Many to blame for Waterloo Region’s water issues

Waterloo Region has found itself in a building quagmire.

A water capacity issue within the Mannheim Service Area has led to a pause on the approval of all new developments while the region looks for a solution.

That pause comes at a time when the province is dealing with a housing shortage and wants to see more homes built, all while the region is working towards reaching a population of one million by 2050.

How did the municipality end up in this place?

Waterloo MPP, Catherine Fife was a guest on The Mike Farwell Show and discussed some of the reasons why.

She said the Ford government has passed legislation in its efforts to cut red tape, which has led to the rollback of environmental regulations, including those around water taking.

“We’ve known that it’s dangerous, and we’ve been voting against pieces of legislation like (Bill) 23 and 185. But, at the same time, the region even admitted that they were not aware of the aggressive action that the Ford government had taken, haphazardly, giving permits to companies to take our water.”

Fife said often the permits were granted without consultation or consideration for future water use. She said in some cases permits have been allowed to be transferred between companies without further public review.

Part of the problem is how the region gets its drinking water, said Fife.

“We know that in Waterloo Region we have limited water because 80 per cent of our water comes from groundwater. So, we are an outlier in the province of Ontario. And, the government, to date, has thought that red tape is going to get in the way of housing. What we’ve learned here now in Waterloo is that protecting our water is not red tape.”

Fife also said the province hasn’t supported municipalities effectively.

“The province has not provided the appropriate infrastructure funding. They have not provided critical expertise because they have taken their eye off the ball as far as water conservation goes, as well.”

But Fife did point out that the municipality isn’t completely off the hook here either.

“The region has already admitted that they made a mistake, that they did not consider in-fill population growth impact on the water. I think many of us were surprised by that.”

Fife added, “This doesn’t absolve anybody of blame, but it shouldn’t be about pointing fingers either, because we need a solution.”

In an emailed statement to 570 NewsRadio, the Ministry of Infrastructure said,

“Through the Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program, the Ontario government has invested over $31 million in Waterloo Region to support critical water infrastructure projects. This funding will strengthen water systems and improve services for residents across the Region, including the City of Cambridge, the City of Waterloo, and the Township of Wilmot, while helping enable the construction of over 14,000 new homes.

Local municipalities are responsible for the planning, operation, and the delivery of regional infrastructure. They are responsible for the provision of municipal infrastructure, including but not limited to water and wastewater services, roads, transit and transportation corridors and facilities, including ensuring infrastructure planning aligns with projected growth and development.”