NDP statement on World Water Day

Official Opposition Environment Critic Megan Leslie (Halifax) made the following statement on World Water Day__:

“Clean water is essential to life.

“Yet globally, one person in six does not have access to drinkable water. Every year millions of people die from water-borne diseases. Every 20 seconds a child dies from a water-related illness.

“While we are fortunate in Canada to have an abundance of fresh water, all Canadians do not have equal access to potable water. Currently, 126 First Nations communities across Canada are living under drinking water advisories and people in many municipalities face repeated boil water advisories.

“Worse yet, the Conservatives have dismantled Canada’s environmental protection laws, allowing polluters to threaten our fresh water supply with no regard for the cost this will impose on our children and grandchildren. Our changing climate will only exacerbate these issues and pose new challenges.

“Despite this, Canada still has not implemented a national clean drinking water standard.

“The NDP believes that Canada needs a national water policy to secure the principles of water as a human right and as a public trust. We need comprehensive strategies to protect water resources; mechanisms to monitor and assess the implementation of these plans; and accountability mechanisms to ensure that water is indeed protected.

“On World Water Day, we call on the government to take swift action to protect Canada’s water. After all, the greatest legacy we can offer future generations is a clean and healthy planet.”