News Release

For immediate release
December 3, 2007

MCGUINTY GOVERNMENT HELPS COMMUNITIES PROTECT THEIR DRINKING WATER SOURCES
Funding for drinking water stewardship enshrined in legislation

TORONTO — The McGuinty government is providing $7 million to help farmers, property owners and businesses take steps now to protect local drinking water sources, Environment Minister John Gerretsen and Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Minister Leona Dombrowsky announced today.

“We have a shared responsibility for protecting drinking water. Our government is making it easier for people who live and work in rural communities to do their part and make early changes that help safeguard local drinking water sources now and into the future,” said Gerretsen.

Ontario’s Clean Water Act, which was passed to protect drinking water sources, is the first such legislation to include a special assistance program for rural communities. Of this initial $7 million:

• $4 million is helping with the costs of measures taken in areas around municipal wells and water intakes such as upgrading wells and septic systems, installing runoff and erosion controls and reviews aimed at improving how businesses store, handle and dispose of materials.
• $2 million is for promoting awareness of what individuals and businesses can do and the funding available to them.
• $1 million is going to special projects to protect municipal drinking water sources including those that demonstrate a new or innovative approach.

“We listened when farmers told us that they need financial assistance to implement source water protection,” said Dombrowsky. “We have also committed an additional $21 million over the next three years to support water protection efforts in rural Ontario.”

An advisory panel including agricultural, municipal and conservation authority representatives provided advice to guide the development and ongoing operation of the Ontario Drinking Water Stewardship Program including the types of activities that should be funded.

“As a member of the Minister’s Advisory Panel that provided advice on this program, I am extremely pleased to see this investment in protecting our drinking water supplies.  On behalf of Ontario’s Conservation Authorities I’d also like to say we appreciate the opportunity to partner with the Ministry in the local delivery of these funds,” said Don Pearson, General Manager of Conservation Ontario.

-30-

See Also:

• Backgrounder: Financial Assistance For Rural Source Protection Efforts
• Backgrounder: Funding For Early Action And Education And Outreach

Contact information for media:
Patti Munce Minister Gerretsen’s Office 416-314-6736	John Steele Ministry of the Environment 416-314-6666
Contact information for the general public: 416-325-4000 or 1-800-565-4923/ www.ontario.ca/environment

 

Back to News Releases