A Save Our Water delegation visited Ted Arnott’s Wellington-Halton Hills campaign office at noon on May 16 to present a Mother’s Day card to Mother Earth and call for better legislation to protect water.
Media from Italy attended the event as part of coverage of the Nestlé water taking within Canada.
Resident Peter Skoggard told Arnott those gathered were there to bring this message because there is a provincial election coming up.
“We’re here to take the message to … whomever is going to be the next premier of Ontario.”
Arnott quickly interjected “… that’s not going to be me.”
Skoggard said he then hoped Arnott would carry the message to the next premier.
Arnott welcomed those gathered to his campaign office.
He said that on June 7, everyone will have a chance to express their views.
“I want to express my appreciation to the Save Our Water group … showing their passion and interest on behalf of the community.
“Obviously there is community concern that all of us share – we need to preserve and protect our groundwater – not just for now, but for future generations.”
Arnott said the moratorium on new permits to take water by water bottlers continues to January 2019.
He suggested the matter may be discussed again this fall – after the election.
Arnott said he would not speculate on who would become the next government.
“We won’t know until the ballots have been cast.”
Arnott maintained his interest in the issue and to bring forward the interests of local constituents.
“I’ve spoken in the House about it many times.”
Save Our Water’s Donna McCaw also spoke briefly on what the group sees as the impact of Nestlé to other communities.
“We need better legislation to protect our water. This township relies solely on groundwater.”
She contended Nestlé wants to take 1.6-million litres of water each day, put it in big tanker trucks, then put the water in plastic bottles and ship it all around.
In the background, protesters said “No way” and “Not happening.”
McCaw said the potential impact to a vulnerable watershed is yet to be known.
“What happens in Elora will set a precedent for the rest of the province. Our community has been told it will double in size in the next 20 years.”
She said the same government which has initiated these growth targets cannot allow water permits to a foreign corporation.
“We need better legislation to stop this Catch 22.”
When asked if he would stand up for his constituents and Centre Wellington, Arnott responded “I do that every day.”
