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FORT MCMURRAY – Council of Canadians representative Susan Howett took the
opportunity of the CUPE Alberta convention to deliver a message far too
familiar to most delegates – control of water resources is under attack.
Howett told delegates horror stories of cities around the world who
succumbed to pressure to privatize water and waste water systems. In the
Philippines, water rates went up by 600%.
Howett said that the population explosion in the US has created ‘a desperate
need for water south of the border,’ leading to pressure for Canada to
export its water.
“Water selling not the answer,” said Howett “It’s dangerous. It only insures
that those who can pay for water will, and others will be left behind.”
Howett was very critical of the fact Canada has no national water strategy.
“Twenty-one federal ministries touch water in some way, but they don’t talk
to each other, or to provinces or municipalities. There is a lot of pass the
buck when things go wrong.”