The Water Act that has been proposed by the PEI government will guide policy for many years to come. The Coalition for the Protection of PEI Water is looking forward to a fair and open process leading its development, and we encourage all Islanders to participate.

You can do so in a number of ways – by sending your input in writing via mail or email, by calling, or by making a presentation at a public consultation. The current schedule for public consultations looks like this (all at 7pm, locations to be determined):

Charlottetown: October 6 and 8, November 5

Summerside: October 13

Souris: October 20

Montague: November 3

Wellington: November 17

Kensington: November 24

Elmsdale: November 26

Here’s how you can register to make a presentation, call, or send your comments: Email: wateract@gov.pe.ca

Mail: Department of Communities, Land and Environment, Box 2000, Charlottetown, PEI  C1A 7N8

Phone: 902-368-5028                                 Fax: 902-368-5830

 Why get involved?

PEI needs a Water Act that ensures the ongoing health of our ecosystems and preserves water as a common good for future generations. We look forward to an open public discussion that includes questions such as these:

• Since 1962, there have been over 50 documented fish kills in the province – more than one per year. How do we stop them?
• How are we going to prevent more nitrates from getting into our surface and drinking water?
• How do we prevent pesticide runoff from harming our shellfish and lobster fisheries?
• How do we use this opportunity to forge a different relationship with water and with the natural world, one that is grounded in an attitude of respect for something that is truly ‘precious’ to us?
• How do we ensure that our sustainable water future is based on conservation, where we will learn to use only what we need rather than all that we want?

The Coalition is made up of representatives of the Citizens’ Alliance of PEI, Pesticide-Free PEI, District 1, Region 1 of the National Farmers Union, Environmental Coalition of PEI, Don’t Frack PEI, Cooper Institute, Hunter-Clyde Watershed Group, Ellen’s Creek Watershed Group, Winter River–Tracadie Bay Watershed Association, the Council of Canadians, PEI Group – Sierra Club Canada, Save Our Seas and Shores PEI. Our aim is to have an informed, public voice in a policies and decisions that affect PEI’s water. For more information, or find us on FaceBook.