FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 8, 2001

155 new staff needed to go along with Tory water plan

The Ministry of the Environment (MOE) needs to hire 155 new staff to inspect and enforce drinking water safety at Ontario’s private and municipal water works, says the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU).

“If the Harris government is serious about making sure Ontario’s drinking water is safe then it will announce plans to immediately hire 155 new water staff in tomorrow’s budget,” said OPSEU president Leah Casselman.

Environment Minister Elizabeth Witmer re-affirmed her government’s commitment to the Tories’ water plan called Operation Clean Water in her May 2 announcement.

The union says that the MOE should hire 25 permanent senior inspectors to inspect the province’s 659 municipal water plants once a year. A further 113 senior inspectors are needed to inspect the large private water systems such as trailer parks or housing subdivisions. They fall under the MOE’s clean water legislation but have never been inspected. There are between 2,500 and 10,000 private water systems in Ontario. They each deliver more than 50,000 litres of water per day to more than five residences.

The MOE issued 341 orders when it inspected the 659 municipal water plants last year.

“Our members tell us they doubt any of the private water systems would pass an inspection,” said Casselman.

An additional five investigators would need to be hired to follow up on the violations found at the water works and 12 new administrative staff would be needed to help with the paperwork. The wage bill for the 155 permanent staff is an estimated $11 million.

Currently, the MOE only has plans to hire 25 junior inspectors on contract to inspect the less complex municipal water works, probably about half of the 659 plants.

OPSEU represents 930 front-line environmental protection staff at the MOE.

-30-

For more information:

Megan Park (416) 443-8888 ext. 207