To the Editor: Nobody thinks twice about using drinking water to flush a toilet. Election campaigns ignore people facing "Boil Water Advisories" and spring flooding.
But Canadian water is up for grabs in the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) being negotiated between Canada and the European Union (EU).
Last year Newfound-land and Labrador reasserted control over water at a defunct Abitibi-Bowater paper mill. The U.S. firm sued Canada under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). At a closed - door hearing, Canada threw up its hands, agreeing to pay millions in damages!
With that surrender came Mr. Harper's proposed Bill S-11, which will privatize water on First Nations Reserves. To most Canadians clean water comes at the twist of a tap.
Thousands of homes in remote communities don't enjoy that "luxury" or access to sewage services. Yet, Canada plans to contract out to private for-profit companies what should be public infrastructure.
Without public consultation we don't know who will benefit or pay for this sell-off. The Aboriginal People's Television Network recently reported that a former advisor to Mr.
Harper may have illegally promoted contracting out filtration systems on First Nations Reserves.
How will Treaty rights apply and how will farmers survive if water is diverted for industrial use? Will water bills increase? What standards will apply? Will toilets continue to flush or will the tap run dry?
NAFTA, Bill S-11, and CETA: ask your Member of Parliament about how those three things will affect your community.
Gary Schoenfeldt, Regina, SK. and Darwin DeLorme, North Battleford, SK.
