(OTTAWA) - The Green Party of Canada supports the Council of Canadians’ call for the development of a National Water Policy to address the current drinking water crisis in Canada. In a new report released Thursday, the Council of Canadians found that at least 1838 drinking water advisories are currently in effect in Canada. A shocking 126 First Nations communities are affected. The type of advisories range from boil water advisories to “do not consume” orders. British Columbia and Newfoundland have a disproportionately high number of advisories currently in effect, with 544 and 233 respectively in those provinces.
“Drinking water advisories have touched far too many communities in a nation with 7% of the world’s renewable fresh water. These new numbers unequivocally show Canada is in the midst of a drinking water crisis,” said Elizabeth May, Leader of the Green Party of Canada and Member of Parliament for Saanich-Gulf Islands. “The Green Party has long called for a National Water Policy and today’s report serves to underline the shocking state of our watersheds.”
The Green Party of Canada has a comprehensive set of water policies, detailed in Vision Green, that include the implementation of the 1987 Federal Water Policy to ensure sustainable water management and investments in healthy watersheds through the establishment of a Canada Water Fund. Greens recognize and call for the protection of the fundamental right to clean freshwater for all Canadians today and in future generations.
“Healthy, sustainable communities start with fresh, clean drinking water for all Canadians. We need binding national standards and comprehensive federal policies to protect Canadians from persistent and evolving threats to our watersheds that include irresponsible resource development and global climate change,” concluded Elizabeth May. “We are failing our communities, especially remote First Nations communities, whose rights to basic services are constitutionally protected. We must do better.”
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For additional information or to arrange an interview, contact:
Julian Morelli
Director of Communications
Green Party of Canada
cell: (613) 614 4916
office: (613) 562 4916 (224)
julian.morelli@greenparty.ca