For Immediate Release
August 25, 2006

MPP SCOTT SUPPORTS LOCAL CHALLENGES TO BILL 43

YPETERBOROUGH, ON – Laurie Scott, MPP for Haliburton-Victoria-Brock was joined today by a number of concerned land owners, family farmers, private citizens, local chamber of commerce and municipal representatives at the Clean Water Committee Hearing in Peterborough. The Hearing was the final day for open public presentations with respect to the proposed Clean Water Act, Bill 43.

“The McGuinty government continues to demonstrate their inconsistent nature,” quoted Scott. “Not more than a week ago at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario conference in Ottawa, Premier McGuinty stated that his government is working on the side of municipalities to strengthen our communities and help Ontario families prosper."

The stakeholders and private citizens attending the hearings this week clearly did not agree with the Premier’s perspective. Presentation after presentation laid the responsibility of clean water directly at the feet of the Liberal government, not the municipalities and property owners.

This issue has mobilized the public and as a result the hearing room was packed to overflowing. Linda Carder of Bethany, Ontario appeared before the committee as a private citizen, who felt compelled to present after reading the proposed legislation. “This Act to me is a strictly provincial matter. It is an essential service, like health care, and like education,” said Carder.

Nearly 50 small farms went out of business in Kawartha Lakes in 2005. “Right now, as the Bill stands it is expropriation without compensation and will not achieve the objectives of source water protection.” said Scott. “The Liberal plan to threaten family farms, landowners, cottage owners and municipalities is unacceptable. Bill 43 places an additional cost burden at a time when they can least afford it.”

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For Further Information Contact:
Laurie Scott, MPP
(705) 324-6654
1-800-424-2490

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