water Day

QUEEN’S PARK – NDP Environment Critic, Sandy Shaw (Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas) held a press conference today before tabling four solutions in Legislature that, if passed, would ensure Ontario’s water is clean and safe in honour of World Water Day.

“We must protect Ontario’s rivers, lakes, and watersheds,” said Shaw. “Today, the Ontario NDP are standing strong as advocates for our environment to fight for a provincial strategy that will protect our water.”

Shaw was joined by Peter Tabuns (Toronto-Danforth) and Sol Mamakwa (Kiiwetinoong) to advocate for stronger protections for Ontario’s water and environment.

“Clean water is often taken for granted in Southern Ontario,” said Mamakwa. “In other parts of the province, too many communities live under boil water advisories. It’s 2023 – this needs to end. Today, the NDP are calling on the Ford government to commit in writing that decisions impacting Ontario water will be done with the input and consent of Indigenous communities, and ensure that all communities have safe, clean water.”

“This week’s United Nations climate change report reminded us that there is absolutely no time to waste when it comes to environmental protections,” said Tabuns. “We need to implement every solution we can think of to make sure that Ontario’s environment is protected for generations to come.”

The NDP solutions to protect Ontario’s water include:

1. Growing the Greenbelt:A motion to expand the Greenbelt and protect Ontario’s farmland from greedy land speculators.
2. Protect Places: A motion that ensures the Ontario Government work with communities to develop a strategy to protect 30% of Ontario’s lands and waters by 2030.
3. Water is for Life, Not for Profit: A motion to ensure that the Government of Ontario launches a transparent and public review of the permits for the Take Water process.
4. Provincial Water Strategy: A motion to ensure the Ford government bases all its decisions about water on our Treaty obligations, public interest, and guaranteed access to sustainable water resources, and commits to developing a provincial water strategy.

World Water Day is March 22.