New Democrats Want to Close Bulk Water Exports Loophole

Martin Welcomes Legislation, Supports Amendment

OTTAWA -   A federal government plan to strengthen a ban on bulk water exports is good legislation that still needs a big loophole closed, Sault MP Tony Martin said today.

Martin said the legislation would still allow significant water removal for bottled water exports. New Democrats will move amendments to fix the proposed bill that would strengthen the existing ban against bulk water exports by extending it to more than 80 rivers and streams that cross the U.S.-Canada border.

“With our Great Lakes, low water levels and border community, this is an issue of great importance,” Martin said. “We want the ban on bulk water exports whether they are in giant containers or small plastic bottles.”

 The loophole is contained in the definition of "bulk removal" of water as amounts exceeding 50,000 litres per day and an exemption for bottled water and beverages. A Foreign Affairs spokesman confirmed bottled water is exempted.

The government has indicated the proposed amendments to the Boundary and Transboundary Waters Protection Act would plug the last remaining gap in a ban against bulk water removal that is in place for the Great Lakes and other water that straddles the Canada-U. S. border and is covered by provincial law.

The bill provides new powers of inspection and enforcement and fines ranging from $5,000 to $1 million for individuals, $25,000 to $4 million for small corporations and $100,000 to $6 million for large corporations.

The government has said bulk exports would be allowed to help forest fire-fighting or other disasters in the United States.