For Immediate Release
September 07, 2006

PC’s Pleased To See Liberals Begin To Realize Flaws In Source Water Protection Bill

As the government reviews the proposed legislation for water source protection and announced a $ 7 Million support program, the opposition critic for the environment, MPP Laurie Scott, is continuing to stress that the needs of Ontario’s farmers, landowners, private citizens and municipal partners are given full consideration.

“The McGuinty government has begun to recognize the error in its ways. This legislation, in its current form, is an avoidance of provincial responsibility to provide source water protection to all of Ontario,” said Scott. “This is clearly a buy-off attempt by the McGuinty government to deflect criticism of their own fundamentally flawed legislation. There is still no demonstration by the government that they understand the needs of the agricultural sector and what farmers and rural communities are going through.”

The PCs have expressed opposition to Bill 43 for months, and did not give support in the Ontario Legislature. That opposition has been supported by many concerned groups expressing their opposition at the public committee hearings.

“The McGuinty government has been repeatedly told during debate and during public hearings that changing land use costs a tremendous amount of money,” said MPP Toby Barrett. “This has a huge effect on Agriculture and rural municipalities throughout Ontario and the government’s paltry attempt at funding is nothing more than a public relations exercise.”

The review of Bill 43 and potential amendments will take place during this coming week. Among the many controversial aspects, items such as funding for implementation, as well as issues around expropriation of land without compensation, have caused much concern with various groups including landowners and farmers who have turned up at the hearings in large numbers – literally by the busloads. The PCs plan to introduce a number of amendments during the review.

“We have heard the very clear message from so many groups who have been represented at the committee hearings,” said Scott. “They have been vocal about many aspects of this Bill, in its current form. There is an absolute need for full, long-term sustainable funding and to remove the McGuinty government’s heavy handed approach to downloading their responsibilities on municipalities.”

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For Further Information Contact:

Laurie Scott, MPP, Haliburton-Victoria-Brock
416-325-2008
1-800-424-2490

Toby Barrett, MPP Haaldimond-Norfolk-Brant
416-325-8404
519-428-0446