Ms. Catherine Fife: I’m very proud to present this petition on behalf of the Wellington Water Watchers for the first time in the House today.
“Protect Water as a Public Good.
“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:
“Whereas groundwater is a public good, not a commodity; and
“Whereas local ecosystems must be preserved for the well-being of future generations; and
“Whereas the United Nations recognizes access to clean drinking water as a human right; and
“Whereas the duty to consult indigenous communities regarding water-taking within traditional territories is often neglected, resulting in a disproportionate burden on systemically marginalized communities during a period of reconciliation; and
“Whereas a poll commissioned by the Wellington Water Watchers found that two thirds of respondents support phasing out bottled water in Ontario over the course of a decade; and
“Whereas a trend towards prioritizing the expansion of for-profit water bottling corporations over the needs of municipalities will negatively impact Ontario’s growing communities;
“Therefore we, the undersigned, call on Premier Wynne to direct the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change to prioritize public ownership and control of water over corporate interests and fund the accessibility of free drinking water in public spaces across the province.”
It is indeed my pleasure to affix my signature to this petition and to give it to page Charlotte.