While B.C. residents have rejected P3 water and wastewater projects in numerous cities including the Capital Regional District, Whistler, Abbotsford and Mission, education about keeping resources public must continue.
Cinema Politica, the Council of Canadians, CUPE and Water Watch are encouraging communities across the province to host their own “Keep it Local, Keep it Public” event and educate their community on the importance of keeping resources public.
The event invites both the public and local politicians to watch the European documentary “Water Makes Money”. The film highlights the problems that European cities such as Munich and Paris have had with water and wastewater P3s - this includes rising water prices, reduced maintenance, lowered water quality, loss of accountability and control, as well as massive profit margins (up to 30 per cent) for the multinational operators.
The event has already had an extremely positive response in Sooke, Mission-Abbotsford and Maple Ridge. The most recent event in Maple Ridge drew a crowd of over 100 people and the event in Abbotsford drew a standing-room only crowd that included 20 local politicians.
- If your community would like to organize a “Keep it Local, Keep it Public” event please contact your local Cinema Politica organization or CUPE BC’s Water Watch Coordinator, Diane Kalen-Sukra at waterwatch@cupe.bc.ca