ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSIONER HAMMERS PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT FAILURES TO PROTECT OUR WATERWAYS & DRINKING WATER

I pulled this article out of the Ontario Out of Doors magazine Jan.-Feb. 2019 edition. The story is titled "Pollution threatens Ontario's waters" and is a summary of the Environmental Commissioner Diane Saxe's report titled "Back to Basics: 2018 Environmental Protection Report".

We are advised by Ms. Saxe that raw sewage overflowed into southern Ontario waters 1,327 times from April 1, 2017 to March 31, 2018 and the majority of those overflows came from 57 outdated municipal sewer systems that combine sewage with storm water. Ms. Saxe's states "...the government has still not required those municipalities to do everything reasonable to stop their overflows".

Ms. Saxe also takes aim at the proposed Bill 66 and its' negative implications for the Clean Water Act. After referencing the Walkerton drinking water crisis she stated "This is no time for the government to turn its back on source water protection."

Ms. Saxe also expressed disbelief at the state of agricultural runoff in Ontario. She said "The government does not do enough to stop agricultural runoff into freshwater, a major contributor to toxic algae." Part of the problem is the spreading of both fertilizers and human bio-solids on frozen ground and snow.

Ms. Saxe also took aim at the quantity of road salt still being used in the province which in many cases does not contribute to public safety.

Finally the loss of both wetlands and woodlands is a major concern and instead of lip service, must be reversed for the health of both people and the environment.

Ms. Saxe believes that "Small changes can better protect Ontario's water, wetlands, woodlands and wildlife". She stated that her report "...offers sensible solutions. Many cost relatively little and would yield big rewards." Clearly successive Ontario governments have not paid attention.