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Hamilton - Hamilton WaterWatch, a newly formed coalition that supports municipal delivery of water services, today announced the launch of their campaign to regain city control of water and waste water operation.

At a City Hall media conference, WaterWatch chair and longtime Hamilton MP Sheila Copps outlined the coalitions objectives and stressed the importance of water quality for the health and well-being of the people of Hamilton and to the ecosystem of the bay.

For the past ten-years, Hamiltons water system has been contracted out to a private operator. To date, city councillors and the public have not been provided with complete financial information about the actual costs of the past contract. This includes information of a reported $8 million that is currently in dispute, under a final reconciliation of the contract. Despite these unknowns, council will vote on Wednesday, January 28 whether to proceed with a new ten-year contract.

Before any decision on contracting out is made, WaterWatch is calling for an independent audit of the existing contract and for the findings to be released at public consultation sessions.

Hamilton WaterWatch members include:

Canadian Catholic Organization For Development and Peace (CCODP) Environment Hamilton, Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA), The Council of Canadians, Hamilton Chapter, Hamilton District Labour Council, CUPE National, CUPE Local 5167, CUPE Ontario, the Canadian Labour Congress.

WaterWatch Objectives:

  • Convince Hamilton City Council to bring Hamilton’s water and wastewater treatment facilities and operations back into direct municipal service by the end of the year.

  • Mobilize members of the community to protect public control of water.

  • Promote the protection of the environment and water quality in Hamilton and ensure that the treatment of the city’s water and wastewater is an integrated part of the cleanup of Hamilton Harbour

  • Put pressure on federal and provincial governments to provide needed funding for expansion and upgrading of municipal water services.

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For more information contact:
Dave Michor, Hamilton WaterWatch
(905) 575-5411 ext.232
Stella Yeadon, Hamilton WaterWatch Communications
(416) 578-8774