By Abdul Matin Sarfraz \/ Canada\u2019s National Observer \/ Local Journalism Initiative Despite strong public opposition, the Ford government is moving ahead with changes to Ontario\u2019s long-standing rules for water use that critics say will weaken public oversight and eventually suck Ontario dry. The provincial environment ministry says the changes will \u201cstreamline\u201d permit renewals by allowing companies to take over existing permits if they draw water from the same location, in the same amount and for the same purpose. Companies can also assume permits previously cancelled, revoked or expired. Under the previous rules, any company taking more than 50,000 litres of water a day from lakes, rivers, streams or groundwater \u2014 for farming, gravel mining or bottling \u2014 had to file a new application, undergo public review, an environmental assessment… <\/p>\n
By Abdul Matin Sarfraz \/ Canada\u2019s National Observer \/ Local Journalism Initiative Despite strong public opposition, the Ford government is moving ahead with changes to Ontario\u2019s long-standing rules for water use that critics say will weaken public oversight and eventually suck Ontario dry. The provincial environment ministry says the changes will \u201cstreamline\u201d permit renewals by allowing companies to take over existing permits if they draw water from the same location, in the same amount and for the same purpose. Companies can also assume permits previously cancelled, revoked or expired. Under the previous rules, any company taking more than 50,000 litres of water a day from lakes, rivers, streams or groundwater \u2014 for farming, gravel mining or bottling \u2014 had to file a new application, undergo public review, an environmental assessment... <\/p>\n