OPSEU will apply for standing at the Commission of Inquiry into the drinking water tragedy in Walkerton. The public hearing for organizations or individuals applying for standing is August 21.

“Standing” is a specific legal right to participate fully in the Inquiry, including the right to cross-examine witnesses and request that additional witnesses and evidence be brought forward. OPSEU will be represented by legal counsel from the law firm of Gowling, Strathy and Henderson under the direction of OPSEU’s general counsel Tim Hadwen.

The Inquiry will look specifically at the events in Walkerton, but it will also go much further to examine “government policies, procedures and practices” and “any other relevant matters that the Commission considers necessary to ensure the safety of Ontario’s drinking water.”

Nobody knows more about these matters than OPSEU members, the front-line workers who have experience and expertise in water treatment, public health and environmental protection. OPSEU will use its standing to ensure that our members’ experience and expertise fully informs the Commission’s consideration of water safety issues.

Mr. Justice Dennis O’Connor, and members of his commission will hold a townhall meeting in Walkerton July 26 for the people of Walkerton.

President Leah Casselmen met with OPSEU members at a special membership meeting July 12 in Walkerton.

“It is my hope that our union can play a part in restoring this province’s water supply system and in rebuilding a proud Ontario community,” she told members.

Legal Counsel from Gowling, Strathy and Henderson explained the legal details of the Inquiry process, including the protection of the legal entitlements of individual OPSEU members.

The Inquiry has compiled a list of documents it is requesting from the Ministry of Environment (MoE).

OPSEU members at the MoE have received notice to provide their employer with any and all documents pertaining to Walkerton from 1993 to the present time.

Please contact OPSEU at 1-800-268-7376 ext. 664 or ext. 202 for the Inquiry’s document list, particularly if you have any concerns that the Ministry is not requesting the complete list from you and your colleagues.

OPSEU’s general counsel, Tim Hadwen, advises that members have an employment obligation to provide their employer with the documents.

OPSEU has asked MoE to e-mail employees reminding them that they have full whistleblower protection.

As a result of OPSEU’s lobbying and our work with the opposition parties and the news media, the government changed the Public Inquiries Act so that it is now illegal for any employer to take action against any worker for providing information to any Public Inquiry.

To ensure that the Inquiry gets the truth about Ontario’s drinking water system, we’ve set up a Water Inquiry Research Committee (WIRC) at OPSEU head office, which will take in information from OPSEU members.

OPSEU sent out surveys earlier this month to all current and former OPSEU members at the Ministry of Environment and at the Ontario Clean Water Agency and current members at the Bruce-Grey Owen Sound Health Unit, the South Bruce-Grey Health Centre (Walkerton location) and OPSEU Local 225 (Walkerton).

Thanks to all those who have responded to date. The information we have received has been very helpful.

All answers are confidential. Information that OPSEU members provide, and which might identify them as the source, will not go forward to the commission without their consent.

If you have information that you want to pass on, please contact the WIRC directly. Send an e-mail to wirc@opseu.org, send a fax to (416) 448-7454, or telephone (416) 443-8888 or 1-800-268-7376 ext. 678 or ext. 207.

OPSEU Action Fax is an electronic publication of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union. You can reach us at opseu@opseu.org.