Water policy

A number of people, including Lac St. Louis MP Francis Scarpaleggia who hosted a town hall-style meeting on the issue last Thursday, have indicated the policy has become stagnant and there is a growing list of concerns.

Most of us consider water to be plentiful, especially around Greater Montreal. However, the resource is and will continue to be a hot commodity as others look to our country as a source for clean water. Hence, the need for a national policy to deal with issues like bulk water diversions or exports. Then, there is also contaminated potable water that has hit Canada hard, like the E. coli tragedy that struck Walkerton, Ont., in 2000.

Canadians should also note that while we have nine per cent of the world's renewable water supply, about 60 per cent of it flows north, away from the country's most densely populated cities which are all relatively close to the United States border.

While drinking water is run and managed by municipal authorities, and some do a great job like Dorval and Pointe Claire, the federal government could show leadership and set standards — and back it up with a financing program.