Tay Valley Township is…

Tay Valley Township is concerned about this proposal because an opinion from a University of British Columbia law professor called the legislation an example of “stealth privatization” of municipal services.
While governments and municipalities are public entities, “it's not impossible, and quite typical, that they can designate as an agent a private company, a for-profit company or a company that they own,” meaning ownership of the water companies could easily fall into private hands,

The act also requires that the water companies be incorporated as for-profit corporations under the Ontario Business Corporations Act. The legal opinion also said this change in legal structure shifts the priorities of the company, and control over it, toward an obligation to shareholder earnings and away from communities.

“It operates along the same lines and with the same imperative as a for-profit company. You've completely financialized water services and you've made the financial return to the owners, even if they are a public entity, a priority over the public interests that communities, employees and individuals have in regard to water services,” Joel Bakan said.

The Township opposes privatization of water as a commodity. Clean water is a right for residents.