I am writing this letter to please keep our communities in the know about one of our most valuable resources: water.
Canada has one-fifth of the world’s fresh water, a quarter of it remaining in wetlands and its longest coastline. If Canadians would realize the potential dangers to our precious ecosystem they would also support an environmental bill of rights that protects our right to a healthy environment, including our right to clean water, would provide clear guidelines for government, industry and citizens to manage resources, economic development and the health and well-being of communities in ways that are transparent, predictable and sustainable.
As well, Canada is the only G8 country without legally enforceable drinking water quality standards at the national level. On any given day, more than 1,000 boil-water advisories are in effect across the country, many in Indigenous communities. Places like Shoal Lake 40, Grassy Narrows and Neskantaga have been under boil-water advisories for decades.
In my particular area the pulp and paper industries and shipping routes have polluted our waters that support shellfishing, and underwater habitat thereby destroying food sources. I have a personal stake in the protection of our waters. Many municipal water supplies are derived solely from groundwater. Polluted groundwater is less visible, and more difficult to clean up than pollution in rivers and lakes. So many possible levels of destruction when there is no protection for clean drinking water.
Val Bob
Chemainus
