Thank you for the…

Thank you for the opportunity to provide comments on the proposed amendments to
the Municipal Act, 2001 and Safe Drinking Water Act, 2002, to enable regulations to set
out requirements for municipal consent of non-municipal communal drinking water
and wastewater systems. Town staff offer the following comments regarding the
proposed changes:

• Should the Province move ahead with the proposed amendments, draft
regulations should be posted on the Environmental Registry for public comment.
Additionally, Town staff recommend that at minimum 60 days be provided so
that municipalities and other public agencies impacted have time to consult
with their Councils or Boards on the impact of the proposed regulations.

• Future draft regulations should require that Municipal Consent is to be granted
as part of or prior to issuing any planning approval (for planning applications),
and prior to issuance of any permit under the Ontario Building Code. This step is
necessary to ensure safe water supply is available to support the proposed
development of new infrastructure before significant financial investment is
made.

• Future draft regulations should require support for a municipality to establish a
special tax levy to help create a sustainable funding source for any communal
water and wastewater system. The tax levy would be applied to the individual
properties connected to the system and would be solely used to fund
maintenance, operation, upkeep and capital replacement. The tax levy would be
tied to the properties so as they are purchased and sold, landowners and
prospective buyers will be kept informed and be required to participate.