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McGuinty Government committed
to safe drinking water -
Feb. 16, 2007 Provides
Further Funding To Help Communities Move Ahead With Source Protection
Plans
Clinton - The McGuinty government is providing $35 million to
conservation authorities and municipalities for work to protect local
drinking water sources, MPP for Huron-Bruce Carol Mitchell announced
today.
This funding is helping communities to do the ground work needed to
support the development of the source protection plans required by the
new Clean Water Act. Conservation Authorities will be receiving $16.5
million and $18.5 million in grants is going to municipal and
conservation authority partnerships.
“The work that is being done right now is vital to making sure Ontarians
continue to have clean, safe drinking water” said Carol Mitchell, MPP.
“I’m proud to be part of government that is committed to investing in
the safety of our water and the protection of our environment.” Carol
stated that the Clean Water Act ensures that rural Ontario has safe
drinking water. This will help our small rural communities.
The Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority, the Maitland Valley
Conservation Authority, the Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority &
Grand River Conservation Authority and the Town of Goderich and the
Municipality of Huron East received a total of $ 1,052,890 from the
provincial government to assist with protecting community drinking water
supplies.
The Clean Water Act received Royal Assent on October 19, 2006. It
ensures that communities are able to protect their municipal drinking
water supplies through developing collaborative, locally driven,
science-based source protection plans.
“Every one of us in this province has a fundamental right to safe, clean
drinking water,” said Environment Minister Laurel Broten. “This
groundbreaking legislation with its emphasis on prevention is a key part
of our plan to protect drinking water from source to tap.”
This funding is just one of the ways the McGuinty government is helping
Ontario communities protect their drinking water. Other examples
include:
Creating an advisory panel to develop a stewardship program to support
source water protection in rural Ontario.
Making an initial $7 million available in 2007/08 to help farmers and
small rural businesses take early action to protect drinking water.
Hiring 33 new full-time water inspectors, investigators and compliance
staff.
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For further information
Carol Mitchell, MPP
Huron-Bruce
519 482-5630 |
