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GPO leader Mike Schreiner issued the following statement on the International Day of Action for Rivers:
“Today, International Day of Action for Rivers, provides a great opportunity to highlight the importance of Ontario’s watersheds.
Ontario’s rivers need protection now more than ever. Demand for clean water will continue to grow, while pressure from pollution, industrial activity, and climate change threaten the availability of clean water. At a time when the federal government is removing protections for lakes and rivers, the province must put protecting water high on the priority list.
Protecting clean water is clearly an issue the people of Ontario support. Thousands of citizens took action to protect our headwaters from the Melancthon mega-quarry. The city of Guelph is taking action to protect its drinking water by challenging the water taking permit and management plan for the Dolime quarry.
These actions highlight the loopholes in provincial legislation that fail to protect our rivers and our drinking water. We need to understand that water is a finite resource essential to our health, environment, and economy. Government has a responsibility to ensure good stewardship of our water resources.
International Day of Action for Rivers is the perfect time to renew our commitment to protecting Ontario’s water. The Green party is committed to pushing the province to close the loopholes in legislation that fail to put food and water first.”