MP BRUCE HYER MARKS WORLD WATER DAY
Thunder Bay-Superior North MP Bruce Hyer
Hyer: “We must work to protect this crucial life-sustaining resource.”
OTTAWA, ON – MP Bruce Hyer (Thunder Bay-Superior North) is recognizing World Water Day today, March 22nd, by speaking out on the importance of potable freshwater to people in Canada and around world, and on sustainable management of freshwater resources.
“Freshwater is often seen as something we do not have to worry about in Canada, but the truth is that there are still many northern reserves and communities that still do not have adequate access to potable freshwater,” said Hyer. “Some reserves in our own region of Thunder Bay-Superior North are still under boil water advisories, and have been since 2005. It is something many of us take for granted, but life quickly gets complicated when we don’t have access to potable water.”
According to the Ministry of Health, boil water advisories remain in effect in Gull Bay First Nation, Aroland First Nation (Greenstone), and Rocky Bay First Nation. They are part of 131 First Nations communities across Canada which had advisories in 2011 – the most such advisories for any year in almost a decade. “A combination of training, technical assistance and capital improvements are needed to resolve these problems so that they stay solved,” said Hyer.
World Water Day was designated in 1993 by the United Nations, with the theme varying from year to year. In Canada, the Day is part of Canada Water Week.
Hyer noted challenges faced by natural water systems, “Climate change is having major impacts on freshwater, including in our region. For example, with higher temperatures comes less ice cover on Lake Superior, warmer water temperatures, more evaporation and dropping lake levels. We will see new invasive species spread because of the different conditions, and this is happening all over the world. World Water Day serves to remind us of these facts so that people around the world can start to think of and act upon solutions.”
“Water Week events are taking place in Thunder Bay and I urge people to participate and learn about the way we all use water”, concluded Hyer. “It is surprising, but the average Canadian uses almost 6,400 litres of water every day… that’s the second-most per capita in the world. It doesn’t just come from drinking or taking showers: over ninety percent is used in processing and growing the food we eat, and in making the clothes we wear and other material we use.”
Local non-profit EcoSuperior is offering rain barrels at a discount all week (while supplies last), while free public tours are being offered of the Bare Point Water Treatment Plant (today) and the Atlantic Avenue Water Pollution Control Plant (tomorrow).
