A group of Erin citizens is asking town council to reject a voluntary levy offered by Nestlé Waters Canada.
The group, collectively called the Green Well Ecological Collaborative, presented an alternative to council on April 4.
On Feb. 1, Nestlé Waters proposed an annual voluntary levy of $0.50 per 1,000 litres, with a minimum payment of $25,000 per year.
While Nestlé Waters can draw up to 406 million litres annually from its well near Hillsburgh, company officials say it has not reached the maximum in 16 years of operation.
Based on data from 2000 to 2016, Erin would have received between $27,000 and $141,000 annually if the levy had been in place. The average levy would be about $40,000.
The citizen’s group asked council to reject the levy and offered an alternative: an “inspiring outreach social media campaign.”
“Water is a basic human right, not to be commodified, and plastic water bottles are causing huge problems worldwide,” said Linda Rosier, spokesperson for Green Well Ecological Collaborative.
“To support the council in making this decision, citizens came forward pledging to raise funds Nestlé offered to the town, so it will not have to forego the revenue that has been earmarked for the town of Erin’s trails development and other green projects.”
Rosier explained the fundraising campaign would coincide with Waterstock, a water-protection event planned for June 11 in Hillsburgh.
“Your decision to address this urgent issue of finding solutions to a worldwide bottle issue in lieu of accepting funds will earn you and our town a legacy that will make our children and grandchildren proud of us,” the group’s report stated.
Following the meeting Rosier said the group will launch a global social media fundraising event that could raise $40,000 each year.
“If the only reason you’re saying ‘yes’ is because you need $40,000, we’ll come up with the $40,000 through a social media campaign which we would start in conjunction with Waterstock,” she said.
Other group members told the Advertiser taking money from Nestlé Waters would be comparable to a transaction.
“We’re trying to help council say ‘no’ to this, at least temporarily until they study it,” said Liz Armstrong.
“They’re not giving money to Erin without an obligation of it coming back in some form at some point,” added Ross Rosier.
Councillors offered varied opinions on the matter.
“Out of curiosity, if you can come up with $40,000 now, where has the $40,000 been before?” asked councillor Rob Smith.
“That’s a tall order to come up with; $40,000 plus-plus to match.”
Councillor Matt Sammut urged council to consider the citizen group’s alternative.
“You’re probably talking to the most fiscally-driven councillor here – not that the rest aren’t, but I definitely am – so when you’re telling me to give up $40,000 … I’m listening, but you better sell me, and you did,” he said.
“I don’t think water should be given to companies to exploit and make significant profits on,” he added. “I want in 50 years someone to look back and say someone was prudent enough and proactive enough to say ‘no’.”
Councillor John Brennan said the town should work with Nestlé Waters.
“I will say, flat out, I am not in favour of banning bottled water. I think bottled water has an important role to play in an emergency or in the situation … not all of us have access to pure filtered town water,” he said.
“We have an opportunity to focus with Nestlé, and I say that because the case becomes much stronger, when you make it to the province, if you have somebody who is a part of the problem, so to speak, also becoming part of the solution.”
Councillor Jeff Duncan, who stated he was initially opposed to Nestlé Waters coming to Hillsburgh in the early 2000s, said the company’s levy would level the playing field.
“The status quo is unacceptable. The last 10 years of receiving nothing from a multinational firm … is unacceptable,” he said.
Duncan added partnering with Nestlé Waters can enable and leverage change.
“We already receive money from our citizens to do things, and this is actually levelling the playing field … it brings Nestlé up to the level that our citizens are already doing,” he said.
“Ostracizing and shunning people and things generally doesn’t get the result that you want to get.”
Council accepted the presentation as information, and Mayor Allan Alls informed the attendees council will make a decision at the April 18 council meeting.
Nestlé Waters’ natural resource manager Andreanne Simard attended the council meeting and spoke to the Advertiser following the delegation.
“In 2015, (we) initiated a community relations program where we interviewed several community members and stakeholders specifically in Erin and all the locations we operate in … and (the levy) was an action that came out of that community relations program,” said Simard.
“In every location that we operate in, we really want to add value to the community, which is why these community relations programs that we initiated a few years ago were so important.”
She added Erin officials can allocate the funds as they see fit.
The Wellington Water Watchers have also asked the town to reject Nestlé’s offer.
