Backgrounder

SUPPORTIVE STATEMENTS FOR THE McGUINTY GOVERNMENT’S ACTIONS ON LEAD AND WATER

“In Sierra Legal’s national Drinking Water Report Card released last fall, Ontario was top of the class. We expect even our A students to strive for continuous improvement in drinking water protection, as demonstrated be the Ministry of the Environment’s timely response to this public health issue.”
- Dr. Anastasia Lintner, staff lawyer and economist, Sierra Legal

“Adding water testing at taps will be a good step forward in ensuring that safe water is delivered in Ontario communities. Increased flushing of water in schools and child care facilities is also necessary to protect children. Complementary educational outreach is essential. Homeowners and private or informal child care facilities need to follow the same precautions. Lead is a legacy chemical that requires ongoing vigilance. Older homes with lead service lines also contain old lead-bearing paint. Education and awareness is key to avoiding lead exposure for all children.”  
 - Kathleen Cooper, Senior Researcher, Canadian Environmental Law Association

"Municipalities are eager to take necessary steps to protect human health and to better understand the scope of the problem. AMO's advice to the government was that this is a complex problem that requires a considered and balanced approach, focused on safeguarding the health of residents in our communities."
- Doug Reycraft, President, Association of Municipalities of Ontario

"The importance of lead on the health of young children and the evidence that there are some locations where lead is being leached from service lines warrants a prompt response from the Ontario Government.  The proposed immediate action to monitor and to provide appropriate flushing procedures for schools will reduce the risk to children attending these facilities. On-going monitoring will better define whether the risk is present and should then dictate any further course of action.  The long term approach as being proposed by the Ministry of the Environment of accelerated lead service replacement, increased monitoring, and adjustment of municipal water quality parameters, i.e. pH and alkalinity,  to reduce the potential for lead corrosion are welcome and necessary initiatives." 
- Rod Holme, Ontario Water Works Association

“I’m very pleased that the Ministry of the Environment is moving so quickly in proposing to implement the Council’s recommendations on reducing lead in the province’s municipal drinking water.”
- Jim Merritt, Chair of the Ontario Drinking Water Advisory Council.

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For further information:
Anne O’Hagan             Minister’s Office 416325-5809	John Steele Ministry of the Environment 416-314-6666
Contact information for the general public: 416-325-4000 or 1-800-565-4923/ www.ene.gov.on.ca

 

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