Letting mining exploration…

Letting mining exploration companies take water without permits should not happen.

Ontario’s water systems are already under pressure from climate change, land development and population growth. Because of that, it is essential to assess water taking permits carefully and to assess how multiple permits affect the same water sources and the surrounding environment.

It is disturbing to know that the province does not have a public record of how many companies hold water taking permits, how many are in the process of getting permits and how much water is actually being taken. The lack of awareness and control of water taking could create cumulative impacts on water quantity and quality across the province.

Making it easier for companies to take water while exploring for mining opportunities only benefits the companies while preventing local communities from having input into the activities and possibly putting them and nearby natural areas at risk. Local communities know their lands and waters best and need to be included in water taking decisions. This should happen with a robust permitting process.

Mining exploration is more likely to occur in less populated areas but, if many projects take place in the same area, the impacts can be significant, not only to local populations but also to vegetation near the water source areas resulting in disturbed wetlands and riverbeds, erosion and increased sediment.

I urge the province to reconsider this change to the water taking permitting process for mining exploration companies. It is not worth the risk to our water sources and ecosystems.