Water activists deliver message to Member of Parliament

On Wednesday March 19, activists from CUPE, the Council of Canadians, Oxfam and MUN students will mark World Water Day by carrying a 'Water for people not profit banner to MP Norm Doyle's office at 342 Freshwater Rd. The march will begin at 3pm at the MUN Clock Tower.

Along with a banner the coalition will be delivering a message for PM Harper demanding the government take concrete steps to protect the world's precious water resources, strengthen community water systems and ensure that access to safe water and sanitation services is a reality for all.

Water is fundamental to life and health and yet over one billion people lack access to clean water. As a result millions of women and girls are forced walk over 6 kilometres each day to collect 20 litres of water for their household needs. And 4,000 children die each day from drinking contaminated water

As Erin Aylward of MUN Oxfam explains 'The UN has stated, water is a human right. The United Nations Development Programme has demanded that poor people be provided 20 litres of clean water free each day a national policy. It is shameful that Canada has opposed attempts to enshrine the right to water. We are demanding Canada recognize water is a human right and to honour its international commitments and increase and improve aid spending to support the provision of water and sanitation and other public services.

For Wayne Lucas, CUPE NL President, the issue of concern is water privatization. 'Canada must stop promoting water privatization through public private partnerships, stated Lucas, 'This Conservative government has been pushing municipalities into P3s for water and sewage services. P3s are bad public policy, an unwise use of tax dollars and lack accountability and transparency. Instead, cities and towns need increased federal funding to maintain and expand public water and wastewater systems.

An important concern is bulk water exports. As Mike Manning of the Council of Canadians explains 'Canada has a voluntary provincial ban on bulk exports, but any province could break it any time. Canada needs a national policy that would outlaw bulk exports, set national drinking water standards and increase federal funding to maintain and expand water systems. A comprehensive policy will address pollution and scarcity, both of which threaten our water systems and supplies.

'Water for people, not profit activities are taking place in cities across Canada including Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Hamilton, Guelph, Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Regina, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver.

for more information, contact Bill Hynd at Oxfam, (709) 753-2202