Minister's Speech

Remarks for:

The Honourable John Gerretsen
Minister of the Environment

2nd Canadian National Conference and Policy Forum on Water Efficiency and Conservation

Waterloo Inn and Conference Centre
Waterloo, ON
Monday, November 3, 2008

(Check against delivery)

Thank you, Duncan, for the kind introduction.  (Minister Gerretsen was introduced by Duncan Ellison, the Executive Director of the Canadian Water and Waste Water Association)

Good afternoon, everyone.

I’m pleased to be here at this great conference. 

I understand there was a similar national forum on conservation almost 10 years ago; I am glad to hear you are revisiting this critical issue.

I’m especially pleased to see the tie-in being made here to show the links between water use, energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. The wise use and conservation of energy helps both to reduce greenhouse gas emissions AND adapt to the effects of climate change.

It’s also timely for me to be here to talk about conservation and efficiency.

My Ministry will be working over the coming months to develop a comprehensive provincial water conservation and efficiency strategy.

The strategy we’re developing is one of the commitments we made in signing the Great Lakes Charter Annex Agreement with Quebec and the eight Great Lakes states.

The agreement was recently signed by US President Bush … and that’s a positive development for Ontario and our neighbours south of the border as it puts an end to any talk of transferring water out of the Great Lakes Basin.

It also commits all Great Lakes States and Provinces to develop Goals and Objectives for water conservation.  As many of you know, the parties to the Agreement have now developed regional water conservation and efficiency objectives. 

These broad objectives will be the framework for our provincial strategy.  And over the next year we’ll be developing the specific actions the province will be taking to implement the strategy.

For example, one of the objectives is to “Adopt and implement supply and demand management to promote efficient use and conservation of water resources” and this in intended to include providing incentives to encourage efficient water use.

There are a range of approaches that could be taken.  The Provincial strategy could include promoting best management plans and innovative technologies, or it could consider providing financial incentives or even mandatory requirements that municipalities and companies develop water conservation plans.

We need to find the right balance and take advantage of what experts like you know about what works and what makes sense.  

I’d like to hear some examples of what has worked in other jurisdictions and could be readily applied in Ontario.

I’m sure you have ideas for what we could be doing as a provincial government to support the leadership that has been shown in many municipalities, and to encourage it in others.

We know that our strategy will be much more effective if we can show people that water conservation is about more than saving water.  It is also about saving energy, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, addressing climate change and ensuring our future prosperity.

I’m sure you have ideas about what we need to do to build this public awareness.

I know we must address the myth of abundance.

We’ve had it too easy in Ontario. It’s a similar attitude that has been all too common when it comes to waste and landfills. 

We’ve been dealing with waste issues in a more enlightened way in the past twenty-plus years with diversion programs like the blue box, the green bins and now our new diversion programs like the MHSW (Municipal Hazardous or Special Waste), the WEEE (Waste Electronics and Electrical Equipment) program, a program I’ve requested for Tires.

We’re undertaking a review of the Waste Diversion act now that was passed in 2002. We need to do a lot more in that area because frankly we’ve got a long way to go particularly with the Industrial, Commercial and institutional sector.

We need a similar approach to water and water conservation.

Here in Ontario, the latest statistics we have – for 2004 – show we use an average of 260 litres of water per person per day. 

The number is similar in the US.  But in some European countries, folks use as little as 124 litres per capita – less than half of what we use in Ontario.

We have to get to the point where people feel as uncomfortable letting the tap or sprinkler run endlessly as they do at the prospect of throwing a pop can or a newspaper into the garbage instead of putting them into the blue box.  We have to get to the point where people reduce their water consumption just as now it’s more common for people to think about reducing unnecessary packaging and waste.
This is more of a cultural shift that I believe we can bring about.

We have to do a much better job of conserving water and using it more efficiently in our province.

We do have legislation, regulations and programs to promote conservation and the efficient use of water:

Water conservation measures must be considered by Directors when making a decision on permits to take water.

Conservation is one of the considerations when managing threats to water quantities under our Clean Water Act, which brings communities together to protect the sources of their drinking water.

And we’ve required municipalities in the Oak Ridges Moraine to prepare water conservation plans to ensure quantities are sufficient in this environmentally sensitive area.

We’re also supporting several projects that will help in the conservation cause. 

You’ve probably heard the adage “you can’t manage what you don’t measure.”  

Right now, most folks don’t know how much water they use at home.   Similarly, many municipalities do not consistently measure residential water use per capita or water loss, for example.

One important project is being done by the Canadian Water and Wastewater Association to help us understand ways that other jurisdictions are measuring water use so we can use it more wisely.

This project will be complemented by work we’re supporting by the POLIS Project on Ecological Governance to develop a municipal “calculator.”  It will help us evaluate municipal water conservation measures by calculating the resulting energy savings and carbon dioxide emissions reductions.

You’ll hear more about both of these and other projects we’ve supported during your conference.

Of course there is more work to be done to be able to sustain a healthy supply of water for future generations.

Municipalities around the province are also very concerned about the ability of their water and wastewater infrastructure to meet the needs of residents. 

I share that concern. We need to take a good look at our infrastructure requirements and demands particularly in the context of adapting to the effects of a changing climate.

Here in Ontario, we have a climate change plan a component of which recognizes that climate change is underway and that we need to adapt.

We’ve also established an Expert Panel on climate change adaptation, and they’ve identified water and source protection as the first and most important issues to tackle when we consider and implement adaptation measures.

Because water resources are critical to ensuring the continued growth and success of Canada’s society and economy, our panel of experts stressed the importance of managing variability in water quantity, and assuring its quality.

We see the ways water conservation and efficiency can help municipalities reduce energy use, cut climate change-causing emissions and lower the cost of providing water and wastewater services.  Decreasing their reliance on water supplies also makes communities more resilient to climate change impacts.

The case for conservation is clear.  But we also need to make sure the right incentives are in place to implement conservation measures.

We are just beginning to hold meetings with the Great Lakes Charter Annex Advisory Panel, municipal working groups, First Nations and others. 

The work being discussed at this conference will help us make a strong case for conservation to the people of Ontario.

I know there are lots of ideas and practical experience in this room.  I’ve talked long enough! If you’ll indulge me, I’d like to ask for your input.

What are your suggestions?  What advice would you give me now as we begin to develop a provincial strategy?

I look forward to working with you to create a provincial water conservation and efficiency strategy … and to ensuring a healthy and prosperous future for Ontario and for our planet.

Thank you.

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