Proposed amendments to the Water and Wastewater Public Corporations Act, 2025 and consequential amendment to the Safe Drinking Water Act, 2002

MMAH received a total of 35 comments from individuals submitted to the Environmental Registry of Ontario (ERO), and 1354 letters were received through email. As of May 19, 2026, 44 comments were received after the consultation deadline. 

Generally, many comments supported the proposed amendments that clarify 100% public-sector share ownership, support continuity of services related to the transfer of employment/collective agreements and contracts and confirm continued application of drinking water protections. 

However, many comments, raised concerns that the framework could still enable “privatization in practice” through private involvement in management, operations, governance, or financing, and that key decisions being deferred to future regulations creates uncertainty for municipalities and ratepayers. 

Additional highlights included:

• Public ownership must be unambiguous and fully protected in legislation.
  Many submissions supported limiting share ownership to public entities but called for clearer definitions, particularly of “agent”, to avoid perceived pathways for private control, influence, or profit extraction.
• Governance, transparency, and local accountability are central concerns.
  Numerous comments emphasized that water and wastewater decisions should remain locally accountable and transparent, with meaningful municipal oversight.
• Financial risks associated with the WWPC, including the servicing of existing debt require greater clarity and appropriate safeguards.
• While many supported prohibiting the transfer of long-term municipal debt to a corporation, multiple municipalities and associations cautioned this could leave municipalities servicing the debt without associated revenues, potentially shifting costs onto property taxes and impacting municipal borrowing capacity.
• Municipal autonomy and the scope of ministerial powers were frequently raised.
  Several submissions expressed concern that expanded regulation-making authorities and the ability to prescribe or alter agreements could reduce municipal discretion.
• Public health, regulatory continuity, and source water protection remain priorities.
• Affordability and evidence of benefits were mixed and debated.

Overall, the consultation emphasized broad support for public sector ownership and drinking water safety protections, alongside consistent requests for clearer legislative language (especially around “agent”), stronger accountability mechanisms, and greater certainty on financial and governance details to be set through future regulations.

The government will continue working closely with the municipalities that will be designated to provide water and sewage services through a corporation to ensure a smooth and respectful transition. 

Comments received through the environmental registry and email will continue to be considered by the government as it moves forward with implementation of the WWPC framework set out in the Water and Wastewater Public Corporations Act, 2025, including development of regulations. This includes feedback on the importance of transparency, accountability, affordability, asset management, and meaningful public engagement in both the establishment and ongoing operations of the new corporation.