Region OKs plan for third-party review of water capacity problem

There will be an investigation into how the region went so long without knowing there was a water shortage on the horizon.

At a special meeting on Wednesday, Council discussed a motion tabled by Regional Councillor and former Cambridge Mayor, Doug Craig.

The motion directs the CAO to retain a qualified independent third-party firm to investigate the region’s water capacity reporting and communication process from 2021 to 2026. Part of the discussion led to an amendment that saw the timeline adjusted to simply before 2026.

“Listening to all the discussion that is taking place about how we’re moving forward and the situation we’re in, and thinking to myself, we should have had this discussion four years ago, knowing that on the horizon this issue was going to come up,” said Craig, while addressing council. “The goal is not to assign blame, I want to emphasize that, but to identify weaknesses in forecasting, monitoring and reporting so that future infrastructure challenges are identified earlier and managed more effectively,” he added.

Craig pointed out that third-party reviews are standard practice.

“Municipal governments, hospital systems and provincial agencies frequently commission external reviews following system failures and planning breakdowns. These reviews bring technical expertise, independence and public credibility,” Craig told council.

He mentioned the Walkerton-tainted water scandal as an example of a municipality conducting a third-party review.

On Friday, it was learned the City of Calgary will be undertaking an investigation into the water main failures that have beleaguered the city for months. However, that investigation will be done by a government agency rather than a third party.

Council unanimously passed Craig’s motion.

Also discussed on Wednesday was a motion brought forward by Councillor Joe Gowing, that directs council to ask the province to place a temporarily moratorium on water taking permits within the areas identified as having water capacity restraints, and for the province continue to engage with the municipality in the water taking permit process and that the province provide proper notification and documentation with the Region at the time the application submission and the final decision.

Council opted to defer that discussion to a meeting later this month.